Off Topic Save Your Balls' Boxes! Beware UPS Store!

[PeteDuBaldo]

Steve,

Thanks for posting this, people need to be aware of the different options out there, and I'm sorry to hear that they banged you out. Your new axe will be there soon!

They are only a rip off if you use their materials. If you pack it up yourself, the shipping charges will be standard.

The shipping charges may be standard, but I know that my local UPS store won't insure anything high value (over 999) that they don't pack.

 

[five7]

I use USPS and it costs about $25 to $30 to ship in the USA. Try them next time.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Steve,

Thanks for posting this, people need to be aware of the different options out there, and I'm sorry to hear that they banged you out. Your new axe will be there soon!




The shipping charges may be standard, but I know that my local UPS store won't insure anything high value (over 999) that they don't pack.

Which was the predicament they put me in.

They asked how much I wanted to insure it for. I said I want upto $2,XXX amount insured, they said they would have to pack it.

Even worse, they charge $2 for EVERY $100 insured. That's $40 bucks to insure 2 grand flat. My wallet hurts.

This is what my pops meant about "building character" haha

 

[Astrofreq]

But the post office would be no different. If you insure something through them for $2000, it will cost the same amount.

The difference is that messing with US Mail is a felony, whereas tampering with UPS is a misdemeanor. In other words, you mess with a USPS package and you're messing with the government.

 

[ScoobySteve]

But the post office would be no different. If you insure something through them for $2000, it will cost the same amount.

The difference is that messing with US Mail is a felony, whereas tampering with UPS is a misdemeanor. In other words, you mess with a USPS package and you're messing with the government.

USPS is still cheaper to insure.

Their rates are $7.70 + $1 for every $100. That comes out to $27.70 as opposed to $40. $12.30 in savings on shipping is a big deal IMO.

 

[koogie2k]

I get a HUUUUUUUGE discount with UPS. Good thing just in case.

Yes, I keep the boxes. Sometimes I put my guitars in them and act like it is new guitar day....well...no I don't. I am sure someon has though...

Sorry to hear that Scooby. Now you know....unfortunately after you were mugged.

 

[tommyindelaware]

i've had good luck w/ the ups counter at staples office supplies

 

[ScoobySteve]

I might try that too. Office Depot, and Kinko's has been doing intermediary shipping services lately.

I should check their rates sometimes.

 

[DJ.]

Don't know if anybody is interested but I am happy to share at least one source for guitar shipping boxes.

We ship almost everyday and we buy some of our shipping boxes from a company called ULINE. They have brick and mortar warehouses im several major cities as well as selling online. They have two sizes of guitar boxes that will work. The catch is that you have to order bundles of 5.
18 x 6 x 45" 275 lb. FOL Side Loading Corrugated Guitar Boxes S-14224 - Uline
20 x 8 x 50" 275 lb. FOL Side Loading Corrugated Guitar Boxes S-4922 - Uline

Might be worth it if you ship a lot, don't have boxes, and don't want to build them.

 

[beej]

Nice! That's a good source for boxes. I also find myself in the lurch from time to time, even though I try to save them.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks, DJ. Will hold onto that.

I sold a guitar case and gig bag on eBay. Not only did the UPS store charge over $50 to ship them in my own over-sized box, but PayPal randomly chose to withhold the eBay purchase amount for 21 days, which meant that I had to eat shipping for 3 weeks! I would have been better off giving the cases to Goodwill, by the time all was said and done. Never again will I sell anything on eBay, and I'm going to see if it's possible to ship from the UPS warehouse in the future. Another guitar not long ago cost me almost $100 to pack and ship cross country via a UPS store. A large amp head would have cost $110 to pack and ship. It's crazy anymore.

 

[Suneo]

hi guys,

I have to ship my guitar out this week, and i have a question about packing.
this is my plan so far: i will put my Axis SS in its case, wrap the case with bubble wrap. and luckily that i decide to call GC, so i got a box for free though i dont know if it's ebmm's but it seems to fit. then ship it with UPS.

because i always think the guitar is still movable within its case, my concern is i dont know if i need to do anything with the guitar before putting it in its case (like put it in big plastic bag? protect the headstock or body with sth?). could anyone give me any thoughts?

Thank you
Sone

 

[Spudmurphy]

Pack bubble wrap around the guitar in the case too.

I tip I heard (on the bass side but never tried it myself) is to pace a thin piece of cardboard between the strings and the fretboard.

 

[jakedawgwhite88]

yea man my dad volunteered to take my luke I was shipping to cali for a set up and fret work he told me it cost him 120 bucks (I found a box that worked thank God) apparently they charge double the cost of just ups. Lesson learned for me too.... the shipping to cali from oklahoma was just as expensive as the setup/fret work +shipping back to oklahoma. Gotta love those life lessons!!! LOL

 

[roburado]

This is exactly why I save my boxes and try to obtain the original boxes if I get them from somewhere like GC. Fortunately, I get most of my Balls from Pete. So, I actually get the original box most of the time.

 

[bkrumme]

Here in the States, you can always get boxes from Uline. You have to buy a batch of 5, but they're not unreasonable. Around $45 for 5 of them shipped to your house. They're just a tad wider than the ones you get your EBMM guitar in (if shipped to you).

I suggest what Spud said. Wrap the guitar in bubble wrap inside the case, then wrap the case in bubble wrap in the box.

And I don't know how you go about your shipping, but it never costs me more than around $30 to ship from Cincinnati to Cali via UPS. And that's fully insured. ALWAYS CREATE YOUR UPS SHIPMENT AT UPS.COM AND DROP THE PACKAGE OFF AT THE UPS STORE.

 

[Assumer]

Always pack you own. Some places like Office Depot (when you pack your own) charge just what UPS charges to ship.

 

[Suneo]

Thanks guys.. i called ups today to get a quote from the store. one told me that with the value of the guitar (it was brand new), they allow me only to air ship it, which cost around $116 at the cheapest for 2day delivery.
i then called another store, they told me they can, but they asked if i have space at least 2inches every side between the cardboard box and guitar case, otherwise, there may be a problem claiming with insurance if sth happened. i dont have 2inches spaces on all sides (i dont even know if the box i have is ebmm). the top and bottom of my guitar case are just touching the box (i still doubt if i could put bubble wrap around it while still able to put it in the box). anyway, they offered to pack for me for about ~20, and with 'Ground' shipping, they will charge me everything including insurance for 110.

i was stunned, coz the two store gave me different suggestion. the first one insist they dont allow ground, and the other allow it for almost same cost.

i just wonder if we need to have any 2inches space on every side to put some cushion in? am i taking too much risk if i were to ship with the box i have...

any thoughts?
thanks again.

 

[Suneo]

by the way, these are my Axis SS rosewood neck and JP6.

 

[andynpeters]

If I don't have a box I mummify the case in several thicknesses of bubble wrap which appears to render it bullet proof....that's how my ASS travelled from Spain to its new owner in the UK with no problem at all.