Box for shipping - where to buy?

[Josh deVries]

Hi all -

Has anyone had any luck finding a box big enough to ship a tuba? Wondering where people have gone to get a box this big before.

Thanks!

[Dan Schultz]

Try your local U-Haul store. ....

Ditto. They sell what is called a 'wardrobe carton' for not much money as compared to what PostNet and other shipping stores want for their flimsy boxes.

[bort]

Just sayin' -- if you're going to list/sell a Nirschl, might be a good idea to come up with this plan while you are trying to sell it.

Anyway... in the past, I have used wardrobe boxes from Home Depot, as long as this leaves about 2" of space on all sides (depends on the size of the tuba. I have also used the Yellow Pages to look up box companies, to find double-walled thick cardboard boxes of odd (huge) sizes.

Then use the "double box" method and an absolute sh!tload of styrofoam peanuts. End goal is 2+" of styrofoam around all sides and cardboard barriers to immobilize the tuba and prevent settling. I use a TON of tape to tape all sides of the box, whether they seem to need it or not. I want the box shipped with the tuba bell-up.

Finally, I print stickers in English and Spanish to put on all sides of the box. This side up. Do not stack. Fragile. Etc...

Doing this, I have never had a problem. The last time I bought/sold a tuba, I paid a TubeNet grad student to drive it there for me. I would highly recommend using a Tuba Taxi, instead of shipping. It actually cost LESS to pay someone to deliver it in person than it would have to handle the shipping and packing mess...

Good luck!

[Josh deVries]

Just sayin' -- if you're going to list/sell a Nirschl, might be a good idea to come up with this plan while you are trying to sell it.

I had a buyer buy it within minutes of even telling me he was interested and there is no rush. Thanks.

[bort]

Well how about that! Cool... Hope the rest of the post is helpful...

[Three Valves]

The last time I bought/sold a tuba, I paid a TubeNet grad student to drive it there for me...

Kick the grad student out of the box he is living in, wrap the tube up in it, then have him deliver it for you??

Genius!!

[Josh Calloway]

If there are houses being built in your area, you might be able to get a box from a stove or large appliance from the builders.

[Josh deVries]

Try your local U-Haul store. ....

Ditto. They sell what is called a 'wardrobe carton' for not much money as compared to what PostNet and other shipping stores want for their flimsy boxes.

Thanks, Dan! When I read the dimensions of this I wasn't sure it would fit. Went two days ago and it was just what I needed. Just wanted to also update for those looking in the future. My UHAUL called it the "Grand Wardrobe."

[k001k47]

I've successfully used wardrobe boxes as well. On two other occasions, a UPS store telescoped two boxes together for me, and the tubas arrived unharmed. The largest of these horns, however, was a piggy.

[Rick F]

Norm Pearson posted some years ago on the proper way to pack a tuba for shipping. It's a great post and I have it bookmarked for future use.

Packing a tuba for shipping (lots of pitures)