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 Post subject: Buying and Shipping from UK to US
PostPosted: June 17th, 2017, 11:27 am 
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Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
Posts: 3851
Location: West Orange, NJ
Okay, there's a bass I'm interested in purchasing from a guy in the UK, and it's been a LONG time since I did this. Years ago (maybe 10 years ago?), I purchased an Ibanez Musician from a UK seller, and I arranged it through a 3rd party service (I can't recall the company's name), who arranged the collection of my funds and the pickup of the bass, shipping, clearance etc. It worked out great, though I'm recalling the cost was around $200+ to do everything.

So what are my best options/suggestions today? I obviously want to be as protected as possible, but also want to do this as economically as possible.


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 Post subject: Re: Buying and Shipping from UK to US
PostPosted: June 21st, 2017, 9:00 am 
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Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
Posts: 3851
Location: West Orange, NJ
Bueller? Bueller?

Nobody knows the most economical/best way to get a bass out of the UK to the US? Royal Mail's quoting around $210, while Fedex and UPS are quoting around $600!


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 Post subject: Re: Buying and Shipping from UK to US
PostPosted: June 21st, 2017, 10:07 am 
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Joined: December 20th, 2011, 11:42 am
Posts: 965
Location: Philly Area
I agree with you something is not right, I did a quick check on DHL (figuring they are the international shippers) and it was $450 from London to US (Philadelphia) for a 12lb box with my packing, however something is not right as I would have expected it to be approx $100 to 150.

I then changed from London to Tokyo Japan and it was approx $500 but still that is crazy, I could not find a way via DHL to get quotes on two week shipping as I believe that may get you in the $100 range. Everything on DHL was 2-4 days.

Any folks from the UK have any advice?


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 Post subject: Re: Buying and Shipping from UK to US
PostPosted: June 22nd, 2017, 4:44 am 
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Joined: February 21st, 2011, 10:51 am
Posts: 521
Location: London, UK
Royal Mail is bound to be the cheaper option. I've never shipped UK->US so I can't really comment on specific experience.


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 Post subject: Re: Buying and Shipping from UK to US
PostPosted: June 22nd, 2017, 12:23 pm 
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Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
Posts: 3851
Location: West Orange, NJ
The cheapest rate I've found so far is Parcelforce, at around £140.

But problem #2 is it's a rosewood fretboard and I'm really worried about the CITES regulations. Anderton's, for example will no longer ship rosewood instruments outside the UK.


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