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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Has anyone done this? What's the best (meaning cost-effectiveness versus safety) way to pull it off? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Judging from my experiences of shipping from the US I would suggest USPS |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Thanks Dweez, but the size restrictions are different for shipping to Oz. I think the box is too big for USPS. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I did it once and it was exxxxpensive |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | This probably won't help ya, but I sent a CB/OHSC/carton to Italy via USPS Express. It cost $110 w/ins. and took about nine days. Very satisfactory service! |
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Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | We (meaning Sunny Ledge Enterprises) have found a service offered via DHL that is "reasonable". The only way to go USPS is if you can get the package small enough OR you have a post office that doesn't check the size.
Our PO checks the size. I am convinced there is simply a typo in the PO Code. Australia is the only one with this odd size restriction that I could find. Basically saying that the max length of any side is 36". Of course you could go the next service level for something like $650.00 but that's just silly.
On average we can ship to Oz for about $200.00 Depending on size and weight. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I shipped two guitars to Australia by FedEx Intl Economy and I think it was about $135. each. That was a year or so ago, probably closer to $200 these days.
With the bolt on k-bar necks you could always break the guitar down in to two pieces ship it in a smaller box with no case. You can probably buy a case in Australia cheaper than you can ship it there.
Dave |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I must be missing something. When I use my Fedex account to get an estimate (guitar box measurements and 20 pounds), I get get an International Economy rate of $619!!!!!!!!  |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Cut the box down about 2 inches. I think the max total dims LxWxH need to be < 80 inches. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I'm not sure about going to Oz, but both USPS and Fed Ex are cheaper if you just ship it in the case.
I've received three guitars that way* and they survived, but I have never sent one like that.
*[Tak G330, 1778T-OF and a project 1112 that I just got for the case.] |
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Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | The best dimensions I can manage are 44X17X7. This literally just puts a layer of cardboard around the case. At 22 pounds of weight, I'm still getting a quote of $428!
I don't know how a buyer would feel about shipping that far in just the case. |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I just went through a nightmare trying to ship a cello to Texas. UPS wouldn't take a box that big, and if I had made the box smaller, it didn't have enough padding to be insurable. I finally went through Fedex, and with three inches of padding on each side, they would insure it. It cost over $165, but it finally got there (and in one piece). That's the problem with shipping without a box. You really wouldn't want to ship something like a fine guitar without insurance. It MIGHT be fine, but would you really want to take that chance? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | When I sold off the Travis Beans I was down to two T500s and one was a proto and the other a brand new with pickguard cover. I got two buyers and it turned out one was in Oz and the other in Japan. Cost me a chunk to ship them. AND THEN it turns out I put the lables on the wrong boxes so they got each other's guitars. What a F@cking mess! They decided to keep what they got and that was it but I said Never Again on that kind of shipping |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | The secret is to only BUY guitars, never sell.
Voila! Problem solved. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | I shipped a bicycle from the US 25 years ago for a reasonable price. The trick was that I had to drive it out to a warehouse down near the docks in Tampa and pick it up from another warehouse in Sydney. If you live near a shipping port, try contacting a few of the export/import companies down there. You may find they do a Port to Port shipment for considerably less than a door to door service like UPS. If the person you are shipping to lives in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth, they may not complain too much about driving down to the docks. Actually with the traffic in Sydney, they probably will, but if you can save $100s of dollars on the shipping, they may be willing to do this. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | The problem, apparently, is at the Australian end. It is Australia Post that imposes the size restriction. We are the only country that has this problem, I believe. Ship it to NZ - not a problem. Australia - forget it.
I paid a LOT of money to get my 1768 and '05ES shipped here via UPS. I mean, a LOT of money. (Still cheaper than buying one here!)
I quizzed Australia Post about this absurd imposition and their reply was "We're not a freight company." So, like I said, I had to use UPS.
Guess who delivered the guitars to my door?
Australia Post.
Go figure.
Paul Blanchard told me about a company called Bax Global, but you must be a guitar shop/business and deliver to a guitar shop/business.
No wonder guitars are so f*^%#g expensive down here. |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by muzza:
No wonder guitars are so f*^%#g expensive down here. Tell me about it. I saw a Balladeer for $A2600 in a store today! |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | The problem with the post office is...
Size Limits (223.2)
Maximum length: 36 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches
If they measure, you're out of luck.
The DHL and FedEx "Express" rates (which are the best) are done via special accounts through 3rd party vendors. We actually had to sign up for the service (I think we have DHL but maybe FedEX, Lisa is the one in charge of that) before they would even give us a qoute.
As stated, we can get a guitar to Australia for about $200. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. If you can take the neck off and ship without the case, just in a good box, it's easy to match the shipping requirements for standard rates at reasonable prices. |
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Location: Australia | How do the sellers on ebay do it?
I was quoted from a store in the US price for shipping (in case) from $90 -150US. This seems to be the standard-bulk deals perhaps? |
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Location: Australia | Also re importing to Australia...I rang customs here and the following is the rule:
If the total cost including shipping to Australia exceeds $999.00AU then import duty and GST applies which can be very pricey.
An example...I looked at a guitar in the US costing there $1300 where in Oz it was over $3000 for the same guitar. To import etc the guitar would then have cost around $2500AU without a local warranty.
