I just spent $80 shipping a neck...

[mattsbass]

I shipped my MIM P bass neck today and it cost me $80!

I am so pissed off right now because I barely made any money. Plus I have to wait for paypal to release my funds for thier new policy.

Can someone PLEASE give me tips on shipping tips? The necks I buy in ebay has only a $14 shipping price on them.

Thanks

 

[Joe Gress]

Who did you use to ship it? What method?

 

[Selta]

FedEx Ground.
Reduce your box size and weight as much as possible, but make sure it's stable and will take abuse w/o harming the contents.
Do the packing yourself! Save every box you ever get and the peanuts/bubbles too!

 

[PSPookie]

Wow. Where did you ship from and where did you ship to? How much did the package weigh? Was it in a ridiculously oversized box? Did you have the UPS store pack it?

$80 is probably way to much. I can typically ship an entire bass anywhere in the CONUS for less than $50.

 

[SteveC]

DON'T GO TO A "Shipping" STORE!! They rob you. Go to the walk up counter at your city UPS place. I ship basses for $20.

Actually, USPS isn't bad. I shipped a bass insured for $1,000 Priority for $32.

 

[Joe Gress]

$80 is probably way to much. I can typically ship an entire bass anywhere in the CONUS for less than $50.

I shipped a bass via fedex for $30. I packed myself though.

 

[Relic]

Do not EVER go to on of those shipping store places.
I walked into one one time to ship a bass and was quoted $200, I walked out, went to the post office and shipped the same bass for $35 with tracking and full insurance.

 

[PSPookie]

I shipped a bass via fedex for $30. I packed myself though.

Yup. I shipped a bass just a few states away for $23 IIRC with fedex ground. GA to WA with a case and lots of packing & insurance was mid 40s. Definitely pack it yourself.

Do the packing yourself! Save every box you ever get and the peanuts/bubbles too!

Big fat +1 here. That will save you more than you think.

 

[hover]

Wow. did they at least kiss you before they bent you over and ______ you in the wallet?

 

[MatticusMania]

Wow. did they at least kiss you before they bent you over and ______ you in the butt?

fixed

 

[Pilgrim]

Do I take it correctly that the OP didn't bother to pack the neck, measure the box, then hit the websites for FedEx (Ground), UPS and USPS to check shipping costs????

THAT is not the smart way to ship. Compare costs (it takes all of two minutes) and ship with the carrier directly - not through an intermediary that marks up the shipping costs.

I do biz with the closest UPS Store on occasion because their depot is a half-hour each way from here...and an hour's drive costs me $$. But FedEx is 5 minutes away and USPS is even closer.

 

[JumboFriendly]

I've been shipping a good bit of stuff lately with FedEx. I weigh and measure the boxes before leaving for work, take the packages with me, print out shipping labels online, and have them come and get it. Really easy, so far the most expensive thing I've had to ship was an active 5 string Jazz bass (heavy) with a case (heavier) from Alabama to Colorado. It was under $40.

 

[GeneralElectric]

The last bass neck I shipped, via fedex, cost me about $10 including the box.