Off-Topic... UK shipping help

[steve V. johnson]

I have a friend-of-a-friend who's in Cambridge and wants help in shipping an instrument to the USA. He doesn't know of any shippers, instrument dealers or luthiers in his area (or anywhere else, really...) who have shipped to the US, so our common friend asked me to do some research.

Cany any of you direct me to someone who could advise him, or even pack and ship the thing for him?

Since this is pretty off-topic here, it would probably be best to use the Cafe Messenger or a direct email to me to reply.

Many thanks,

stv

[steve V. johnson]

P.S.

I don't think it will be shipped to -me- ... <GGG>

Thx,

stv

[kmmando]

Don't use UPS - they smashed the neck off a tenor guitar I had sent from Gruhns, who had packed it superbly. The second one that was sent by the same company, they gave me one Customs VAT and import duty price over the phone to release it, and when I got there they denied this and added on considerably more, and said take it or leave it. I would never have anything to do with them again, not that I had an option at that time as Gruhn used them.
This is only my opinion.

[grandmainger]

Kevin, sorry to hear you had a bad experience with UPS.
I have successfully received a UPS-shipped mando from the US to the UK. I also got one via FedEx. Both these companies as well as ParcelForce will arrange collection from a UK address. Do make sure your friend buys the extra shipping insurrance. I have never shipped a mando from here to the US though.

Germain

[Bren]

I don't think UPS is any different from any of the other big freight-forwarding/courier companies - they mostly book space on the same planes and ships, and sometimes trucks.
I do a fair bit of shipping stuff (not instruments)- the best tip I can give is to put it in the hands of a trusted company on the receiving side as soon as possible. Anybody can ship stuff out, it's getting it in that's the skilful bit, especially duty VAT etc. I suggest your FO'F-in-Cambridge asks his US customer to seek local advice as it could be to their mutual benefit.

The actual physical handling is, literally "out of the hands" of whoever is booking the shipping. Don't underestimate the forces that can be unleashed by a rolling container ship, or airport freight chutes and underpaid , uncaring, handlers. Not just on your instrument, but on the things that bang into it.

Insurance can be a tricky area as it's often tied into stated "Value for customs" which can mean that insuring it for megabucks will land you with megabucks of import duty.

[grandmainger]

Insurance can be a tricky area as it's often tied into stated "Value for customs" which can mean that insuring it for megabucks will land you with megabucks of import duty.
Yes, that's also something to remember. I had to pay the full 20% import tax on the last mando I received.
Overall, shipping+insurance+tax were just about the same price as flying out to NYC from London http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[steve V. johnson]

Thanks for your replies!

I know it's a dangerous game, physically and financially... Certainly instruments do travel between the UK and the US with some regularity...

The stories over which carrier has damaged, or saved, the most instruments is not really helpful. Every time it's come up for me, here in the States and overseas, it's come out to be a wash, with each shipper equally damned. I ship instruments with some frequency here in the US, and I have my preference in carriers, but that has mostly to do with a long and good relationship with the local office, who take very good care of me and teach me well how best to use them.

I absolutely hate the import duties/taxes thing. I've gotten gouged really deeply buying in and selling to Canadians, and they're just... over there... right... -there-. I can almost -see- 'em! I hate it. I've had better luck with trade with the EU, but no experience with the UK, which is why I asked...

But there's no getting around the duty/tax issues...

Many thanks,

stv

[grandmainger]

But there's no getting around the duty/tax issues...
The theory goes that second-hand and antiques are not subject to taxation. How much is the instrument worth? What is the condition?

[Bob A]

I've received mandolins (bowlbacks) from the UK and Australia, packed by amateurs and rec'd without customs duties, in good shape. Detune, wrap in bubblewrap, and styrofoam (solid chunks cut to fit work better than peanuts) and double-box, so that crush forces whack cardboard, not instrument. If you're fortunate, the instrument will come in a case. If it's wellsecured in the case, and the case is well insulated against damage, you'll be OK.

I must be lucky. I've shipped instruments all around the US, and received them from all over the world, and never had one wrecked in transit. Only damage has been to my wallet. Do make sure the customs declaration identifies the instrument as used, and preferably antique (not a problem with many bowlbacks). Fedex has given me problems with customs - never had a problem with international mail shipments.

[steve V. johnson]

Grandm'r sez: "The theory goes that second-hand and antiques are not subject to taxation."

Cool, I had no idea.

" How much is the instrument worth? What is the condition?"

Em... well, that's in process of determination, which is to say, the instrument is for sale right now... The condition is excellent. It's several years old, not "antique" by any reasonable stretch.

As BobA says, I too have shipped instruments around the US with very good luck, with both major carriers, tho there is one I prefer, but I attribute that to a great relationship with the local office, who take very good care of me and my stuff.

Thanks for the packing instructions, we have that part down pretty well.

What I'd really like to find is an instrument shop or a luthier near Cambridge who could instruct or even 'walk thru' the process with the shipper and the taxes for my friend-of-a-friend.

Thanks!

stv

[withak]

With major carriers, like you said, it comes down to personal preference. You can find instrument shipping horror stories for any of them. I prefer the FedEx near me because I can just go there and pick things up before 6:30 in the evening (I'm never at home during the day) while with UPS I have to go through their website to tell them to do same day will-call, hope that I did it early enough that it's not on the truck for tomorrow already, then wait for them to call me and tell me I can come by and get it between 7 and 7:30pm that night. FedEx is just easier for me to deal with, but that probably varies from location to location.

[steve V. johnson]

Thanks to you all for the help! It's deeply appreciated.

steveV

[Bob DeVellis]

I'm quite sure that to qualify for a duty exemption an instrument has to be 100 years old. Merely used or "antique" won't cut it. On the other hand, the customs officer who processes a particular parcel has a lot of discretion.