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Hi Everyone!

This is a topic that I'm sure could benefit a lot of people that are buying or selling an instrument. Now that Greyhound Package Express is closed, what methods have you switched to?

Thank you!

Mike Milnarik

I had a great experience with these folks: https://www.gonavis.com/

It wasn't cheap, but they pickup up the 6/4 tuba from the seller, packed it incredibly well and safely, and got it to me via a couple of freight services.

Thank you! Do you remember approximately how much they charged?

I received a tuba from Germany last summer via DHL, with zero issues.

I later shipped that tuba to Texas via UPS Ground, with zero issues.

And a baritone to Arizona via UPS Ground d, with no issues.

Oh, and last spring, Lee Stofer palletized my Rudy 5/4 and used a freightliner to get it up to Minnesota. Again, zero issues.

I don't particularly enjoy shipping tubas, but it's not hard to do.

After all these years and all the tubas I've bought and sold, only 1 has suffered shipping damage... And that was because of the insanely terrible packaging job done by the UPS store where the seller shipped it. They knew they sucked, and cut me a check for the full repair quote with virtually no trouble. Surprised the hell out of me then and now!

I received a few things by greyhound, and shipped one with no trouble. But on every trip to the station, I never got any sense that they had any clue what they were doing. And I usually had to find my way into the package room on my own

"Who let you in?"
"Door was open"
"Ah"

I drew the line when they angrily called me and demanded that I come and pick up my pile of car fenders, or they were going to throw them away.

"You have the wrong guy."

"No we don't, oh wait, hang on [click]"

Whole station also smelled like pee and drug addicts passed out in the waiting area. Forget that!

MikeMilnarik wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 2:13 pm Thank you! Do you remember approximately how much they charged?

It was a huge tuba going from Texas to California. I forgot to mention that they even mounted the box to a pallet and wrapped the whole. As I recall, it was between $500-600. I calculated that that was a lot cheaper than me driving to pick it up.

I have been shipped to via UPS and shipped out myself via FedEx without issue. A 4/4-ish size tuba in the hard case with lots of bubble wrap inside and a beachball in the bell ends up being around $250-400.

uship.com

Has worked out well a number of times now! And nice thing is can send in gig back with proper instructions.
One driver wrapped the tuba in bag in about 6 inches of bubble wrap all the way around!