Question Recommendation for shipping a bass internationally

[MadMatt]

Hi Guys,

As many basses have been sold or traded across the Atlantic I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good solution for shipping from the EU to USA and from USA to EU. I checked with UPS and DHL and They charge a fair amount of money (too much) for a package the size of a bass in its case.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[JayDawg]

I have never shipped overseas before but I have heard that a lot of people take the neck off of their basses or guitars and are able to ship them in smaller boxes for a lot less money.

 

[MadMatt]

I have never shipped overseas before but I have heard that a lot of people take the neck off of their basses or guitars and are able to ship them in smaller boxes for a lot less money.

Thanks JayDawg,

If the 25th 4 string and 25th 5 string both fit in the same case that might be an excellent idea.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Stereo_Monkey]

Hi Matt, I shipped two basses to the USA with UPS: perfect service fast and well secured!!! It is worth every cent...

 

[DTG]

dont worry too much,just send your 25th to me and i will look after it for you

sorry never shipped a bass so cant offer any help !

 

[MadMatt]

Hi Matt, I shipped two basses to the USA with UPS: perfect service fast and well secured!!! It is worth every cent...

Thanks, good to know.

How much was it roughly. There online quote was around €350 insured. I was just wondering if there are alternatives.

-Matt

 

[Stereo_Monkey]

Thanks, good to know.

How much was it roughly. There online quote was around €350 insured. I was just wondering if there are alternatives.

-Matt

I cannot remember the exact price that I paid but I have something around 230 EURO in mind!?

Check also Fedex. A few weeks ago I paid 200 USD for shipping a Bass from California to Germany. The bass arrived after only 4 business days. But I did not check price for shipping from here to the Staates...

Please note, that you will need to have an export declaration from the German customs if the bass is worth (or declared) more than 1000 EUR!!! I did not know that the first time that I send a bass to the USA and the bass came back to me with the hint that the declaration is missing...

 

[MadMatt]

Please note, that you will need to have an export declaration from the German customs if the bass is worth (or declared) more than 1000 EUR!!! I did not know that the first time that I send a bass to the USA and the bass came back to me with the hint that the declaration is missing...

Good tip, thanks! Is there anything special needed to get the declaration. Do I have to go to the custom office to get that?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Stereo_Monkey]

Good tip, thanks! Is there anything special needed to get the declaration. Do I have to go to the custom office to get that?

Thanks,
Matt

Unfortunately yes. You will find a declaration form online. You have to fill that out and then send it online to the customs. After that I had to go there and get a stamp...

Bei Waren mit einem Wert bis 3000 EURO ist die erste "Verfahrens-Stufe" entbehrlich. Die Ausfuhranmeldung (dreifach) kann dann unmittelbar bei der Ausgangszollstelle vorgelegt werden. Bei einem Warenwert bis 1000 EURO bzw. einem Gewicht bis 1000 kg sind keine schriftlichen Formalitäten zu erfüllen. Die Ware kann dann mündlich bei der Ausgangszollstelle angemeldet werden.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

You should ask the 2 expert on the subject in this forum:

Strummer and Bovinehost, they have exchanged a few basses across the pond.

 

[Chuck B]

I never considered shipping an U.S. made bass back to the U.S.A. ...
Those I got from overseas came with USPS afaik, right, Brad?

 

[rizzo9247]

I've used USPS to the UK for around $125 (no case).

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

I ship to Europe on a regular basis. Being from Canada, I ship with Canada Post. Typically it costs $110-$120 to ship with a case (delivery time 5-6 weeks) or $200-210 for EMI Xpresspost (6-7 days). I have never ever had a lost package and thus always declare the value @ $300 to save the buyer on their Value Added Taxes (VAT) which can run 17-20%

 

[kylierider]

I sold an Alembic to a guy in Germany. It was a neck thru obviously couldn't be taken apart.

I shipped it USPS for 135.00-145.00 if I remember correctly. In the original hardshell case. I think they would only insure it for 500.00 for some reason. I took the gamble and it all worked out well. He recieved it in about a week.

 

[five7]

I sold an Alembic to a guy in Germany. It was a neck thru obviously couldn't be taken apart.

I shipped it USPS for 135.00-145.00 if I remember correctly. In the original hardshell case. I think they would only insure it for 500.00 for some reason. I took the gamble and it all worked out well. He recieved it in about a week.

The max USPS will insure for is now $500.00

 

[FunkyPunky]

You can use USPS (about $130) to ship the bass to Germany, e.g.. It takes about a week. Be sure to add two invoices outside of the package (for the customs). I had it done serveral times already and never had any problems

 

[Aussie Mark]

USPS Priority Mail (insured and trackable) with the neck off is how I ship bolt on basses from the US. A case is a case as far as I'm concerned.

 

[strummer]

You should ask the 2 expert on the subject in this forum:

Strummer and Bovinehost, they have exchanged a few basses across the pond.

Haha, yeah I guess so
Well, neck off and two packages make for inexpensive shipping, but hete in sweden at least there has been one instance of weird taxing, whter they tried to make me pay twice lol. Anyway I use the swedish post office both inside europe and to the US.

Or, you know, you can bring it yourself, flights are inexpensive...