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I was just wondering what people's opinions on the best shipping company is when sending a tuba. I'm selling one of my horns, and I'm trying to find the least expensive and most reliable company to send it with. Thanks.

Lee

Lee Jacobs wrote:I was just wondering what people's opinions on the best shipping company is when sending a tuba. I'm selling one of my horns, and I'm trying to find the least expensive and most reliable company to send it with. Thanks.

Lee

depending on how big the box Greyound is the cheapest and the best i've dealt with.

I've had tubas shipped to me via Amtrak and Greyhound. Both came through without a scratch. The only problem is that both sender and receiver need to be near some location serviced by one of those carriers, and these are getting scarcer.

I was also going to suggest BAX global, a trucking company. However, I was just informed by their customer service person that BAX will not accept anything shipped from a residence, even if you deliver it to the BAX facility yourself. The only exception is return merchandise authoirised in advance by a merchant.

I've had a bad experience with UPS. They dropped the box (resulting in some minor dents) and it proved to be quite a hassle to get UPS insurance to do anything about covering the damage. Given the way the horn was packed, I imagine they must have dropped it several feet (off the back of a truck??) onto an edge, not a flat surface like the ground.

10 years ago I did have very good luck with Greyhound.

-Evan

DHL. They started as a courier service for Hawaiian flowers to the mainland florist wholesalers, so they know how to handle fragile items. My tuba came in a recycled recliner box with air-filled plastic "pillows," and no other packing or case. Traveled and arrived just like the picture, with no added dents or dings (of course, in my particular case, who would have really been able to tell?!)

I have had good luck with DHL. In one case there was some damage, but they paid for it. In several other cases they did well. Here's the story of the biggest tuba that I ever shipped:
http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/tuba/BigConn.html
I had good luck with Amtrak, but then they closed the local shipping office. I sent a sousphone by Greyhound successfully, but they have very limited liability in case of loss.

evan wrote:I've had a bad experience with UPS. They dropped the box (resulting in some minor dents) and it proved to be quite a hassle to get UPS insurance to do anything about covering the damage. Given the way the horn was packed, I imagine they must have dropped it several feet (off the back of a truck??) onto an edge, not a flat surface like the ground.

10 years ago I did have very good luck with Greyhound.

-Evan

I agree. I do not trust UPS. They have ruined three big ticket items I bought.

UPS dropped and creased the bell of a well-packed, vintage horn I bought a couple of years ago. They paid an "insurance" claim for my ebay sales price plus shipping, but I kept the horn. I refused to let UPS take the horn for evaluation because I was afraid they would not return it. (They had lost a damaged Kennedy rolling tool box after the driver pushed it off the back of the truck and end-over-ended it to my door.)

On the other hand, I have had excellent luck with Greyhound bus and recommend that method. Also, Amtrak's reputation for shipping tubas is good.

Hey, Art -- great post. Your link should be required reading for everyone shipping a tuba. I got lucky mine wasn't crushed, in spite of the plastic pillows and DHL. Glad to hear you've had positive experiences also.

If it's really big, box it up, strap it to a pallet and ship it terminal-to-terminal truck freight.

A former employee of a Greyhound station has warned me off that company's parcel shipping.

They cited the frequent need to fill out "LOST PACKAGE" reports.

A couple years ago I (finally) received an instrument via Greyhound.....about 10 days later than expected. I nearly "passed out" when I saw the condition of the box, but fortunately the horn was undamaged........

Last I heard, Greyhound still is not using computerized tracking to locate packages.....employees just call stations along the route to inquire (when they have time).

I recieved a PT-6P a few weeks ago from Amtrak in Atlanta coming from Virginia. It came in a timely fashion with no visible damage to the case and no damage to the horn. The horn came in a hardcase without boxing, as well. I was very pleased with the service and the workers at the station.

I've used Greyhound 4 times, and each time the horn arrived undamaged. In one case the sender sent a sousaphone in an unpadded cardboard box, and unbelievably it arrived in perfect condition. I think the very low height of the cargo bay, the smooth ride of a tour bus, and the lack of home delivery are responsible for the gentle treatment of packages. On the other hand, it's impossible to predict when a Greyhound parcel will arrive.

BAX is the only way you should consider shipping a tuba overseas, but you'll need to find a friendly business to ship it for you.

Never use UPS. About 3 jobs back I was a shipping clerk and I grew to despise UPS in its entirety. They treat packages poorly, they are obnoxious and pushy, they do everything to avoid paying claims, and worst of all theirs is the most expensive service especially if you are sending a large, lightweight package. How they grew to be the largest parcel service must have been entirely do to their extremely aggressive sales force. I don't think a week went by that they didnt send some representative over to try to get me to stop using Airborne/DHL.

-Eric