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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 557
Location: Burbank | So I am asked how much to ship to Russia. When I check UPS it says $1200 shipping! How the hell does anyone ship there with that kind of cost? What am I doing wrong? I know some of you guys have done this. Any help would be appreciated.
Edited by Mario 2017-01-06 10:00 AM
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Maybe UPS is telling you not to ship to Russia.
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Have you tried USPS? I have shipped several guitars to different countries and have found the post office to offer great service at a price that is about a tenth of what you quoted.
Disclaimer... It has been 3 or so years since I have done this.
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February 2016
Posts: 1819
Location: When?? | Sounds about right. We shipped two pair of ice skates to St. Petersburg a while back and the cost was $570. It's better if you can find someone you trust who is heading that general direction (Europe) who can carry-on, then simply drop-ship from there for about 1/2 or less of the USA shipping cost. But that's skates. Guitars on the other hand... hmmmmm.. you definitely don't want to check a guitar as baggage, so that would require closet space on the plane which isn't near as pricey, but still extra. Know anyone headed that way?
Edit: The shipping was UPS.
Edit again: What Jay said about the USPS works great for a lot of countries.. we've done that too. On the other hand, "mailing" to Russia in particular.. roll the dice on that one since once it gets into the Russian postal system it's a crap shoot on a lot of fronts, including huge delay times and item/packaging condition upon arrival. The Russian postal folk just love to open up and dig through American parcels. With UPS the company watches closely and company supervisors fire people for screwing up. That's why they cost so much. The Russian postal system, on the other hand, the supervisors usually just want to know that they can get out of it.
Edit #3. Jimmer (post below) got a good mailman.. lol. Certainly not that it can't go smoothly.. it can.. just beware.
Edited by Love O Fair 2017-01-06 2:51 PM
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May 2013
Posts: 152
| Last month I shipped an Ovation to Moscow that I sold to a OFC member. It cost $185 including insurance. I believe it shipped USPS via international express and it arrive in about a week or so. |
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April 2003
Posts: 557
Location: Burbank | Thanks guys! |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 557
Location: Burbank | Thanks guys! |
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October 2016
Posts: 17
Location: France | For this price, you can directly catch a plane and deliver it yourself  |
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February 2014
Posts: 713
Location: moline,illinois | I've tried to get quotes for international shipping before from fedex,UPS and DHL they ranged from $800 to $1200 when I tried to get one from USPS it came up as the package was to large to ship,it's crazy!!!!!!
The only successful way i've shipped a guitar overseas was by selling it on feebay and using there global shipping program,buyer paid all fees so I can't say how much it cost but it couldn't have been as ridiculous as the shippers want to hose individuals for. |
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May 2013
Posts: 152
| Here is how I shipped my Ovation to Moscow.
USPS Priority Express Mail International
Dimensional limit for international parcels: Length + Girth <= 108" (where Girth = (W+D)*2). Most guitar cardboard boxes meet this requirement, e.g. 48"-50"H x 20"W X 9"D.
Weight limit – 70 pounds
Customs declaration - "USED GUITAR AND CASE" insured for the selling price.
Cost was ~ $185 including insurance.
Pack carefully!
Loosen strings a whole step. Put something between the strings and the body. Bubble wrap around the headstock and extra bubble wrap around the neck and on the body so nothing moves. Completely fill the box with foam or bubble wrap or peanuts so that the case doesn’t move.
I brought the guitar all packed up to the Post Office in town and they helped me fill out the paperwork.
It arrived in 11 days. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 852
Location: Canada | Thanks, Jimmer for the info.
I find the shipping costs in the US amazingly low. When I considered shipping an Ovation to the mothership for some warranty repairs the shipping (with Canada Post) would have been so high, that it was more reasonable to just have a partial fix done here by local luthier. Shipping costs in Canada are just nuts compared to the U.S. I would not even consider selling a guitar online here.
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international shipping
