How much to ship a guitar...

[longhouse]

...from the states to Australia?

I've shipped to destinations all across Europe and North America, but never across the Pacific. A ballpark figure will suffice.

Thanks!

[ozover50]

I think currently UPS or Fedex would come in at around USD$450, Noel....... not cheap!!

[longhouse]

Yikes! That may dissuade my customer. Thanks Aitch.

[ozover50]

No worries, Noel. I must admit that it has varied over the years but that's what the last one cost me. I've had it down as low as $300. If it's a guitar in a small vintage case (325, 350) it may sneak through USPS. Easiest way is to get the overall package dimensions and get an online quote from UPS and Fedex and check USPS at to whether the dimensions fit into the maximums for shipment to Australia. USPS don't set those maximums, BTW - as the receiving agent, Australia Post does.

If $450 bothers your customer tell him that at an exchange rate of 0.86 he's laughing compared to what we've had to pay at rates as low as 0.62!!

[ajish4]

I think currently UPS or Fedex would come in at around USD$450, Noel....... not cheap!!

Howard is right, the last bass I shipped was closer to $500.00.

UNLESS, it has a BOLT ON NECK.

You can break it down and save about $300.00!

A word of advice, BRING IT to the shipper and get an ON SITE estimate, it will save you $$$$ in the long run!

[antipodean]

There is something weird with Australia Post - you can ship a bass in a full hard case from Japan to Australia via EMS (Express Mail) for around USD 180, but the same package is too large to ship from the US via any USPS option. So Fedex et al get a free kick to lift $400 to $500 from your wallet...

I just hope the Japanese arrangement stays as it is....

[jingle_jangle]

USPS reorganized their classifications and guidelines about 4 years ago, and the result is that a guitar case in a box (like a standard Fender or Rick rectangular case) is just a tad too large to be shipped. I learned this when trying to ship a couple of Aitch's guitars to him from SF. At that time, the rules had just changed and we were both blind-sided.

[gregga41]

Yeah, a great selling point, if you are selling a Rick IN Australia, is.."It's already here, no import/customs added!"
I paid US$350 nearly five years ago to ship my first 360, seems it just keeps going up!

[marc61]

hmmm...just as a goof..I priced on UPS.com the cost of shipping a bass from Sydney to NY

ins for 1000 Aussie bux
dimensions - 48x10x20
weight 20 kilos

price quoted was $350usd

[jdogric12]

I shipped a bass from Florida to Oz about a year or two ago for about $400ish.

[collin]

Forget UPS/Fedex in this case.


Go with USPS Express mail. It comes with full tracking, included insurance, and is expedited service (less than 7 days).

Oddly enough, it often comes in cheaper than Priority Int'l for larger packages like guitars.


Shipping something like a Ric guitar to Australia would run about $95 usd. Great deal, IMO. I've shipped plenty of guitars 'down under, and never had any problems at all.

[jingle_jangle]

The POs here in SF told me that this service had been modified (about 4 years ago) and guitars were too large for this.

Have you shipped anything guitar-sized to Oz lately, Collin?

If what you're saying is, in fact, still in effect, this would be a boon to us!

[collin]

The POs here in SF told me that this service had been modified (about 4 years ago) and guitars were too large for this.

Have you shipped anything guitar-sized to Oz lately, Collin?

If what you're saying is, in fact, still in effect, this would be a boon to us!

Yeah, I haven't shipped a Ric there in awhile, but A couple months ago I shipped a Tele in a hard case to Australia, USPS express.

That's weird--I had no problems. It's worth checking out I guess! That's the best bang-for-the-buck around.

[gregga41]

I have noticed on ebay that many Rick sellers are using USPS and are quoting around US$150.

[jingle_jangle]

Everyone knows that Ebay's shipping calculators are completely out to lunch and frustrating.

But, Collin, the Tele could be just a tad shorter or thinner. As I recall, all of the boxes I was trying to ship to Aitch were 1-2" too big in the cumulative. And, I was told that the PO uses go/no go gauges and if the box doesn't fit, it doesn't ship.

I'd like to see the results from attempting to ship a normally-sized Rick with a proper box.