Shipping a euphonium

[CKH]

Hey again,

I'm looking at trying out a horn, and I won't be able to test it out where the seller lives. Does anyone have any recommendations as far as shipping companies go? Air or ground shipping? Obviously, safety of the horn is most important, but I'd love to save a buck here or there. The seller is in Indiana and I'm in Georgia.

Thanks,
Christian

[Dan Schultz]

Go Greyhound!

[bububassboner]

Go Greyhound!

Agreed. I prefer Amtrak but that is not available in all areas. Nice thing with either is that the horn never really gets off the ground, lowering the damage it could take from a fall.

[Rick F]

Don't use Oops... I mean UPS.

[greggu]

I will echo both of these posters. I shipped my euph to tubatinker in its case in a packed box via UPS and it arrived there with a compressed bell. After Dan repaired everything, he packed it well and shipped it back via Greyhound with no issues. I should add that he padded the horn within the case, inside the bell to the bottom bow, as well as surrounding the case. This completely immobilized the horn.

[bort]

Don't use Oops... I mean UPS.

I'm 4-0 with UPS (Ground), and I plan to use them next time around, too!

[ParLawGod]

I'm 4-0 with UPS (Ground), and I plan to use them next time around, too!

I don't buy insurance, because (as no one who sells it honors it) it is a waste of money.

I'm 0-1 with UPS on the receiving end with instruments. I bought a trombone on eBay, and it never arrived. Seller provided numbers (it was insured) and they narrowed it down to a facility. Needless to stay I never got the horn, seller had a tracer but REFUSED to do anything to help me, and eBay would not help. That was probably 6-7 years ago, and the trombone remains MIA. Seller got money from me, and most likely claimed the money it was insured for as well. Not a bad deal..........for HIM!

[Rick F]

Don't use Oops... I mean UPS.

I'm 4-0 with UPS (Ground), and I plan to use them next time around, too!

I'm 0 - 1 with UPS on the receiving end. Once was enough. Glad to hear you've had luck thus far with UPS.

[iiipopes]

In addition to the above, Doug Yeo recommends putting a styrofoam cone (wrapped, of course, to prevent styro dust) in the bell (like a straight mute) to absorb shock. His website has pictures of his trombone literally falling out of an airplane hold off the edge of the loader when the crewman missed grabbing it, falling fifteen feet, and surviving without a nick because the proper packing including the styro cone in the bell took the heat.

[CKH]

Thanks for all the answers. I've been looking around, and I saw that Greyhound Package Express only allows packages that are valued at under $1000. Is there a way to get around this or do I have to ship with someone else?

[CKH]

Regardless of the shipping firm, a gorilla-resistant packing job with a strategy to prevent the bell flare from slapping up against the inside of the bell-end of the case is the plan to embrace. Air-inflated packing pillows and large-bubble bubble-wrap are your friends.

Concerning the pillows and bubble wrap, would it even fit inside a hard case? Obviously, you would want it to be as tight as possible. I'm just wondering if it the packaging materials would fit inside the case in the first place.

[Dan Schultz]

Thanks for all the answers. I've been looking around, and I saw that Greyhound Package Express only allows packages that are valued at under $1000. Is there a way to get around this or do I have to ship with someone else?

You can ship a million bucks via Greyhound if you want. They don't care about that but their liability limits are $1,000 maximum within about 1,000 miles. Their liability limit drops to $300 above about 1,000 miles.

Like Bloke mentioned... you can insure stuff with other carriers for whatever amount of insurance you want to buy. But... you'll play hell trying to collect for damages.

[Rick F]

Concerning the pillows and bubble wrap, would it even fit inside a hard case? Obviously, you would want it to be as tight as possible. I'm just wondering if it the packaging materials would fit inside the case in the first place.

I've read several times that it's a good idea to take a kids soccer ball - partially inflate it - and insert it in your bell. Put enough air in the ball so it takes up all the space between the bell and the hard case. If there's impact (which there will be) the force will be felt equally INSIDE the bell an not on the rim.

[euphomate]

Over the years I've had three euphoniums shipped by WWBW to Australia. All were shipped with UPS or FedEx in factory cases and boxes only (no other special treatment) from Indiana through St Louis, California, Hawaii, across the Pacific to Sydney, and a final 500 miles by truck to my home. Judging by the scanning information, they must have all gone through at least five transfers. All arrived in perfect condition. I've also had a used Willson 3400 EEb tuba shipped to Australia by Ferguson Music in LA, in a cheap gig bag. The tuba was double boxed with a generous packing of polystyrene "peanuts" between each box. The internal box (the one actually holding the horn) was packed with the same polystyrene peanuts, and a light, inflated plastic beach ball placed in the bell. The Willson is a heavy horn for an EEb, but it arrived also undamaged. It was shipped by Schenker, who have a reputation for careful handling. If international shipping can work out OK, I see no reason why damage or loss should happen within the USA with careful packing and handling. I guess luck plays a part.

[euphomate]

duh?? I guess that's meant to be some poor-taste derogatory remark. Pity. Seems a pretty straightforward, innocent remark by me.