Fed-Exing my guitar

Danny Kuykendall · From: Fullerton, CA, USA

I'm Fed-Exing my guitar from CA to TX to play at a family reunion. It's a 75 ZB, very heavy with a heavy case. I plan on putting newspaper on the inside to keep things from moving around, and then cardboard on the outside with the handle sticking out. Will this travel OK? Any suggestions?
Thanks, Danny

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

Danny,
I would cut a couple of short pieces
of 2x4 to wedge in the pedalboard compartment to support the guitar in the event it has something put on top of it,if you have legs/rods in a pedal bag,then newspaper/styerfoam packing should work ok.You will insure it for FULL replacement value.

Good luck Bill

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Last time I FedEx'd a guitar from here to California, I was told that they would only insure it for $399 unless I double boxed it with 6" of styrofoam peanuts between the boxes, all the way around. I did, they did insure it for full value, and the guitar arrived safely.

However the extra box and peanuts added another 10 pounds and $20 to the bill.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Interesting story re the insurance Jim. I just shipped a psg UPS through a UPS agent (Mail Boxes Etc.) in Nanaimo, British Columbia. They said that they couldn't insure it unless it was boxed up by them. I, of course, had already boxed it, but had to pay extra to get them to box it up as well, or send it uninsured (which I sure as heck wasn't going to do). Which of course added dimension and cost as well.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

It makes no difference how you pack it when FedEx loses the package, as they have done 100% of the time for me.

Mark Herrick · From: Bakersfield, CA

Printed newspaper is not a good packing material. The unprinted newsprint is better, but neither is optimal for this application.

Try using some of the styrofoam insulation sheets that are available at Home Depot. You can cut them up to fit perfectly in the spaces between the case and the cardboard box; thereby eliminating the chance that the case will shift inside the box.

I made a "custom" box this way when I shipped my P/P from NY to Nashville. With the exception of the handle being damaged (because I left it exposed...) everything was fine.

As Earnest points out, anytime you ship these things you're taking a chance, no matter how well you pack it.

Chuck Martin · From: Clifton, Virginia

I only use FedEx to ship; its least expensive and best of the services out there. I'm still trying to collect from UPS on a MSA that was damaged in shipping last April ('03)! The key is packing. Pack both inside the case and outside. Inside use bubble wrap to keep the guitar and pedal rack from shifting. I also reinforce the pedalboard divider by wedging a block of high density styrofoam between the divider and the edge of the case.

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

UPS completely ruined my 1941 Martin D-18. It was insured but, they said they only pay if the package is lost, gone, non existant.
It was packed in a brand new hard shell case and then in the box the case came in.Of course they completely ignored the tire track on the outside and the fact it had been dropped straight down, apparently from a considerable height. The case looked like an accordian.It was cracked right in two from the end button to the neck. The only thing holding it together was the neck block and the tail block..and the headstock was broken over also.
They even refused to give me back the insurance money I paid to have it covered for $ 3500.00
I have shipped a lot of steels with no problem. Don't ever leave the handle sticking out. And do use the foam sheets to stabilize. If it rattles when you shake it, pack it again.Just my two cents

Bud

Danny Kuykendall · From: Fullerton, CA, USA

Thanks for all the suggestions. How does one person pick up the guitar without the handle sticking out? It weighs about 85 pounds case & all. I'll probably use bubble wrap on the inside and add the two X fours for the pedal board for added protection.
Thanks again,
Danny

Chuck Martin · From: Clifton, Virginia

Danny, I agree with Bud, never leave the handle sticking out. I've shipped D-10 MSA's that weigh 90 lbs and they've arrived safely. Packages travel through transfer points on conveyer belts to be loaded onto trucks. Most of these drivers are young and strong and are able to handle the heavy packages to get them off the vans and onto a hand truck for delivery. The damaged MSA I received last year was packed in little more than blanket type insulation material with the handle sticking out. UPS should have never accepted it as an insured package but they did. I'm still trying to get compensated for a 4" crack in the body that resulted from mishandling.

[This message was edited by Chuck Martin on 31 May 2004 at 06:29 AM.]

Mark Herrick · From: Bakersfield, CA

The UPS/FedEx drop off offices and delivery guys have hand trucks. Getting the box to THEM is the only issue. If you don't have a hand truck, you can pick up one of those collapsable luggage carts that will handle about 150 lbs. for around $20 or so. It's not a Magliner, but it works in a pinch...

