Looking for advice about shipping

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:50 am

I need some advice on the best way to ship a 4003 (in it's case, of course).

I took the bass down to the UPS store (where I usually get things boxed) up and the grand total
would have been something like $175 (UPS ground, Boston to Oregon).

Part of this was, of course, the packaging job, but it doesn't seem in the realm of "reasonable" for it to cost $125+ for just shipping.

That was my mini-rant part. If folks have some suggestions as to how to box it up and ship it, I'm all ears.

TIA,

-T

rikk · Post by **rikk** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:55 am

UPS store certainly charges a nice surcharge, but they do the packing and use their materials. Try your local music store and ask them if they have any shipping boxes that their guitars came in (they are throwing most of them away after all.)Pack it up in that and bring it to UPS or Fedex yourself.

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:06 am

Ok, but I've never shipped a bass in it's case before, so how much packaging do I need inside the box?

I don't recall that much packaging in the box when stuff arrived from UPS from Pick Of The Ricks (for example).

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:49 am

I have shipped out several. I get a box from my local guitar shop for $5 and take the package to UPS and they ship it anywhere in the lower 48 generally for under $50.

The boxes I get from the shop usually have their original packing materials in them...extra cardboard, bubble wrap, etc.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:51 am

Tom, that's outragous! I had them ship my 4001 to California from Michigan, handle all of the packaging and such, and it was $70.
Generally, if you get a guitar box and put the case inside, it should have about 1-3 inches of space inside the case on all sides. I use those air packets inside, it usually works out. Tried it with packing peanuts, they all settled at one end during shipping.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:48 am

My local UPS Store sells guitar boxes for about $10. It fits the case just like a Ric shipping box. Shipping should be $30-50.

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:58 am

I'm gonna take a trip out to some of the local stores tomorrow to score a box.

Thanks!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:12 am

Here you go:

http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-4922&searchedkeywords=guitar%20box

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:32 am

I detune the bass and take newspaper, wad it up and stuff it in the body contours so the bass will not move in the case . I also take that thin foam sheeting and wrap the bass in the case . Put it in a nice guitar box and insure it for lots of money . 1000.00 in insurance will mean the difference in the u.p.s. gorillas throwing it or walking it over like a normal Human being . If i were going to ship a new ricky i would insure it for 1,500.00 . Even then it should only cost between 28 and 48 bucks anywhere in the continental US . Good luck

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:57 am

I've used those u-line boxes. They are pretty much perfect. Lately though, I've been cutting them down to fit perfectly around the case, rather than stuffing inside the box.. I make sure the bass cannot move inside. Seems to be the best way.

It's also very easy to get online accts with Fedex, UPS, and USPS. It doesn't cost anything, then you can shop for the best rate for your particular package.

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:19 pm

I have shipped bass guitars as far away as Athens, Greece in normal boxes. Never a problem.

I suggest the following:

Pack a sheet of paper(folded a few times) between the strap buttons and the case fabric. The last RIC I got from a forum member in Lynn, MA. Arrived in perfect condition except that the top strap button punched a hole in the fabric.

Do not detune more than a 1/4 tone or so. The neck will bend if you do. Actually, I think Mr. Hall recommends NO detuning for shipping.

A good box for shipping is either a bass guitar box, OR a the box that base CASES are shipped in.

Good luck -- as I am anxious to get the bass!

ratso · Post by **ratso** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:12 pm

Avoid UPS at all Costs! My last shipment was a nightmare. I even sent a registered complaint letter to their CEO. They will also squirm out of paying your insured amount if you don't follow every letter of the law on their fine print packaging requirements (utilizing their UPS store recommended packaging is not a guarantee either!).

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:54 am

Just to close the loop.

I got an SKB bass case box from a local music store and shipped the bass in that. The whole UPS store experience left a bad taste in my mouth, so I shipped it USPS.

It was a bit more expensive that say, UPS ground (if I dropped it off myself) but it's going to arrive on Thursday instead of sometime next week (it's going from Boston to Oregon). That's less travel time and fewer chances for it to get lost or damaged.

FWIW, USPS too can be tough to deal with when it comes to insurance. I sold a set of Ric Hi-Gains to someone on another board. The pickups went missing and because I couldn't show a reciept for the original pickup purchase (or the guitar they were originally from) I was screwed.

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:08 am

To double close the loop. The bass was delivered to the door by USPS at 11 AM PST. Very quick. It is essentially new and plays like butter.

philipharris · Post by **philipharris** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:21 am

funnily enough I was sent a bass by ups express, US to UK - arrived in perfect order in 4 days.