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Guitar packing and shipping guide.
I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t post their Guitars, and offer collection only. This can restrict your buyers, and more often than not hurt your pocket. If you’re not used to using a courier for Guitars it can be a scary, daunting process, so I thought I’d put together this guide to make the whole thing a little easier.
First off, I’m not a dealer or a business. I don’t have any accounts with any couriers or suppliers. I’m just a normal Joe, someone who is pretty much addicted to Guitars, and maybe buy more than I probably should. And where I’m located it’s not a case of popping down the local Guitar shop, as there isn’t one. So most of my incoming Guitars are via couriers, and over the last couple of decades I’ve picked up a bit of experience in the best (and at the same time affordable) way of doing things.
So here is a very simple, affordable and secure guide to help you. Any costs you incur you can factor into your selling price if you so wish, but I’ll break all the costs down for you as I go.
You’re going to need packing tape. If you do an online auction search for “48mm x 66m Fragile Tape x 6 Rolls”, and sort the results from the cheapest, you should aim to get 6 rolls for approx £7 delivered. I like Scotch/3M brand, cost' s bit more, but that's entirely up to you. Even the cheapest rolls shouldn't give you any issues with stick if you wrap them round onto themselves and use enough of the stuff.
Next bubble wrap. The ones in your local shops are overpriced and undersized, so again do a search for “500mm x 100m Bubble Wrap” and you should aim to get a full Roll for approx £12 delivered.
Now you need a Cardboard Box. There are a few ways to do this. If you’re local to a Guitar Shop, or don’t mind driving to one further afield, then pop in. What I’ve found through experience is “don’t phone” in advance and ask if they have one, just pop in, and be polite. Remember all these shops have an online presence and will likely be just as desperate for the box as you are. What I do is ask politely if I can buy a decent Fender, Gibson or Martin Box, and offer the guy £20. The above boxes are great quality and double walled, and you’d be hard pushed to find a better option. If the guys nice enough to just give you one, then fine. If you pay for it, It’s money well spent.
Second option is to buy one online and have it delivered to you. Currently there is only really one proper seller on the auction site doing that, and I don’t want to link. Works out about £17-£20, and they do the job if you pack properly, but the boxes are single ply and quite thin. I’ve used this guy maybe a dozen times over the years, and as a last resort they’re okay.
Third box option is do a google search locally for cardboard box manufacturers. I was surprised at how many there was. Send them an email, tell them what you want. I did this with a local guy, and found if I bought boxes he already had made up, It worked out at just under a fiver a box. I have to cut and jiggle things about, but they’re good quality double walled boxes.
If you’re posting a Guitar in a gig-bag, lay the Bubble wrap on it’s side on the floor and roll the guitar in it’s gig bag over and over in the bubble wrap. There’s tons of the stuff on this roll so don’t be tight. Move up and down the guitar, and then do the same but top to bottom. Go back again and do it side to side, until you have a big puffy, very well padded Guitar. Don’t skimp on the bubble wrap, It is after all why you bought it. You might find that in your cardboard box there are fitted and protected ends, If not pack out the bottom with more bubble wrap or newspaper or cardboard if you have some, and do the same on the top. Try and restrict movement inside the box.
If you’re sending a guitar in a case, usually the case does a good job at keeping it from moving, but I like to cut up some bubble wrap and place some around the gaps, and under the Headstock. Again don’t skimp, but don’t put the guitar under any unnecessary pressure once the lid is closed. What I do next is repeat the above step and wrap the hard case in bubble wrap.
The best thing here is to restrict time in transit. You want to book a ‘next day’ service. You don’t want your £1000 Guitar being thrown about numerous depots over a number of days, that’s just asking for trouble. So next day service only.
Currently there are really only two couriers (as far as I’m aware) in the UK that offer a proper insured service for Guitars. UPS and DPD. I’ve never used DPD, but I’ve used UPS so many times now that we exchange Christmas cards. Be aware that there are numerous other couriers that will convince you that the extra insurance they’ve happily just taken off you covers Guitars. But It won’t be until something happens and you’re directed to the small print that you find out that’s not the truth.
You can book UPS for example in a couple of ways. Online at the UPS/uk website. It’s really easy. A Guitar boxes dimensions are usually approx 110cm x 40cm x 17cm, and the weight around 10kg. Remember and tick the “schedule a collection” which costs approx £2 more. UPS next day direct uninsured works out on average £30. Insured takes it up to around the £45-£50 mark, and depending on what the value is of your guitar can go up some more. The cost to Spain, France, basically mainland Europe is approx £65. There are third parties (I won’t link to them), who you can book the exact same UPS service and extra insurance cover via, and it ‘sometimes’ works out a bit cheaper, but I tend to just do it direct.
First off, I’m not a dealer or a business. I don’t have any accounts with any couriers or suppliers. I’m just a normal Joe, someone who is pretty much addicted to Guitars, and maybe buy more than I probably should. And where I’m located it’s not a case of popping down the local Guitar shop, as there isn’t one. So most of my incoming Guitars are via couriers, and over the last couple of decades I’ve picked up a bit of experience in the best (and at the same time affordable) way of doing things.
