international DB shipping (De to US)

[gschu]

some years ago I moved to the US and I am missing my wonderful toys from germany. Can someone recommend a good and trustworthy shipping company which specializes in shipping of large instruments like a double bass?

No, I dont have a flying case - "the container" as I call them - only soft covers.

Every comment welcome.

Best, Georg

[jsbarber]

FedEx Air Freight will ship a double bass. Everyone I have spoken to about it recommends them, or will only use them.

Jim

[davidprice]

Any idea what that costs?
i.e. shipping a DB FedEx air freight between the US and Europe.

-- I did check the FedEx site but one has to contact them to get a specific quote.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by jsbarber

FedEx Air Freight will ship a double bass. Everyone I have spoken to about it recommends them, or will only use them.

Jim

Really! I ran a sample quote from Cologne to Brooklyn and it came up at $1375. A big shop like Kolstein probably gets a better rate, but I think you can do a lot better by using a freight forwarder. Also, you have to check the import duties. If you have only moved recently, you might get an exemption. I think when I came to Germany I had two years to get my stuff over. After that you get nailed for like 35% of declared value here. I really think your best bet is to bring your bass over with you the next time you're visiting. That's also a nightmare, but probably not as financially crippling as airfreighting!

[jsbarber]

Import duty is 3.2% I believe, unless the instrument is old (>100 years, maybe) in which case there is no duty. See:
http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/h...er/0901c92.pdf
Not sure how they value the instrument if it's not new, an appraisal that you provide I would expect. I suspect if you have owned it for some time that there is no duty.

I am not familiar with freight forwarding, and whether it is done by air or sea. If you send it by boat it will take about 2-3 weeks to the east coast or 6 weeks to the west coast of the US. Do you want your bass in the hold of a boat for this length of time? You might also need more robust packing/crating.

The rate quoted above for FedEx air freight is what I'd have expected, or less. Trying to take it with you on a plane is a well documented challenge. There are size restrictions for baggage. Some have talked about buying an extra ticket, but I doubt you could fit the bass into a coach seat if that's how they do it. You should check the forums here to get better info, and also check the ISB site:
http://www.isbworldoffice.com/resour...your_bass.html

Good luck, and let us know what you do and how it works out,

Jim

[davidprice]

...the duty going into the US should be quite low. Into the EU is entirely different -- generally being from 22-35%

I believe there is also air freight forwarding but I have no experience with it.