Shipping prices are insane.

[Dynacord]

It's amazing with so much competition they can get away with that.

UPS was similar. USPS much better at flat rate international express envelope for 'only' $68.70 (that used to be $12).

 

[Grinderman]

UPS was similar. USPS much better at flat rate international express envelope for 'only' $68.70 (that used to be $12).

I got the first taste of this decades ago when I was studying design and I was entered into an international design competition in Italy.

Competition submissions were still in physical form, not compressed digital uploads.

My presentation board, everything my work was mounted on, was 1/4" thick etched/frosted plexiglass to survive the journey and because that material related to the materiality of the thing I'd designed, which would also be translucent.

It shipped via FedEx and I saw the bill. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster the department of the University paid that freight bill!

 

[devnulljp]

He probably would have been upset if I took the neck off. It's a neck through bass.

So, include some gaffa tape to put it back on at the other end.

 

[slagheap]

Recently sent a P bass from SF Bay area to Pennsylvania UPS: $234.00

 

[sgiacomo]

Pirate ship huh? First I've heard of them, sounds like they may have a solid niche.

 

[No Malarky]

I only see it getting insaner.

We ain't seen nothin' yet.

 

[MingusBass]

Pirateship.com…much lower rates typically!!

 

[Slevage]

He probably would have been upset if I took the neck off. It's a neck through bass.

Those fancy basses are expensive-

 

[Harley90]

Neck off shipping is helpful, shipping is nutty, there isn't real competition, so no choice

 

[rojo412]

Pirateship!

I just shipped a neck today. Discounted Reverb rate was $26, Pirateship was $10.22.

PIRATESHIP!

 

[gln1955]

"Free shipping" means that the price of shipping is included in the sale price, and it is the buyer's money that ultimately pays for it.

Not necessariy. I bought a widget from Amazon for less than $2.00 with no shipping charge and it arrived UPS. The prices on the big A are never enough to make up for a regular shipping charge to us folks.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

All this talk of shipping costs makes me think that maybe I should be satisfied with the six, (or seven?) basses, five guitars, and more than twenty amps I already have, (but I was looking at a P-bass in the classifieds here just today). The UPS man has to make a living too, you know.

 

[Crackle]

With diesel prices as high as they are (and probably going higher), the cost must be paid by the consumer.

 

[pcake]

yeah, that's why i sell my guitars and basses locally. i sold a carvin guitar, and in 2004, the slower, cheaper shipping was $92.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Well, it would cost me roughly $3-400 in fuel, whatever it costs for a cheap motel for a night (if I didn't want to sleep in my van), whatever I spent on food and 2-3 days of driving, if I decided not not to push it and attempt 30+ hrs of driving straight through.
So, I'm guessing 2 days and $500 min. Not to mention another 2000 mi on my vehicle.
To deliver it myself.
$179 doesn't seem like a bad deal to have someone else do it.

You didn't take into account your opportunity cost.

Anyway, with that logic, you would be fine with $4,000 shipping to Paris.

 

[Fat Bottom Kyle]

Check out www.pirateship.com. I just shipped a bass from CO to MA in a 52"x18"x7" box in a gig bag, weight was 16 lbs, cost me $69 total - free box from my local music store (I check behind there every week or so and snag boxes when they get shipments in), shipping cost was $53.38. oversize (length) cost was $11.75, $500 insurance was $4.00. It went via UPS Ground, same as if you ship direct with UPS. I recently bought a bass from a guy in Ohio, he double-boxed it. His original quote from UPS was $120, he then went on to use Pirateship and sent it to me for $70 total cost. UPS charges really high rates if you ship directly with them, unless you have a special commercial rate agreement.

If you can't find good boxes for free, go to FedEx or UHaul. They both sell guitar boxes for around ten bucks.

The pirate ship is definitely where its at. Almost 50 percent less.

 

[bherman]

The pirate ship is definitely where its at. Almost 50 percent less.

I agree, one of the earlier posters had flagged some issues with the fact that PirateShip uses 3rd party insurers rather than UPS and/or USPS insurance directly. For very high value items, probably would make me want to go away from the current trend of PayPal no-fee transactions here on TalkBass, to provide another level of protection in case something with the deal goes south.

 

[nonohmic]

Yep. TB classifieds and flipping/trying basses is a rich man's game now.

 

[nonohmic]

Recently sent a P bass from SF Bay area to Pennsylvania UPS: $234.00

Oof. Yeah cross country is nuts. We may start seeing prices that are 'shipped within no more than 2 states over'

 

[JDA04OSU]

Like just about everything else, shipping does cost more these days. I don't think it's as crazy as some people make it out to be though.

FedEx for $15 boxes (if I don't have one already lying around). Always pack instruments myself using saved packing materials (bubble wrap, packing peanuts, crumpled paper). I've always worked up the quotes for USPS, UPS, and FedEx myself when needed but I'm also on the Pirateship.com train now. So my last shipment was just under $75, for a 27 lb guitar box to go from Ohio to Omaha, insured for $2500.