Sending a guitar through the post

[fbloke]

I've just sold my ES345 on ebay and now need to post it.  I've never done this before - I'd be grateful for any tips about which service to use to get it there without damage, how to package it and where to buy the packaging based on your better experiences.

Thanks.

[Twinfan]

If it's worth under £500, I use Royal Mail Standard Parcels with insurance.  Preferebly I ship in a hard case, and definitely with a set-neck guitar.  Then into a cardbaord box with packing around it.

Over £500, same packing process and I use DHL.

[cerpintaxt]

I shipped my Tele' in it's hard case and a cardboard guitar box I got free at my LGS. I use Interparcel quite a bit as they use a variety of couriers at really good rates and arrange pickup as well. The level insurance cover is optional.

[Philly Q]

I've used Parcel2Go quite a lot, but recently I've usually ended up with boring old Parcel Force. 

The problem with recommending a courier service is that people will say "NEVER use Courier X, use Courier Y" because they had one bad experience with X and none with Y, whereas someone else will have the exact opposite.  They're all pretty good most of the time, and they all fvck up once in a while.

For packaging, I always keep the boxes when I buy stuff because I know it won't be long before I sell something!  If you have a local music shop they usually dump boxes outside - the trick is finding out which days the rubbish is collected.

[gordiji]

never sold one but bought a few by post, from uk to france, hard case essential with box and packaging around it.
loosen off strings and make sure guitar is snug in case , use a bit of packing if the guitar has an ill fitting case.
never had a problem. write fragile all over it for the parcel man to completely ignore.insure full value and some.

[Oli]

I've had 2 guitars shipped sans-cases, one got to me in perfect condition, the other got dropped and the paint got a little bit chipped and cracked. Both were just wrapped in bubble wrap and in a box, so it really does come down to how it's handled by the couriers.

[Philly Q]

When I send a guitar without a case (or in a gigbag, which doesn't provide much protection against a determined-to-destroy courier), I double-box it if I can.  Failing that, I put it in an oversized box with as much padding as possible.

[mikeluke]

One small point here - most couriers specify guitar MUST be packed in hard case - if there is a problem and this is not done they will not pay out on insurance

[Philly Q]

That's true, but if you don't have a hard case you're not going to buy one just to sell it.  Sometimes you just have to live dangerously. 

[WezV]

the best insurance is good packaging and the fastest delivery service they offer - whoever you go with!!

But most PO will offer you as much 'compensation' * as you need and fail to mention that instruments are not covered over £150 even with a hardcase

* i was told by the man at my post office that they cant call it 'insurance', its 'compensation cover' or something like that.... aint that reassuring!! 

[bucketbot]

I have sent many Guitars through the Post and generally use Parcelforce 24.
You can arrange it and pay online & they will collect from your house.
Never had any problems with damage.

Obviously you will need to put the Guitar in a Case & a proper Guitar box.

Most Guitars packed thus weigh in at around 10KG and this will cost you around £20.

[mikeluke]

Cautionary tale - sent a guitar packed in hard case, in proper guitar outside box - bubble wrap - the works - ParcelForce managed to snap the neck and then refused to pay on the basis that "the outside packaging was not damaged therefore it could not have been our fault..."

[Frank]

only had bad experience with Parcelfarce buying off ebay - the driver couldn't find my apartment block (it's 15 storeys tall and difficult to miss), found it next try but didn't ring the bell, took the guitar back to the depot and eventually sent it all the way back to the seller, took me a total of six weeks to get my guitar and even then I had to walk to the main road and flag the van down before he drove off

[Philly Q]

only had bad experience with Parcelfarce buying off ebay - the driver couldn't find my apartment block (it's 15 storeys tall and difficult to miss), found it next try but didn't ring the bell, took the guitar back to the depot and eventually sent it all the way back to the seller, took me a total of six weeks to get my guitar and even then I had to walk to the main road and flag the van down before he drove off

I had a slightly similar experience (as a seller) with City Link.  The guy lived in a tower block and apparently they left him three cards saying he was out when they called, although (apparently) he was in every time.

They gave up and returned it to me, so I took a bus to the other side of London - immediately after being up all night watching horror movies - and delivered it personally.  $%&#er never left me feedback either.

[fbloke]

Thanks for all the advice everyone - I'm definitely going to put it in a big cardboard box packed with foam and use a local reliable courier service who understand what Fragile means and who know that I will be paying them a visit if the thing arrives in installments....