Packing & Shipping Advice Needed: Getting family to send Tenor to Oz

[tengu01]

Hi everyone,

I am on a round-the-world trip at the moment and have finally reached the point where I can no longer do without one of my saxophones, so I am asking my family to send my tenor to meet me in Australia. However, I have some questions that someone might be able to help me with.

1. Roughly how much would you guestimate that a tenor (selmer s80ii) in a bam softpak weigh?

2. What kind of packaging would I need to instruct the folks to do to ensure it gets to me in a playable condition

3. For those of you who have sold/shipped saxophones, what's the average cost for sending a horn airmail or via a courier?

All handy hints appreciated. I need to be reunited with my horn ASAP

Cheers

 

[AlbionLass]

Would there be no chance for you to rent an instrument short term while you're there to save risking yours?

 

[Jules]

1. Roughly how much would you guestimate that a tenor (selmer s80ii) in a bam softpak weigh?

Real weight is irrelevant in this case -couriers go on box volume (they call it volumetic weight but its not really weight at all)

2. What kind of packaging would I need to instruct the folks to do to ensure it gets to me in a playable condition

loads of fragile tape, loads of bubble wrap go over the top on padding (though bear in mind the above- box size directly effects price)

3. For those of you who have sold/shipped saxophones, what's the average cost for sending a horn airmail or via a courier?

UPS- very roughly ?160 for a tenor in a reasonable amount of packaging...

 

[AlbionLass]

I know that volumetric weight can be a real killer when it come to international shipping costs.
I sent a violin to Denmark last year and it cost ?60 when the same weight smaller parcel would have cost ?25.

 

[thomsax]

Next time you travel bring your sax with you as handluggage! Most airlines companies (Ryan Air, Air Berlin and simular companies have their own rules) allow you to travel with a tenorsax in the cabin, if you have a slim case like Bam, SKB, Walt Johnson .... .

You can play in the cabin and entertain the other passengers!!

Thomas

 

[josh_johnson]

I cannot remember how much it was to ship my saxophone to Thailand, but I remember it taking the best part of 2 months. If you are desperate I suggest air frieght, although this is rather pricey. I'd be inclined to take the advice of renting a horn. It's also a chance to try some other makes.

Drop me a pm if you are around in Thailand, especially Bangkok.

Good luck!

 

[Jules]

Thomsax wrote:
Next time you travel bring your sax with you as handluggage! Most airlines companies (Ryan Air, Air Berlin and simular companies have their own rules) allow you to travel with a tenorsax in the cabin, if you have a slim case like Bam, SKB, Walt Johnson .... .

You can play in the cabin and entertain the other passengers!!

Thomas

pretty risky- In my experience it comes down to the mood of the check-in staff on any particular day.... Last time I tried it with Ryan air going to Ireland I got away with my Mauriat as cabin baggage on the way out but not on the way back due to hightened security threat level (as if there's any logic in this situation..?). Felt sorry for our baritone player....

 

[thomsax]

nachoman wrote:

Thomsax wrote:
Next time you travel bring your sax with you as handluggage! Most airlines companies (Ryan Air, Air Berlin and simular companies have their own rules) allow you to travel with a tenorsax in the cabin, if you have a slim case like Bam, SKB, Walt Johnson .... .

You can play in the cabin and entertain the other passengers!!

Thomas

pretty risky- In my experience it comes down to the mood of the check-in staff on any particular day.... Last time I tried it with Ryan air going to Ireland I got away with my Mauriat as cabin baggage on the way out but not on the way back due to hightened security threat level (as if there's any logic in this situation..?). Felt sorry for our baritone player....

Yes, Ryan Air can be very funny. I just tried them once and they let musicans to buy a seat if they want to have their horns in the cabin. When I take a saxplayer over here, I want the hornplayer and the sax to arrive at the same time!!!

