Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone ever shipped a guitar internationally? I have to do so for the first time and I am surprised by the prices. I knew it would be expensive, but not this expensive. For a package that is 51 in x 22 in x 8 in and 23 lbs, FedEx wants $550 for "economy" shipping and over $700 for priority. I have explored DHL, USPS, and UPS. All are about the same.

It is what it is. As long as the person is willing to pay.

Hardly worth it for the buyer I would think...where are you shipping to?

Shipping to France.

I recently shipped a guitar to Swizerland (from U.S.) through USPS. It cost me something like $80 if I remember correctly. Not including packing materials of course. If you're looking at online prices you might want to go in person and get a real quote. I shipped one through Fedex recently within the U.S. for $75. Not bad for Fedex, I was expecting more like $130.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

You shipped a guitar from the US to Switzerland for $80? That sounds almost entirely unbelievable. haha Are you bullshitting?

To my knowledge USPS will not accept a package that is guitar sized for international shipping. I entered many different dimensions into their website to see pricing and I had to enter much smaller than a guitar case before they would accept it for shipping.

It's been a couple of years since I shipped a guitar (acoustic) to Europe, last time I used USPS priority and it was about $180.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

James I shipped two electrics to England last year via UPS -the second shipped a few months after the first and the
rates had gone up- paid @$580.00 the first was a hundred or so less. There was also a tax the receivers had to pay!
Shipped in cases inside cardboard boxes that were prepared by the facility (and insured).

They made it fine.

I shipped one UPS about 1200 miles within US end of last year and an oak display case for it, separately, about $140.00 for both - insured. They lost the display case and settled. I had to supply proof of value. Again, I had the manager of the facility inspect and prepare for shipping. I believe that helped settling the claim but no way to know.

Now that sounds like a believable international shipping amount. Thank you for not bullshitting me with a story about shipping a guitar to Madagascar for $35.. haha I don't know where these guys are coming up with their low low numbers. Did you guys ship those guitars in the 1980s?

They LOST your case? A huge package the size of a guitar case?? How on earth..

It was 2' x 4' x 6". A display case I custom made for the guitar. It arrived at the UPS facility the same day as the
guitar. The guitar was delivered to receivers home - case wasn't and has not been found.
I hate all the hassles that follow building. It's great fun to build and then it's....something I wish was somebody else's job. lol.
The one I just started is for a local picker...lucky me.

They sure did ship it because home boy in Swiz got it, he even took a picture of it in his living room.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

I found out these shippers don't necessarily charge you by weight it's more by the size of the package and the footprint it will take up in a cargo hold...Mike

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

I know that some countries may cost more or less depending on what country it is. I have found that countries like Britain and France to name a few are cheaper then some former Soviet block countries.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

I work for the USPS and make guitars on the side. We ship guitars overseas all the time from our local guitar shop. They usually are under 100 dollars and the price goes up if the guitars are heavier; like electrics.

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

$80 overseas? That can't be. Last guitar I shipped went about 300 miles from my shop by UPS, was insured for the purchase price, signature required, and that was around $75. That didn't include packaging.

So I just ran this through the UPS calculator under my account. To ship a guitar from my shop to a random address in London, England. Insured for $3500. In a case, in a standard cardboard box like my Ameritage cases come in. Three price options, the lowest was $561.15 and the high $768.74.

Tried to get a price from USPS, can ship a package like that domestic for about the same price as UPS but they will not ship it overseas. Package is to large is the red flag.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

This is exactly true of my experience so far. Shipping to France and online services at Fedex.com tell me $550 economy or $700 priority. USPS will not process a package anywhere close to the size of a full guitar case on their website for international shipping.

When the day comes, I will bring the guitar to USPS in person to see if I can get one of these sweetheart deals of $80 shipped to Europe.. But I'm a bit doubtful to say the least. Though I certainly hope so!

If you live near a USPS, just walk in with a guitar and they will weigh it for you and tell you how much, which will likely be less than $100. When I was figuring out how to ship a guitar overseas, I too saw nothing but $500+ prices online. The online prices do not reflect what you pay if you walk in with a big heavy box. Try it and prove me wrong.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

I definitely will and I will report back. I'm not building the said guitar until September though.

Seems highly unusual that these shipping companies would have online price calculators that are as much as $400+ off in their estimations. But I definitely want you to be right!

If its under 108 inches length plus girth. A guitar going to France costs 85.45 A 35 pound guitar is 124.15 cents. Some countries have a smaller size limit. I just asked the guys at the counter.

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

I've shipped several guitars overseas via USPS for @$100. It wasn't fast, but it wasn't $500 either.

What was the declared value?

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

One was @ $2100 and the other $500. Been a few years on the more expensive one.