Shipping a trombone

[tbdana]

I have no idea where to put this, so I put it here.

I'm buying a used trombone from someone. He's going to ship it to me on the west coast from where he lives on the east coast. What's the best/safest reasonable way to ship a trombone?

He's not going to go nuts. He'll ship it in a coffin case, with bubble wrap or some such around it, and put all that in a box, and ship it.

Is there anything else I should consider? Is one shipper better than another for trombones? How do you get the shipment insured? I don't want to lose my money if someone rolls a fork lift over it.

What other considerations, guidelines and cautions do you have for me?

[JTeagarden]

yes: Put bubble wrap around the bell and between the slide and bell in the case, and make sure the horn in immobile in the case, and then immobile in the box

[JohnL]

One oft-recommened step is to place a styrofoam cone in the bell. It should stick out a little past the end of the bell. The cone acts as a crush zone as well as transferring the impact away from the easily-damaged bell flare.

There are horror stories about every shipping company. It's a gamble whoever you choose (thus the need for careful packing).

...make sure the horn in immobile in the case, and then immobile in the box

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Secondary collision is what you're trying to prevent (remember Driver Ed?).

[harrisonreed]

The seller is the unknown variable. Shippers are a known variable -- they will handle the package roughly but will probably not drive over it with a forklift.

I've shipped trombones through UPS a few times without issue. But you can't really control how the seller is gonna pack the trombone. Both with case and without case can work. Packing peanuts are your friend here. Once the horn is immobilized in its case, you then should pack a ton of packing peanuts around it in the box. When you think you can't fit any more in the box, put more in and then force the box flaps closed with strong tape.

[SwissTbone]

Noah does a great job on explaining how to ship a trombone here:



The seller "not going nuts" about packaging sounds like a recipe for disaster.

[ghmerrill]

Several techniques are possible. I've received several instruments packed in different materials including (old-school Czech) excelsior in a wooden crate, from Noah (in the original Getzen wooden case, with extra bubble wrap inside it, and then that within a cardboard box filled with plastic peanuts), and an oval euphonium from some Bulgarian (Ebay) packed in a cardboard box plastic peanuts (it took a lot of effort to get the peanuts out of the horn because the guy didn't bag the horn before putting it in the box!), and from Jim Laabs (just the horn in it's standard Chinese case in a cardboard box with the peanuts). They all came through just fine.

But Noah's instructions are the best. If you can get the seller to follow the principles used there, it should be okay. A fundamental goal is to have seriously cushioned space entirely around the instrument -- all sides, top and bottom and each end. No part of the instrument should be close enough to the enclosing box to allow it to be damaged by being hit or dropped. And don't stint on taping the box closed and along all the seams. It's not hard to do, but it takes some time and effort (as Noah shows). I also trust UPS more than other carriers at this point.

[tbdana]

Noah does a great job on explaining how to ship a trombone here:



The seller "not going nuts" about packaging sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Excellent! Thanks. I sent this video to the seller.

But I'm confused. I don't understand how you can use bubble wrap without popping at least a few...

[dbwhitaker]

Using a service such as pirateship.com to ship via UPS will cost a lot less than purchasing from a UPS store. If you want you can pay for the (pre-paid) shipping label yourself and send it to the seller as a PDF.

The cost of insurance is usually very high compared to the amount of risk so I skip it. It would suck to have a trombone lost or damaged during shipping but it wouldn't break me. (In general I believe: Only Buy Insurance When You Can’t Afford the Loss.)

[JTeagarden]

There is nobody on earth who admits to being a bad packer, so rather then rely on the shipper's confidence level, spell out exactly how you want them to ship it, blame it on OCD.

[tbdana]

There is nobody on earth who admits to being a bad packer, so rather then rely on the shipper's confidence level, spell out exactly how you want them to ship it, blame it on OCD.

I sent him Noah's video and asked him to do it like that.

[ithinknot]

One thing no one has mentioned yet: put the shipping label on the bell flare end of the box. The package will get unceremoniously dropped on one end every time it's loaded and unloaded from a vehicle... you'll watch the driver do it at the tail of the truck, and again at your front door. The label has to stay upright so they can read and scan it, so send those impacts into the less vulnerable end of the case/horn, not inviting a flare/case collision every time. (Ideally you have the cone in the bell for support, but you still want to avoid loading that area if you can possibly help it.)

He's not going to go nuts. He'll ship it in a coffin case, with bubble wrap or some such around it, and put all that in a box, and ship it.

... but if this is his expressed plan, bad luck, and enjoy your crumpled flare.

[tbdana]

He's not going to go nuts. He'll ship it in a coffin case, with bubble wrap or some such around it, and put all that in a box, and ship it.

... but if this is his expressed plan, bad luck, and enjoy your crumpled flare.

Thanks!

[WGWTR180]

Using a service such as pirateship.com to ship via UPS will cost a lot less than purchasing from a UPS store. If you want you can pay for the (pre-paid) shipping label yourself and send it to the seller as a PDF.

The cost of insurance is usually very high compared to the amount of risk so I skip it. It would suck to have a trombone lost or damaged during shipping but it wouldn't break me. (In general I believe: Only Buy Insurance When You Can’t Afford the Loss.)

Is Pirate Ship easy to use? Do you need an account and software as the home page suggests?

[Burgerbob]

Using a service such as pirateship.com to ship via UPS will cost a lot less than purchasing from a UPS store. If you want you can pay for the (pre-paid) shipping label yourself and send it to the seller as a PDF.

The cost of insurance is usually very high compared to the amount of risk so I skip it. It would suck to have a trombone lost or damaged during shipping but it wouldn't break me. (In general I believe: Only Buy Insurance When You Can’t Afford the Loss.)

Is Pirate Ship easy to use? Do you need an account and software as the home page suggests?

