Shipping Guitar from US to Australia Help

[geese_com]

I have never shipped anything to Australia before so I am looking for some tips and advice.

I have a potential buyer for a guitar that is about $3,000, so I am sure I need to make some kind of customs declaration. I know about FedEx Great Rates, but I do not know anything about what customs forms to fill out, etc.

If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Chris6870]

Sounds like a huge gamble to me. I would talk to the shipping company.

 

[neilli]

Call FedEx customer support and they will tell you what forms you need for Australia - The forms will be downloadable from their website.

I've never shipped to Australia but have shipped to many other places (Finland, Italy, Germany, US) and generally the main requirement is a 'commercial invoice' (for private shipments as well) which details the contents, country of manufacture, value etc. And they want 4 copies of it usually.

One thing you want to be aware of is their insurance - not sure about FedEx, but UPS won't insure for damage if you pack it yourself. They want you to pay for a store to box it up, plus in my experience, the store uses excessively large boxes which then the shipping rate goes through the roof (300 quoted to 550 in my case!!),

 

[halebox]

I think very expensive. If its a bolt on take neck off

 

[glip22]

Expensive yes. Be careful. I had them mix Australia up with Austria and send my item to Austria 2x. I had to refund buyer.

 

[Wayniac3]

I shipped an amp there years ago.. buyer was cool.
I ended up going USPS, who sent it on space on a FEDEX plane...

Had zero issues

 

[jjcor]

I actually looked into this this past week for a potential buyer in australia for my guitar. I found USPS to be the cheapest for around $250 including insurance coverage of $2200. But after much thought I decided it was too risky cause it was going to be in transit for around 2 weeks. Ill just stick to shipping in the US for now.

 

[halebox]

I just shipped amp head there and was $600 fedex

 

[mooncobra]

oh man, I shipped a guitar there to a buddy. they opened it, took the guitar out, unpackaged everything, and for some reason actually CUT THE CASE OPEN and checked the inside of the case!!!! They also drilled holes in other parts of it. my friend looked into it and they said the way the case was made looked like there was a potential secret compartment for drugs or contraband!! lucky they didn't drill holes in the guitar. the case was destroyed, a total loss. he said it looked like a shark took a bite out of it!!!! it arrived and the neck was not in the case, that entire part of the case was now gone. it is lucky it made it across Australia to his house without breaking. it was basically half a case at that point. that's messed up.

after this happened he showed me an Australian series on youtube called border security Australia I think? anyhow, when stuff is going through customs they open, drill, cut, tear, and hack up A LOT OF PACKAGES, A LOT!!

I sent him quite a few other guitars and amps and it only happened one time ever. one time they confiscated a box of pedals. they assumed he got them to sell(which he did.) but, they could not have known that for sure, so it was a bold call to confiscate them. it is definitely a little sketchy sending gear to Australia.

 

[Metlupass2]

I shipped there before no problems. USPS is the cheapest. The lady did have to crack an old book to look it up though. Just ask them what form you need to fill out.

You can get a quote online so he knows how much to expect to pay. I think mine was like $300.