Overseas I know that Icelandair is a very good company when it comes to this matter. No problem to check-in a tenor sax as cabin luggage.

 

[young_col]

From business experience of importing and exporting IT equipment I would use Fedex or UPS.
You do indeed need to watch for the volumetric charge that carriers decide to apply if they think something is heavier than they expect for the size (look carefully at the terms and conditions). Take the advice of others and even if it is in a soft padded case, still wrap it in lots of bubble wrap and perhaps even a cardboard outer case secured with lots of parcel tape and "Fragile" tape. Actually putting "Fragile" tape on it doesn't make any differerence to the handling as it all gets chucked around just the same; just that if you have made sure it is marked Fragile, you have a better chance of getting your claim settled if you had so marked it!
YC

 

[griff136]

There are great instructions/advice on packing a sax for shipping including pictures here:


http://www.cybersax.com/packsax.html

 

[thomsax]

griff136 wrote:
There are great instructions/advice on packing a sax for shipping including pictures here:


http://www.cybersax.com/packsax.html

Fine instructions.

I also .....

.... fill out the neck with with a necksawer, the tube with a padsaver and the bell with bubble wrap. The weight will increase a little bit but it worth it. I also keep the neck in the bell during transport/ship.

.... fixate the keys. All keys should be closed. Use keyclambs or wedges under the keyfoot. Don't forget the closed keys; G#-, fork- , thrill- , side-keys .....

If it possible, stay out of the original case. A good case like Walt Johnson, Hiscox ... is much better. When I bought a renovated saxes from USA I added the extra cost for a new quality case. Better to ship the orinal case as a cheaper slow package (boat) and load up the case with the accessories.

Thomas

 

[tengu01]

Gentlemen,

I thank you for your contributions to my falling off the wagon. I've been saxophone cold turkey while trekking around all sorts of random countries and didn't really fancy dragging my sax through Nepal, India, Mainland China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau or Vietnam.

Nachoman: Thanks for the rough costing estimate. I now know how many painkillers I am going to have to take before paying them to bring my horn to me

Thomsax: I have been very fortunate with taking my tenor sax on flights with me, normally because I am not taking much else hand luggage. A shaped bam softpak looks small enough and has a shoulder strap. I have had no dramas. A box-case might raise eyebrows though. However, on this occasion, starting out with saxophone was not an option 🙁(

Griff: Lifesaver man. Great link to the instructions

Young Col: Thanks for the company recommendations and the actual value of putting 'Fragile' on the packaging

AlbionLass: Rental is a good suggestion, it's just that I'll be moving from city to city for the next few months and I really, really miss my horn. I am not sure how they view non-residents of no fixed abode out here...

Josh: Would have have loved to pick up a horn with you, unfortunately, I have finished the SE Asian section of my journey and am in Oz now, but if I ever am swinging past that way....

Thanks all for getting back to me and giving me some good ideas on how to get my baby back to me 🙂

 

[tengu01]

And finally:

Just in case anyone else needs to know how much these things cost to ship, I have been reunited with my tenor after 4 months of separation and it went a little something like this:

DHL Lite: Pros
1. Can be paid by credit card, debit card or even paypal.
2. Don't have to have a DHL account to use it

DHL Lite: Cons
1. They want to see the contents before they carry it
2. They don't offer insurance above 100USD. If you want more, you can arrange it yourself or through them.

Cost: GBP 238

Hidden Extras:
Customs - Had to fill in an 'Unaccompanied Personal Effects' form, pay 50 Australian dollars to have a form stamped by DHL, then had to get from the domestic airport (where DHL are) to the international airport (where customs are), declare its value and that it was a personal effect I had owned for more than 12 months. Then through quarantine. Then I had my stamps and had to go back to DHL and collect it.

Complaints:
NONE WHATSOEVER. I have been reunited with my saxophone. Thanks to all above for their contribution to the bomb-proof packing of my horn which arrived without so much as a scratch

🙂