Just an account. It's very easy, I use it exclusively now.

[WGWTR180]

Is Pirate Ship easy to use? Do you need an account and software as the home page suggests?

Just an account. It's very easy, I use it exclusively now.

[dbwhitaker]

Using a service such as pirateship.com to ship via UPS will cost a lot less than purchasing from a UPS store. If you want you can pay for the (pre-paid) shipping label yourself and send it to the seller as a PDF.

The cost of insurance is usually very high compared to the amount of risk so I skip it. It would suck to have a trombone lost or damaged during shipping but it wouldn't break me. (In general I believe: Only Buy Insurance When You Can’t Afford the Loss.)

Is Pirate Ship easy to use? Do you need an account and software as the home page suggests?

I only used it twice but I found it very easy to use. Yes, I had to create an account, but that was free and easy. It didn't require any software -- I just "printed" from the web browser.

[WGWTR180]

Is Pirate Ship easy to use? Do you need an account and software as the home page suggests?

I only used it twice but I found it very easy to use. Yes, I had to create an account, but that was free and easy. It didn't require any software -- I just "printed" from the web browser.

[jorymil]

Resurrecting this thread, and it might actually be worth moving as a sticky in the Classifieds. We all benefit from being able to ship a trombone safely, and having some shared knowledge about the best places to get boxes, filler, etc. is useful.

I discovered to my chagrin today that UPS no longer recommends or sells packing peanuts in-store. This was a new one to me. Anyone else run into this, and if so, how did you deal with it? I'm shipping w/ case, so I'm basically doing my usual bubble wrap inside case, but replacing the peanuts with thick brown paper.

John

[slidesix]

doing my usual bubble wrap inside case, but replacing the peanuts with thick brown paper.

Yes, you can alternate or mix bubble wrap pieces and thick brown papper together. IME that heterogeneous blend can mimic the behavior of that packing peanuts do or used to do.

You want to immobilize the instrument from moving. This will do that. and this will buffer and deaden the shocks, momentum, and acceleration that peanuts are so good at minimizing. Plus thick paper is good because it is so cheap, too!

[jorymil]

Yep - first step when shipping horn w/case is to immobilize the horn inside it. Then to immobilize the case, or at least absorb most of the accelerations. This is my first time shipping in a while, so doing some re-learning. Initial box was too large, so seeing if I can hunt an old one down in storage, then reinforce it with an extra layer of cardboard all the way around. Don't buy a UPS golf club box and expect it to work unmodified! I expect I'll learn all the nuances as I go along if I have many of these.

[slipmo]

Hi all, I finally got around to making the video you all wanted to see, how I pack a trombone inside a hard case to avoid damage.

Hope you enjoy it

[sf105]

Alternatively, is there a local dealer who can do the packing for them? At a minimum, they'll have the materials handy. Might be worth the fee.

[hyperbolica]

I've shipped dozens of trombones. Others have said it already - make sure the individual parts (including stuff like mouthpieces) can't move inside the case. Then make sure the case can't move in the box.

I've had horns shipped to me without cases, and cases shipped without boxes. The only things that lead to damage are horns or mouthpieces moving inside the case, and too little padding around whatever is in the box. If you use peanuts, first remember that it annoys some people (because they are messy), and also that they settle during shipping, so your container should be "overfilled" with them, and shaken down. Bubble wrap is also more predictable.

You can reuse packing materials including boxes, but make sure the box is in good shape with no holes, rips or crushed corners. I have a collection of stuff in the basement for that purpose. I'm always kind of surprised when apartment dwellers don't have space for stored shipping materials, and have to buy new stuff every time they ship.

Sometimes I will cut some additional cardboard and reinforce sections of the box, if the situation seems to require it. If shipping without a case, I'll sometimes wrap additional cardboard around the bell end, and maybe along the slide.

Shipping without a case just requires you to wrap bubble wrap 3-4 thicknesses around the slide and bell individually with extra around the bell flare, and then make sure the bell and slide can't move relative to one another (tape the bubble wrap together). And then put more wrap or other packing material inside the box.

I've used Pirate Ship probably a half a dozen times, and they really save you a lot (probably save ~40% over standard UPS). You do have to measure and weigh your own package, though. If your measurements are too small, you will get an additional charge on your PayPal. Bathroom scale usually does the trick, postal scale is generally too light. Finished packages are usually between 10-25 pounds, depending on if you have shipped a case, straight peashooter or double valve Edwards bass.

Shipping international is just as easy. Pack the same, and answer a couple additional questions on the Pirate Ship form. You print out the forms yourself, and the customs forms come with it.

Remember that shippers do have magic sizes where the rates go up dramatically. I've paid over $200 to ship cross country if the box is over say 14" square on an end and maybe 38" long. I have cut boxes down to get under that limit, but you will sometimes get an "irregular box" surcharge. Another reason Pirate Ship is better.

[WGWTR180]

Following virtually every tip that Noah speaks of and tips from others I have shipped multiple instruments across the US and Europe. I've shipped with and without a case. So for I'm at 100% in the "no damage" department. I'm sure along with proper packing there's also been a bit of luck involved. I just sent a custom 62H to Germany in a Bona case and it arrived safely-thank goodness. Thanks to everyone for all of the advice!

[Chazzer69]

Yep - first step when shipping horn w/case is to immobilize the horn inside it. Then to immobilize the case, or at least absorb most of the accelerations. This is my first time shipping in a while, so doing some re-learning. Initial box was too large, so seeing if I can hunt an old one down in storage, then reinforce it with an extra layer of cardboard all the way around. Don't buy a UPS golf club box and expect it to work unmodified! I expect I'll learn all the nuances as I go along if I have many of these.

These are an excellent option and will fit most horns: https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Bo ... x/?id=2747