So here is a very simple, affordable and secure guide to help you. Any costs you incur you can factor into your selling price if you so wish, but I’ll break all the costs down for you as I go.
You’re going to need packing tape. If you do an online auction search for “48mm x 66m Fragile Tape x 6 Rolls”, and sort the results from the cheapest, you should aim to get 6 rolls for approx £7 delivered. I like Scotch/3M brand, cost' s bit more, but that's entirely up to you. Even the cheapest rolls shouldn't give you any issues with stick if you wrap them round onto themselves and use enough of the stuff.
Delivery usually takes a couple of days, but some of the sellers offer 24hr delivery for that price so look out for that. Also if you have Amazon Prime, you will find similar deals on there with guaranteed next day included.
Now you need a Cardboard Box. There are a few ways to do this. If you’re local to a Guitar Shop, or don’t mind driving to one further afield, then pop in. What I’ve found through experience is “don’t phone” in advance and ask if they have one, just pop in, and be polite. Remember all these shops have an online presence and will likely be just as desperate for the box as you are. What I do is ask politely if I can buy a decent Fender, Gibson or Martin Box, and offer the guy £20. The above boxes are great quality and double walled, and you’d be hard pushed to find a better option. If the guys nice enough to just give you one, then fine. If you pay for it, It’s money well spent.
Second option is to buy one online and have it delivered to you. Currently there is only really one proper seller on the auction site doing that, and I don’t want to link. Works out about £17-£20, and they do the job if you pack properly, but the boxes are single ply and quite thin. I’ve used this guy maybe a dozen times over the years, and as a last resort they’re okay.
Third box option is do a google search locally for cardboard box manufacturers. I was surprised at how many there was. Send them an email, tell them what you want. I did this with a local guy, and found if I bought boxes he already had made up, It worked out at just under a fiver a box. I have to cut and jiggle things about, but they’re good quality double walled boxes.
So anyway, you finally have your Box, Tape and Bubble Wrap, so onto packing.
First off, slacken the strings*
If you’re posting a Guitar in a gig-bag, lay the Bubble wrap on it’s side on the floor and roll the guitar in it’s gig bag over and over in the bubble wrap. There’s tons of the stuff on this roll so don’t be tight. Move up and down the guitar, and then do the same but top to bottom. Go back again and do it side to side, until you have a big puffy, very well padded Guitar. Don’t skimp on the bubble wrap, It is after all why you bought it. You might find that in your cardboard box there are fitted and protected ends, If not pack out the bottom with more bubble wrap or newspaper or cardboard if you have some, and do the same on the top. Try and restrict movement inside the box.
If you’re sending a guitar in a case, usually the case does a good job at keeping it from moving, but I like to cut up some bubble wrap and place some around the gaps, and under the Headstock. Again don’t skimp, but don’t put the guitar under any unnecessary pressure once the lid is closed. What I do next is repeat the above step and wrap the hard case in bubble wrap.
Once your Guitar is wrapped and in it’s cardboard box, tape it closed with that Fragile Tape. Make sure it’s well taped shut all over. Remember as well as being secure that "Fragile" tape is also sending a clear message to the courier, so make sure you use it. I usually end up using one full roll per Guitar, but on occasions have used two.
You also have lots of bubble wrap and tape left over to help with the next time you do it.
Okay, you’re ready for the courier now.
Currently there are really only two couriers (as far as I’m aware) in the UK that offer a proper insured service for Guitars. UPS and DPD. I’ve never used DPD, but I’ve used UPS so many times now that we exchange Christmas cards. Be aware that there are numerous other couriers that will convince you that the extra insurance they’ve happily just taken off you covers Guitars. But It won’t be until something happens and you’re directed to the small print that you find out that’s not the truth.
You can book UPS for example in a couple of ways. Online at the UPS/uk website. It’s really easy. A Guitar boxes dimensions are usually approx 110cm x 40cm x 17cm, and the weight around 10kg. Remember and tick the “schedule a collection” which costs approx £2 more. UPS next day direct uninsured works out on average £30. Insured takes it up to around the £45-£50 mark, and depending on what the value is of your guitar can go up some more. The cost to Spain, France, basically mainland Europe is approx £65. There are third parties (I won’t link to them), who you can book the exact same UPS service and extra insurance cover via, and it ‘sometimes’ works out a bit cheaper, but I tend to just do it direct.
That’s you… the UPS guy then comes to your house to pick the guitar up, and off it goes well packed and fully insured to it’s new owner who gets it the very next day.
Hope this helps, and please feel free to add your own advice.
*Not sure if this makes a difference or not, but it's something I do. My train of thought is, a Guitar is under 200lb of pressure. Would I rather take a chance on the neck taking a thump from a courier whilst it's under 200lb of pressure, or would I prefer the thump to happen with slackened strings?.
