Using Parcelforce

[Jonny]

I might plan to sell and guitar, so that would mean I'd have to sell it. But I know the whole case (pun?) with seeing how heavy it weighs, etc. but I can't find out, because I'm at Uni

So how do you go about sending something through Parcelforce? Or is it easier getting the buyer to sort it out or would that decrease the chance of my guitar selling if they had to?

[hamfist]

I think it reduces the chances of a sale significantly if you ask the buyer to arrange shipping.

THe cheapest (and also very reliable) way of getting a delivery from one of the big courier firms is through an agent, someone like http://www.ezdelivery.co.uk/ or http://www.parcel2go.com/

These companies buy fixed large amounts of deliveried from people like DHL real cheap (this guarantees DHL some business I suppose), and then sell them on to you at less than it would cost to purchase from DHL directly.

A key thing to remember when sending anything by courier is to pack the item very, very safely. Assume they will be rough with the item. They can also often be real terrors at paying out potential insurance claims, I have heard (although personally I've had no problems with something like 60-70 deliveries that I have booked myself).

[Jonny]

It says what my heaviest parcel weighs, but I'd only send one anyways, so much heavy does a guitar weigh with a case? It's gonna be an Ibanez so it's basswood and not something like a Les Paul but a list would be handy.

Ibanez - ?
Les Paul - ?

I suppose it'd be sort of in between for all the other guitars.

[Will]

I use Parcelbroker.co.uk I think.
With their DHL bundles, they will take anything up to 30kg. My Marshall was heavy and cost about £11 to post and an extra £5 for insurance.
Oh, also has to be shorter than 120cm or 130 I think :(

A les paul, could be 4kg, + case + packaging isn't going to be above 15, and thats well within reasonable pricing. You can get a quote on the parcelbroker site for each delivery option (DHL, ParcelForce and TNT) very easily, have a go

[hamfist]

Anything of guitar weight, up to about 25Kg should be about the same cost - at the moment about £12 plus any insurance cover.
  Visit the website's mentioned and get a few quotes. That'll give you an idea of prices too.

[Alex]

I recommend DHL in general, I've had good experience with them.

[Jonny]

Thanks everyone, it came to roughly £6.79 with £50 free compensation. Is it a good idea to put compensation on it? i.e. up to £250 (£12.50 extra cost)

[Will]

DHL through parcelbroker worked out at far cheaper insurance costs

[Jonny]

DHL through parcelbroker worked out at far cheaper insurance costs

Indeed! Thanks for that website, saved me a few pounds. :)

[telemonster]

only time i ever posted a guitar, i sent it with initial city link. the price and service were fine. it was a good few years back, though...!