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Shipping bass with TSA case only, no box???

Burwabit

Burwabit

Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
Apr 4, 2011
3,695
4,208
Lubbock, TX
www.reverbnation.com
#1
I'm buying one of the used Fender Jazz Deluxe basses from a guy... one of the new models that comes stock with a TSA case. He is a novice at shipping stuff. He wants to ship with TSA case only, no box. Is this advisable? He got advise from a local music store where I sent him in search of a box.
 
#2
I had a bass shipped to me in a hardshell case. The guy packed the inside well with newpaper to stop the bass from moving & then plastic wrapped the entire case to keep it shut during transit. He then put a layer of packing tape around the plastic wrap. It arrived just fine. :)
 
#5
No GC near where he lives. He can have a box made for $15, which he would pass along to me. My question is more whether case-only would work. I like the idea of wrapping in plastic and tapping the heck of out of. Anyone else have thoughts on shipping with TSA case only?
 
#6
A good case is gonna protect it, especially if the bass is padded inside, but I'd be concerned about what the shipper is gonna do with it. You can't really ship something without a box, though apparently it does happen.
 
#7
If the case is secured with a bunch of plastic & tape then I wouldn't worry about it too much. That stuff will keep the case from getting scratched up. I know we've all heard the horror stories but is it really standard for UPS or whoever to toss stuff around? Tell him to ask for a fragile sticker or something when he takes it to get it shipped.
 
#8
My guess is it will look a lot like this. I had a Fender Strat sent to me this way. I about crapped my pants when I saw how it was sent. The bottom line is the guitar made it without any damage, but I would never ever send something this way.

2012-06-06_10-50-33_972.jpg
 
#9
I recently had a (empty) TSA case shipped to me, nearly half way across the states, and no problems. Wrapped in one layer of plastic, taped, and it arrived in near perfect condition.

However, working for a shipping company, I will go ahead and give some advice.

Fill all spaces in boxes, if there's room for it to shift, it will.
Use the appropriate size box. Not too big, not too small.
Orientation arrows when necessary.
Don't be afraid to pack around the shipped item, who knows how someone will handle your package once it leaves your sight.
Don't skimp on the tape. (One piece of tape WILL NOT hold 40 pounds)
Use your own judgement.

Best of luck!
 
#11
Other great box options are bicycle shops. The bikes and frames come in long, flat boxes that are tough. Or rent-to-own stores. They go through flat screens like crazy and don't save the boxes. Surely there is something like that where he lives.

No TSA only, just asking for problems in my view.
 
#13
3234718 said:
I've also heard you can bring a bass into a UPS store and they'll do everything else. The box, the packing materials, + shipping for one price. I doubt it's cheap though, or even reasonable.
Click to expand...

I did that wth the american bc rich warlock bass with case I had to sell. Ups store did box and we filled space around case with styrofoam peanuts. I dont remeber cost except was pretty low. I think at or under $45 bucks for everything including shipping cost itself. That was good 8 yrs ago, but I dont think prices have gone up to much since then.
 
#16
I advise against that.
Had a bass shipped to me packed by UPS. They had dropped the case in a box, freely moving around, no bubble wrap or anything. The bass was fine but the case was damaged on one side.
3234718 said:
I've also heard you can bring a bass into a UPS store and they'll do everything else. The box, the packing materials, + shipping for one price. I doubt it's cheap though, or even reasonable.
Click to expand...
 
#18
Don't do it. First of all it looks stupid with scratches. Second, there is no guarantee that he will really close it. I had a Music Man shipped to me with nothing but a sticker. The latches could have popped open at any time.

I recently got one in just a black trashbag for protection, outside a wood/tweet case. Complete joke.

Tell him box or negative feedback. It goes without saying that the insurance doesn't pick up any damage during transportation without an extra box with(!) bubble wrap between box and case.
 
#19
Find a used bike box, tv box, or fridge box (more work). Get out a box cutter and resize it so it fits the bass case properly. Pad in any open areas with crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap, or peanuts. Use packaging tape generously. Big wraps around the whole box are great.

A thin black and yellow striped tape applied randomly and conspicuosly (not to hold the box together, just to be visible) will slow the UPS guys down. They use tape that looks like that to mark heavy boxes.

Lots of people try to bury their boxes in fragile stickers. Honestly, when I worked there I was moving 2000+ boxes an hour. I looked for black and yellow tape and our shipping label. I simply didn't notice anything else.
 
#20
If you don't mind if the case gets beat all to hell, and has a bunch of tape residue all over it. Plus the aluminum oxide all over it from the conveyer system aNd the inside of the delivery truck.

Spending $15 / $20 on a box sees like a no-brainer to me. I think your seller is just lazy. :hmm:
 

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