Trusted UK courier for shipping guitar?

[6120]

Hi all,

I'm selling a good Strat that is fully insured under my instrument insurance policy and even though I've bought many guitars online over the years I've never sold one. I've seen some horror stories about some UK couriers and how they treat guitars so a bit nervous about jumping in.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a courier that's good and also any idea of the charges they charge or what I could realistically expect to pay?

Many thanks.

[Mike Stranks]

Can't talk about shipping guitars, but I do ship and receive pottery... packing is everything! The key thing for me is plenty of padding, plus preventing the item from being able to move. That prevents it from inertia shocks/jolts if someone should decide not to be as careful as they should be.

Also, if possible, try and make it less obvious that it IS a guitar. My only known theft in transit was of something that screamed that it was a good value, ready-saleable item. Fortunately, the insurance paid without any hesitation.

And be aware that EVRI is a rebranding of HERMES. Necessary because of the justifiably appalling reputation that Hermes had gained.

Others will be along shortly with their own horror stories...

[Murray B]

I have used DPD and all was well. Best to go for a well padded guitar in a hard case that is then in a well padded very stout cardboard box with fragile stickers all over it. I have received broken guitars and other stuff from various couriers - but only stuff that wasn't well packed.

[6120]

Thanks Mike, I just saw that Hermes had rebranded themselves but can't imagine their reputation has immediately improved!

Thanks Murray, coincidently I just received a new case this morning from Thomann to ship the guitar in as I got rid of the original Fender case years ago and have been using a very good quality gig bag since then! The Thomann cardboard box is also strong enough to use as the outer packaging but as it's got 'Thomann' emblazoned across the box I'll cover it up.

I'll have a look at DPD as I've had a few guitars from GuitarGuitar via them and all seemed ok.

Many thanks.

[Drew Stephenson]

I think DPD are the only ones I'd trust these days, but the last couple of things I've sold I've just done collection only. It's probably meant accepting a lower price but it's been far less hassle.

[Luke W]

DPD have never done anything to wind me up, so another vote for them. UPS seem decent around here but I'm sure I've heard a tale or two. TNT once delivered a melodeon to me with a dent and a comically detailed footprint on the box, so they'd be a no from me... I've sent quite a lot of gear to places with Parcelforce, simply for the convenience of doing it at my local Post Office, I've not had any issues but nothing was quite as delicate as a guitar.

Unfortunately I think it'll always be a bit of a gamble. As others have mentioned, packaging is key, and I'd not want to be shipping any instrument without a decent hard case with lots of extra wrapping.

[The Coastal Path]

Two acoustic guitars shipped just in bubble wrap with DPD in last couple of months - all good.

[James Perrett]

I tend to use UPS because they are reasonably priced and there's a collection point within easy walking distance. The only issue I've had was when someone sent me a really badly packed box of tapes which had disintegrated in the UPS depot. It caused a bit of a delay but UPS repacked everything into one of their boxes and delivered it a couple of days later.

[Music Wolf]

I've used Royal Mail to send a guitars, I've received from various couriers (this is making me sound like a serial guitar buyer, which I’m not. I’ve got 15 tops). Touch wood, I’ve only ever had one problem. A guitar which I sent was delivered to the wrong address. This was not an uncommon occurrence for the buyer, due to the confusing signage of his road, and he recovered the guitar immediately. I’ve never sent or received one that was damaged.

As has been said, the key is wrapping. Work on the assumption that the package will be thrown about and that ‘Fragile’ or ‘This Way Up’ warnings will be ignored. I usually photograph or video the instrument in various stages of packaging and do the same when unwrapping. Be aware that, although couriers will happily sell you insurance, their policies usually state that they do not cover musical instruments. There is a risk. Most instruments make it unharmed but, if you can’t withstand the loss, don’t ship. Lastly, avoid any of these ‘shipped at buyer’s risk’ arrangements. They won’t stand up in court. The person selling is responsible for packaging, they hire the courier and they are responsible for the instrument arriving in one piece. If a buyer wants to offer to do something different then they should hire the courier themselves and the point of sale is at collection (with either themselves or their courier responsible for signing off on the packaging).

[Mike Stranks]

Music Wolf makes a good point about couriers' own insurance. Since my run-in with Hermes I now always check a courier's Ts&Cs carefully...

... For my pots I use Royal Mail/Parcelforce... no problems... yet!

[BigRedX]

If you look hard enough you'll find horror stories for every courier service. Each one is only as good as the weakest link in the delivery chain. IME even DPD don't always get it right.

As overs have said the key is decent packaging. If I'm sending musical instruments they always go in a hard case with additional padding.Then the case is wrapped in bubble wrapped and put into a box made from a cut-down bicycle box. Bike shops are nearly always happy to give you their unused boxes as it saves them the hassle and expense of having to dispose of them themselves. Bike boxes also are made of much heavier duty cardboard than the typical guitar shipping box. If you can't get a hard case then a padded gig bag with extra padding will do at a pinch, and if no case is available then double box with lots of bubble wrap. Make sure that all loose edges are taped down, and that the only way the parcel can come open is if it is deliberately tampered with.

[Folderol]

... and if the delivery service wants to know what the contents are. It's a "6 Channel Audio Signal Generator"