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Topic: Amplifier Shipping Woes - Who Has Suggestions? |
Chris Bauer
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 6 May 2016 7:23 pm |
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Hoping this is the right place for this half-rant/ half plea for suggestions.
I know that shipping costs have gone up recently but...
I'm trying to buy a small, fairly light amplifier from a seller in the northeast. UPS quoted over $200 to pack and ship to Tennessee. More - much more - than a D-10???
Greyhound looks like a really good option but they seem to only insure for up to $300 according to their website.
I'm assuming that the seller's UPS store owner simply got up on the wrong side of the bed on the day he got the quote but who knows.
So, my questions:
1. From your esperience, are the seller and I right that the quoted price seems way out of line even with the recent price increases?
2. Who has suggestions about how to get a small, fairly light amp packed, insured, and shipped for a sane price?
Thanks, all. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 6 May 2016 8:18 pm
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I'd have the seller pack it right, with plenty of pictures to show it was done right.
If a combo amp, this will include 2x4s going from bottom of chassis to floor of amp (if it falls off the carts, the transformers will try to pull the chassis to the floor and Newton is stronger than J-nuts), and a snug-fitting wooden box
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 7 May 2016 2:39 am
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I just shipped a 50lb Carvin bass amp to the KC area. Packed with lots of foam around all sides and it arrived in perfect condition.
UPS shipping was $45.
A couple of years ago, I sold a Nashville 1000 to a person in New Jersey. I had the local UPS store pack it and the packing and shipping was $89 (which the buyer agreed to pay for).
I ship UPS because its local drop off. The closest Fed Ex location is 30 miles away. |
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Mark Fowler
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 7 May 2016 3:47 am
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I have shipped lots of heads and combo amps from Minnesota all over the USA by UPS and pack my own. It has to be packed very well or your going to have a broken product.
Shipping is from $45 to $65. insurance is as high as I need to go on each unit.
Mark |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 7 May 2016 4:27 am tubes
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I bought a reverb unit one time that had tubes. They were all broken when it arrived (USPS). Since then anything with tubes, no matter who is the shipper, I remove them and pack them separate. (I do make a list for which tube goes where if not one in the amp). Lesson learned. 
Geo |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 7 May 2016 6:09 am
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| I just shipped a Fender Steel King via UPS from my work. Shipping fee was $52 to go about 400 miles with $600 "insurance". I spent $25 on a sheet of 2" thick foam to go all around it then hand cut a box of double thick cardboard as a n outer shell. Arrived in perfect condition. Never lost an amp or guitar doing it this way. There's zero chance that a UPS store is going to come anywhere as close to this in terms of packaging protection or effort! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 7 May 2016 6:13 am
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Take pictures of the packing process, so that you'll have aa defense against "you didn't pack it properly" charges
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jim Rossen
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 7 May 2016 7:16 am
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I have shipped and received many amps. Poorly packed amps often arrive damaged. I have never had an amp I shipped arrive damaged, using the method below.
For small to medium size amps-
1. Remove any tubes that are not held by shields or retainers, wrap with bubble, and secure inside the cab. Remove tubes that are held by bear claw retainers as these are not secure.
2. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the speaker grill cloth.
3. Put the amp in trash bag and secure excess with packing tape. Tape the cardboard to the bag over the speaker cloth.
4. Pad the amp with either bubble wrap or foam sheet so there is at least 2 in of packing on all sides. The local Mennards sells 1 in thick white foam 4 x 8 sheet for about $8 that works well.
5. Put amp in a medium or heavy weight carton. If the carton is horizontal, put it in with speaker baffle down. If the carton is vertical put it in upside down with the chassis at the bottom of the carton. Put enough additional padding so the amp does not move in the carton, but not so much that it is held very tight.
For big amps with heavy transformers it is best to remove the chassis,cover the circuit side with cardboard, wrap with bubble and ship in a separate carton. If the speakers are heavy and the baffle board is particle board, it is best to remove the speakers, secure them with zip ties facing cone to cone, wrap with lots of bubble and ship in a separate carton. If speakers are left in place, ship the cab in a horizontal carton with baffle side facing down.
PS:
If the amp is shipped with chassis in place, make sure the securing fasteners are tight.
Coil the line cord so the plug can't flip around and damage a speaker cone.
Jim |
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John Booth
From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
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Posted 7 May 2016 9:16 am
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What Jim said
_________________
Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 7 May 2016 12:43 pm
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| It's pretty easy to make your own corners out of 2" foam. Making your own custom boxes is a snap using double or triple walled cardboard, a straight edge and a hammer for the folds. It's just quicker for me to use whole sheets of 2" foam but to save foam you can just make 8 corners for the boxes. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 8 May 2016 12:55 pm
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You can also get that insulating foam spray. I may try some of that next time!
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Bryan Daste
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Mark Fowler
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 9 May 2016 7:12 am
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| Dr Z uses a plastic bag then spray foam around the amp or speaker cab and/or combo cab. Very effective way to box and ship an amp.. |
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Chris Bauer
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 10 May 2016 4:28 pm
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| Thanks, all, for the help. Looks like I missed out on the amp but your input will, no doubt, be extremely helpful in the future. |
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