Official Luthiers Forum!

Can anyone tell me what's involved in shipping a guitar across the border?

Who do you use for shipping?

Is there paperwork involved?

This would be a mahogany guitar.

Thanks
Neil

1 - go to the local post office.

2 - they supply the paperwork, fill out the to and from addresses

3 - label the contents as acoustic guitar and case, value at whatever, quanitiy one, and its weight.

4 - pay the ammount they tell you.

5 - leave.

How I do it all the time.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Tony

What is the general cost? This is a used guitar I have that someone in Florida is thinking about.

depends on the zipcode .. a typical weight (20-30 pounds - ameritage cases weigh a bunch) guitar box is about 120 bucks for 4 day service ...

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Neil,

I have used Fedex and UPS for shipping guitars to the US (I'm using UPS right now). Both couriers offer online tools to help you fill out all the proper paperwork. The guitar can be shipped duty free under the NAFTA agreement. The NAFTA form can be a little tricky to figure out but once you have the hang of it is the same every time. If you decide to ship with a courier and have more questions let me know.

A couple other things to keep in mind....

Insurance can play a big factor in how much you get charged for shipping.

Also when you are asked for a description of what you are shipping just put "acoustic guitar" or "Acoustic guitar and case". Don't start listing all the woods that are on the guitar.

Hope that helps

Josh

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Post office doesnt need the nafta form, at least I have never filled one out there .. I think I have only ever filled that out once when shiping something, Fedex IIRC. It usually just goes .... fedex depot is further away for me, plus it usually costs more as well. I dont see the point ...

I have my own shipping insurance .. so I decline theirs, no matter who I ship with.

Correct .. never give more info than they ask for ... acoustic guitar (with PU) and case.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I often wonder, when shipping from Canada to the US via Fedex or UPS, do the US guys get nailed with "brokerage fees" like us Canadians when it is shipped the other way around?

FedEx prices include brokerage fees, but not UPS, so expect someone to pay for it when using UPS (either the sender or the receiver).

Having used Canada Post, UPS and FedEx for Canada to US shipping, my experience is that FedEx is the easiest and most reliable. It costs more, but it is worries free and there is very little paperwork involved.

Good luck

Pat