Danny Kuykendall · From: Fullerton, CA, USA

It now appears that I will let the airline transport it. I've done it before, but that was before 9/11. I'm going to use all the advice in packaging.
Thanks,
Danny

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

All of these shipping companies mentioned will give you a VERY hard time collecting on the insurance....It makes you feel better to have the insurance , but it's worthless in most cases....I collected one time only because my significant other was an attorney , and she sent them a letter ....It still took me 3 or 4 months to collect ....Put 2x4 blocks in the leg compartment to stiffen it , put styrofoam pellets or bubble wrap in there also ...Shake the case when it's closed....Any noise, put in more pellets or bubble wrap until the case closes tightly, and you hear no more rattleing ....Put the case in a heavy cardboard box....Then put that box inside ANOTHER box that has at least 4" or so of room all around the first box...Fill that will preferably solid foam sheets, or with peanuts as a last resort ...Make sure you pack it TIGHT !!!...Put a bunch of tape on the box so that it does NOT come undone ...NO steel is going to survive a huge drop off the end of the truck, but chances are that packed the way I describe it will survive 90% of what the shippers dish out to our precious instruments .... I have come to the conclusion that I would rather spend more money on packing materials, and the weight and the size of the package, than to waste my money on insurance that I can wipe my butt with .... I'd rather be playing than to argue with a shipping company that doesn't care a bit about me, or the merchandise I ship ......Jim

Danny Kuykendall · From: Fullerton, CA, USA

Just wanted to say thanks, and add for those of you who UPS or Fed-X owes money. It's very simple to take them to small claims court. Usually, they will want to settle for 75% of the amount sued for, but usually right away and at least you're getting a good portion of the money. I've had to sue twice (big corporations) in the past two years and settled both times for a good percentage of what I sued for. They hate to go to court, it costs them time and money and can tarnish their reputation.
Danny

Keith DeLong · From: Dartmouth NS Canada

I have a Larrivee acoustic that I take on planes often-I loosen the strings first,check it in the original case but I wrap the outside in foam carpet underlay, do it all up with duct tape, then put 2 plastic garbage bags over it and tape it up again. It looks terriblwe but seems to work. I leave the handle sticking out but it's probably a good idea to cover the handle on a pedal steel case, it's a lot heavier and it's a rectangular-shaped package.

Pat Kelly · From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia

I'm with James Q. I have recemtly received a ZB shipped via Fed-ex from The States. This rig was checked out by a forum member prior to despatch. It was packed up cosy and tight with more packing than you could poke a stick at. It was only three days in transit. Most of the underside is falling apart! Pull rods etc falling off. Still sings like a bird. Love it.....damaged or not!

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

I would add one more bit of advice. All the blocking on the inside is great. I have never double boxed a steel. I use heavy container board and wrap the case as tight as I can get it.I add a little cut out piece arond the handle to kind of shim up that area,before I wrap it tightly.I have never had a problem with this type of packaging..
Definatly do not put your cased instrument in a larger box and fill it with peanuts or that type of foam.They collapse and then the case moves around.Then the whole thing becomes unstable.Don't depend on the pack & ship joint to do it either,they don't usually have a clue.
Maybe bobbe or one of the guys that ship all the time have a recommendation..

Bud

Old Bud

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

I have had good luck with the styroam sheet / double box method. FedEx Ground is very reasonably priced. I shipped a Sierra from Missouri to California, insured, for about $40.

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Willis, the last guitar I shipped by FedEx was in a cut-down U-Haul box, which is very thick cardboard. They refused to insure it for more than $399 unless it was double boxed with 6" of peanuts all the way around.

I did and they did and the guitar arrived safely, but the extra packing added another 11 pounds to the package, which made the shipping and insurance charge over $50.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Gentlemen, so far i've been pretty lucky w: FedEx
only once did a psg get dammaged and they paid the dammage and let us slide on shipping costs

i make sure that the instruments are well packed so that they don't move around - plenty thick or double boxed - last but not least, i put "THROW ME" instead of "FRAGILE" on the box !
i'll take FedEx over the Brownies any day
Now USPS ain't bad either !

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