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Comments
One q I have is that I've heard both views on strings slackened vs tightened. Can't both be correct unless it just doesn't matter?
Tape - don’t aim to buy cheap stuff. The amount of incoming parcels I receive from customers (for refinishing) where the tape has cleanly detached itself from the cardboard is shocking.
Insurance - my experience is probably the same as most... it’s a load of shit. A courier will rarely (more than likely never) pay out. I’ve had a few claims in with couriers which involves someone coming out to inspect the damage. Never been successful yet. And unfortunately, unless you’re sending the guitar in a case you don’t have a leg to stand on. No matter how much bubble wrap you use.
Overall its helpful info but you’re not going to convince someone to sell a guitar which needs to be shipped. I have a few friends who deliberately don’t ship to avoid and hassle in their lives. I can totally appreciate that. Due to what I have to send out every week I’m happy with my methods but everyone has a horror story to tell.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
So the above applies to buyers as well, if you really want a guitar and the seller doesn't ship... be proactive, ask if the seller agrees to handling the packaging and having the guitar collected, whilst the buyer handles the shipping side of things.
I've done this on many of the guitars I've sold lately. The choice on whether to insure the guitar, is completely up to the buyer, as are the shipping costs (so they don't have to be included in the actual guitar price). The seller provides the packaging and is required to wait for collection.
Very valid point too. Overall for me it comes down to balancing the need for a quick(er) sale, the cost in relation to the guitar's value, and the non-negligible faff factor.
Case in point: just sold a Charvel, not getting much traction on here or Gumtree after about a week. Popped it on ebay for the £1 fee, and it sold within the hour. I happened to still have a decent guitar box in the attic so that was sorted. Booked UPS via Interparcel (actually undervaluing the guitar a bit as insurance for the full value doubled the cost), that was £35, a bit more than I charged as I thought it would deter buyers. Had to wait in all day for UPS because sod's law had it that they would turn up at 5pm. Hopefully it gets there safe and sound.
So I did get a swift sale at the best price I could get I think, but I'm also down £20 in paypal fees, £35 in shipping and my time waiting for UPS. If I'd had to buy a box that would have been another £15-20.
Could I have held out for a local cash sale for longer (maybe even at a lower price so potentially speeding up said sale)? Perhaps. I do know that I probably wouldn't do it for a guitar worth less than £500 (unless it's PPG with someone on here and they're happy paying full shipping cost, which can be a tricky proposition on a relatively common low-value guitar). Anything £1000+? You'd be mad not too, even if the cost of insurance does come into it then.
I think the point about slackening the strings relates to Gibsons or similar guitars with mahogany necks that can break relatively easily. The strings exert phenomenal pressure and if the package is dropped and there’s any weakness in the wood then the string-pull can put a crack in the neck quite easily. As @ICBM has said on here before, the direction of the grain on a Gibson’s neck-to-headstock area can influence how prone it will be to a neck break.
http://i.imgur.com/w22OuhZ.jpg
Good write up @MikeS ; like you I have no decent local guitar vendor, travel incurs an expensive ferry fare so is finacially unviable, so I rely on couriers to sate my GAS....
Personally I would not normally slacken strings but it does no harm, and I would comply if asked to.
Rob Hayes of Whitstable Guitars had a disaster early in his selling career where a guitar he sent arrived damaged. Its likely that he was particularly unlucky, because it would have been well packaged. However, he now wont ship a guitar without a case and a double walled box.
It's insurance that is the real issue for me. Its usually just not worth doing. For that reason when I ordered a guitar a few years back from NorthEastGuitars (a model I had no experience of) I was grateful of the optional service of vendor providing collection / recovery of the guitar at their risk. That option cost £30 at the time, and I didn't need to use it, but it was worth it to me at the time for peace of mind, just in case I didn't like it.
Honestly mate I used to be the same - always said collection only (or offered to drive reasonable distances) but, especially on here, that's not likely to get you very far (no pun intended).
I've shipped 3 guitars (soon 4) in the past year and received 3, and it's all gone well. Hell, I've received guitars via Parcelforce and everything was good. The only one where I really bricked it was sending my SG (even though it was in a hard case, in a double-walled box) because of all the horror stories of snapped headstocks from impact. Went A-OK.
It really is all in the packaging, and choosing good couriers (I used to do UPS exclusively, now sending my 2nd guitar via APC). Especially for anything bolt-on, I don't think there's too much to worry about if it's carefully packed (i.e. lack of movement of the guitar in the case/bag, and then inside the box).
On a separate occasion I watched the DPD driver stand a guitar box on its end, which then in slow motion toppled over. When I said WTF, he said - ‘don’t worry we do that all the time‘ - so you cannot legislate the behaviour of the delivery guys.
Which is why I quite like G4M and PMT if I am taking an online punt, as they will organise return courier for a nominal £6 a £10 fee - which given the costs for insured couriers is very good value (and sans stress or worry).
It’s an interesting thought - one I will ask them if or when I buy again.