Ballpark estimating shipping cost for a bass?

[BigBigGuy44]

You can open a free UPS account online and then google search for coupons codes. This has saved me a great deal of time and money.

Several years back I had an issue were UPS delivered a package to the wrong apartment or suite number at the address. I used a third party shipper (not pirate ship but same concept) and it was an absolute nightmare trying to get it sorted out. The third party was listed as the shipper of record, not me since they were the ones that purchased the label from UPS. UPS would only talk to the shipper on record so all communication had to go through this third party. I decided to print my own labels after that experience because the time spent going back and forth cost way more than the few bucks I saved on postage.

 

[newwavefrank]

I just shipped one from Utah to NY with Pirateship and it was $87.

 

[Jeff K]

Well, I recently shipped a nice Jazz Bass/hardshell case from Memphis to Connecticut via UPS. Shipping and insurance cost was $130.00 and some odd cents. The days of shipping a bass for $30.00 are long gone...

 

[red_rhino]

Go to Pirate Ship.

This.

List the bass for sale on here.
Do not list a shipping price, instead say Actual shipping based on your Location...
When someone sends you a PM for shipping then do the quote...at Pirateship
That way instead of doing a quote from Vermont {where you are} to the west coast...by doing it based on the buyers location ...someone closer to you will not pay a shipping price to the west coast or visa versa...

And this.

 

[jTrolt]

Regarding boxes, recently read here that one of the big 2 had dictation on cardboard load rating, like 150Lbs crush test, or insurance could be denied. Funny thing - I had just received a new instrument from Pro audio star that day and was cutting up the outer box. 44Lbs crush test rating. If there was a damaged instrument, would I have been screwed if I tried to make a claim?
Not trying to pile on the OP's concerns about shipping, but I am very curious if anyone has had experience with the grade of box being used and if this really is an issue regarding insurance claims with parcels.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Regarding boxes, recently read here that one of the big 2 had dictation on cardboard load rating, like 150Lbs crush test, or insurance could be denied. Funny thing - I had just received a new instrument from Pro audio star that day and was cutting up the outer box. 44Lbs crush test rating. If there was a damaged instrument, would I have been screwed if I tried to make a claim?
Not trying to pile on the OP's concerns about shipping, but I am very curious if anyone has had experience with the grade of box being used and if this really is an issue regarding insurance claims with parcels.

You can't make a claim for shipping damage with the shipping company, that is on the sender who was contracted to make the shipment.

 

[Nightsprinter]

Pirate Ship +1

I just shipped a bass double boxed cross country for like 85 bucks...

 

[lordradish]

List the bass for sale on here.
Do not list a shipping price, instead say Actual shipping based on your Location...
When someone sends you a PM for shipping then do the quote...at Pirateship
That way instead of doing a quote from Vermont {where you are} to the west coast...by doing it based on the buyers location ...someone closer to you will not pay a shipping price to the west coast or visa versa...

That's a great idea.

 

[lordradish]

Sounds like Pirate Ship is the way to go. I will get some estimates on that and maybe I can sell this on here. Thanks.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I have a five string fretless I'm selling locally, mostly because I know how expensive they can be to ship. It's still being used, and I probably will sell it locally, so I haven't boxed it up and weighed it and gotten rates. I am thinking of selling it on here, but I'm not sure what a good mid point would be for shipping due to the variance. I'm okay with not getting the full amount, but I don't want to say 75 for shipping and then it ends up being 200 or something. Anyone have any tips? It's a bit under 10 pounds w/o the included hard case.

I go to each calculator and see what a 52x20x8 box weighing 15 pounds would cost to sent to Fortuna, CA (farthest point in CONUS from me). Whatever that is, I still the potential buyer that at MOST it's going to be that amount.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Sounds like Pirate Ship is the way to go. I will get some estimates on that and maybe I can sell this on here. Thanks.

I've had good results with Shippo as well

 

[lordradish]

Well, I did some calculations on Pirate Ship like several of you have suggested... great idea. Shipping to the farthest point in CONUS from here (I put in Los Angles) is about 160 bucks, with insurance. I have a shipping box coming, and when it gets here, I'll put it up for sale here and change from local pickup only on Reverb, too.

Thanks for all of the great advice, folks.