So the moral is to keep the cost under $999.00AU to get a bargain, otherwise its better to buy local. |
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Location: NJ | the problem is with size not duty |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Like I've always said "size matters down-under as well as topside".
I'll go now... |
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Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | I'm SO glad AJ was able to pick up his Slothead from Moody!
(even tho I worried the 3 days USPS had it in their hands). |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | "3 days USPS had it in their hands"
You should worry...USPS lost 1.1 Billion last quarter, service has dropped considerably.
Sent a computer to Ohio, arrived 12/28 where it was obvious that it had been dropped from a distance. After my experience, they will get as little business from me as possible. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Fredj,
If you are buying a second hand guitar then there is no GST on that, regardless of value. I'm not sure how the free trade agreement with the US works, but it would seem to me that "free trade" means there is no customs duty. |
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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Here's the reality.
The max size you can ship to Oz USPS is 46" long and max girth plus length 108". Max 70lbs
Global Express Guaranteed, which is actually shipped via Fedex takes 3 days.
Online price approx $275 PO price $310.
"If you are buying a second hand guitar then there is no GST on that, regardless of value. I'm not sure how the free trade agreement with the US works, but it would seem to me that "free
trade" means there is no customs duty."
Richard, This is not correct.
What Fredj said is correct
Anything over$999 INCLUDING the freight cost and in AUD not USD is subject to 5% duty and then 10% gst on the whole freaking lot.
So you buy a used axe in the US for $1000
Say shipping at $300
Total $1300USD.
At the current exch rate 85c (thank god we were in the US when it was 98c)
$1530AUD
Plus 5% import duty
$1610
Plus 10%GST
$1790 by the time you get it here.
And thats providing you don't get randomly selected for a quarantine inspection
Another $45.
Currently the DHL option that Miles mentioned is the most reasonable.
He's about to send me a couple more.
AJ |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Yeah the exchange rate change has killed any deals from the US for me
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Location: Sydney, Australia | So Little Johnny (our former PM) spent millions and millions of our money negotiating a "free trade" agreement with the US that actually doesn't do anything at all? Or is it one of those things that kicks in in the year 2020 after he's dead?
Aussie dollar back up to 87c. Hopefully it will climb some more before I have to make my final instalment to Al. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Looking at the FTA it appears that you can avoid the 5% duty, but you have to proactively claim that the goods originated in the US. Customs will assume that the FTA doesn't apply unless you argue otherwise (sheesh!). |
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Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | I think Richard has found the perfect solution for Aussie shipping. He's buying two guitars and having them shipped to ME. You should all try that, then just fly to Atlanta and pick them up two months later. |
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Location: Brisbane Australia | Well if we could bring back more than one guitar or maybe two it would be worth it.
I still have 8 in the US, some are on their way.
Hey, that's it, I need a "guitar mule" :D
Hmmmmmmm!!
AJ |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | No really officer, they're all for personal use. Honest, I need to play several different guitars per day. |
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Location: Brisbane Australia | yeah right, Rich you in for Riverfire? |
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Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | This is edited based on updated info.
For Global Express Guaranteed... while the guitar may actually only weigh 20lbs... the actual calculation of cost is done by SIZE!
So while looking at the charts online it may appear that a 20lb box, that measures 21 x 9 x 46 = 53 would $212.00, in fact..
A box that measures 21 x 9 x 46 has a dimensional weight of 53lbs or $409.25 !!!
1. To find this information.. go to USPS.com and Calculate International shipping.
2. When you get the "final" chart next to Global Express Guaranteed there is a link to "Calculate" that provides a form to fill in the size.
3. Submit the form, but don't be sure you are seated and not sipping tea, coffee or any other beverage which will likely get spewed over your keyboard when you see the price.
I just did to Australia for a 46 x 9 x 20 (note they don't even ask for the weight) and it came out to $379.80 online or if I take it to the post office, $422.00!!!
This is why we use a 3rd Party Service to ship, however they have just increased their "Fuel Surcharge" so we are awaiting quotes at this time. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Say AJ, another thousand and you can get a full container discount. |
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Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by AussieJames:
Hey, that's it, I need a "guitar mule" Hmmmmmmm!! Mule(S), I think.
How many OFC regulars would like $100 off a ticket to Oz and beer (or wine) at AJs in exchange for packing two guitars?
If you could make it happen all on the same weekend, there's yer OFC Downunder Gathering! |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Riverfire - you bet!
Email me with time and location. |
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Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by fillhixx:
How many OFC regulars would like $100 off a ticket to Oz and beer (or wine) at AJs in exchange for packing two guitars? Or Muzza's, or Richard's, or Steve's! (Ozwatto) |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | OOOOOooooo! A wino's tour of Oz! |
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Location: NJ | ". . we're off t'bleed the Lizard . . . . . . . ." |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Sounds good. Standing invitation to all travelling from US. Carriage of a guitar is good for $100 and a nice* bottle of Aussie red (or white). We might even throw in a free tour of AJ's Ovation Museum. 
(*nice does not extend to Grange Hermitage, as it would be cheaper to pay for the shipping on the guitar) |
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Location: Brisbane Australia | But not by much :D
AJ |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | It depends on the year of the Grange - I've seen some for $800!! |
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Shipping to Australia