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How to ship a bass

G

GroovinUSA

Oct 3, 2019
39
37
#1
I'm selling one of my basses, and it's listed on my local Craigslist but hasn't had any interest yet. I could sell it on the forum here or reverb.com, but I'm not sure how I would ship it. I'd ship it in a hardshell case. Any ideas on how to box this up properly?
 
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#5
I suggest finding a box that's oversized so you can cushion it well on the top and bottom. I suggest insuring it as well. Make sure the bass is secure within the case, too.

I would not simply pack the case in a box. Take the extra time to do this well. If it adds to the cost of the shipping because the box dimensions have changed, charge the buyer accordingly (I'm certain the want the bass to be in 1 piece as well.)
 
#6
GroovinUSA said:
So you think if I go to guitar center and ask them for a spare box they'll have some that they'll just give away?
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That's exactly what you can do. Ask them what days they get their deliveries and around what time and they'll give you one. They break them down and get rid of them quick so try to find a friendly face and tell him what you need and it shouldn't be a problem.
 
#7
Some cases fit some basses better than others. Sometimes a bit of packing inside the case is necessary to make sure the bass stays-put where it should.
If you’re concerned about the case staying pristine then packing/padding around the case is a good idea. Often, if I have to ship a bass assembled I let the buyer know that the case is “free” and should be “functional” but make sure they have the expectation that the case is being used as a vessel to insure the bass arrives safely.
Also never a bad idea to loosen the string tension a bit.
 
#8
One thing you have to keep in mind. Keep the box as close to the size of the case as you can. USPS,UPS, and FedEx all have dimensional shipping rates so a few inches in any direction can really make a difference in shipping cost as you can change to a new dimension class rate.
 
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#10
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I ended up getting a properly sized box for the bass in its case from a local guitar store for $5. Perhaps it's $5 I didn't need to spend, but it was convenient and perfectly sized for my bass. Gonna list it here soon.
 
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#14
I use UPS mostly, but I have used Fedex and USPS. I get quotes from all 3 each time, they all vary widely based on day and where you are going. I have had no problems with any of them. Make sure you know if you are shipping to a business or residential address it’s makes about a 15% difference in price.
 
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#17
GroovinUSA said:
Thanks, I'm planning on having the buyer pay shipping but knowing an estimate is helpful. Which shipping company would you recommend?
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Good. There have been a lot of threads asking how to ship and the extreme cost of shipping comes up all the time, sometimes as a reason why you shouldn't bother selling at all. Why should an individual selling a thing offer free shipping as if he's a business with a logistics department? You can figure out shipping once a buyer makes a commitment. UPS is gonna be the most expensive. FedEx or USPS are the way to go. Measure your box and weigh it. The shipper's websites will have cost calculators.
 

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