Shipping...

[tubatodd]

I know shipping is a pretty polarizing topic. It sounds like the classic companies like UPS and FedEx are highly NOT recommended at this point. I've read several good post about Old Dominion. But I've also read a post that they won't ship a tuba any longer because it is "private property."

I know tubas are being shipped. Not everyone can be meeting people in the middle. So are there any recommended shipping companies/services?

The assumption is that the tuba was be self packaged PROPERLY and not relying on a third-party to pack.

[Misfituba64]

Even with “proper packaging,” it’s still a major risk. I’m not trying to get in your business, but if this is about the Rudy, do not ship it. Instead, compromise and meet at a reasonable distance. If neither you nor the buyer can accommodate that, then neither party is eager enough for the sale/purchase.

I say this because I recently had a horn shipped to me by one of the companies mentioned, and it arrived with damage. It was expertly packed and all that crap. Avoid shipping at all costs. You’ll likely save money by simply driving to meet or pick up the horn, and you’ll have far more control over the variables.

Another option is to fly and buy a seat for the tuba.

Again don’t ship it. Don't be lazy meet up.

[Mary Ann]

I did get a quote from XPO finally, that was not astronomical. It was assuming I had my own insurance, which I do.
Tuba is also shrink-wrapped to a pallet, in the soft case with more than adequate padding in the box.

[Misfituba64]

I did get a quote from XPO finally, that was not astronomical. It was assuming I had my own insurance, which I do.
Tuba is also shrink-wrapped to a pallet, in the soft case with more than adequate padding in the box.

That’s all fine an dandy Mary Ann but that still doesn’t fully protect it. I agree the insurance is a must. I had all that done like you mentioned in your post and still damages.

[gocsick]

So does that mean, if I go out to Phoenix, I can't play test it?

[bloke]

People are tired of reading and don't enjoy embracing that the only real "insurance" is "assurance", meaning driving to the tuba in one's own vehicle.

Were I interested in looking at the Alexander out in Arizona, I'd been in my car, right now.

Cartons strapped to pallets are pretty good, but not if the forklift driver is in too much of a hurry.

Again, many tubas (particularly larger ones) are really too fragile to ship without there being a good chance of damage, but they get shipped every day. Miraphone double boxes then in cartons that are almost as tough as wood and are way up inside huge boxes.

3/4 tubas are much smaller in proportion to the thickness of the material, so they're more damage resistant and typically are shipped in hard cases which are quite a few inches inside of fairly large cartons.

....tubas like my 6/4, which is handmade of .5mm thick sheet brass... I just don't think so. I drove to buy it, and the next person had best drive to buy it as well.

[Mary Ann]

I did get a quote from XPO finally, that was not astronomical. It was assuming I had my own insurance, which I do.
Tuba is also shrink-wrapped to a pallet, in the soft case with more than adequate padding in the box.

That’s all fine an dandy Mary Ann but that still doesn’t fully protect it. I agree the insurance is a must. I had all that done like you mentioned in your post and still damages.

Insurance does not mean it won't get damaged; it means you have some financial recourse when it does.
You sent it freight and it got damaged? With a crush cone on top, and on a pallet?

[tubatodd]

The responses are what I expected. I have a trade offer with someone right now but "mid way" between us is farther than I am able and willing to travel. Before I outright decline, I wanted to make sure I didn't have another option of reasonable security.

[bloke]

I don't want the messed up instrument and/or some money.

I want the instrument not messed up.

That's why driving is infinitely superior to "insurance".

[thedancingsousa]

I recently had great success with a tuba being shipped to me via a courier found on u-ship.

You input the dimensions of the cargo you need transported, as well as the start and end points. Individual couriers put bids in for your job, and you can read their reviews and such. My horn was shipped in nothing but its gig bag. The courier had a big trailer on the back of his truck, and drove it from southern Florida all the way to New England with the tuba sitting comfortably in the back seat while he transported other, equally-if-not-more expensive things like cars in the trailer. Cost $440 dollars all in.

[Misfituba64]

I recently had great success with a tuba being shipped to me via a courier found on u-ship.

You input the dimensions of the cargo you need transported, as well as the start and end points. Individual couriers put bids in for your job, and you can read their reviews and such. My horn was shipped in nothing but its gig bag. The courier had a big trailer on the back of his truck, and drove it from southern Florida all the way to New England with the tuba sitting comfortably in the back seat while he transported other, equally-if-not-more expensive things like cars in the trailer. Cost $440 dollars all in.

You got very lucky congratulations.

[thedancingsousa]

Sure, that might have been a factor, but reading reviews rigorously to find ground couriers that can transport fragile and valuable things was a big part of it. Vetting the courier is, I would guess, more important than luck in this case. The courier that shipped my tuba has an insanely good track record of shipping cars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Relatively speaking, a tuba is very easy.

[catgrowlB]

Sometimes (most times?) shipping is the only feasible option. If you have the time and money to drive out to send or receive a tuba, then great. Must be nice...
But some of us just don't have the luxury to drive out multiple states away, pay for hotel rooms, gas, not to mention taking several days off to do it. I could do a neighboring state, but not multiple states away for something like that.

It just wasn't feasible for me to drive all the way to California to pick up an old Elkhart BBb, and drive all the way back to North Carolina with it over a year ago. So it was shipped. Even if it were a more expensive, high end tuba, that is literally coast to coast. It takes 3+ days to drive from the east coast to west, or vice versa, each way. So you are on the road for about a week round trip, and out considerably more money in food, gas, and hotel stays (not to mention wear and tear on your vehicle) than just having it shipped. And even doing it yourself, your instrument can still be damaged. There is always a risk. But with the major carriers being more careless, it looks like there are some other possible options.

[bloke]

If I'm buying an instrument for my own use, it's not going to be something that I'm willing to risk shipping. If it's in Seattle, I'll be driving there and back. (I don't do hotels nor motels... They are disgusting. I would sleep in my car.) I don't want the insurance money to pay for a formerly intact instrument, I don't want a refund, I don't want a hassle, and I don't want some corporate jackass telling me that somebody didn't pack something according to their corporation's so-called and non-existent specifications.
I want the instrument.

actual current situation:
I have a customer who was planning on coming down here and having a new bell put on their tuba. They're not bedridden and they're not in the hospital, but - though I believe they are recovering from a condition - they're not quite in good enough shape to make the trip - as they were when I ordered a brand new bell for them.

The bell arrived from Europe, has been sitting here for quite a few months, and they paid for it. The agreement was that if they came down here with their tuba, I'd stick the bell on for of them without charging them any extra, I would put them up overnight and feed them, and and then they could drive home.

Again, that's not something that can happen right now after all.

I believe I've found a young man who lives near them and is reliable who could bring their tuba down here when that young man comes home for Christmas, I could take care of what I promised to do, and then the young man can take their tuba with the new bell installed (along with the removed old war-torn bell) back to them after Christmas.

Particularly with social media and all the connections we have here and elsewhere, many times - with enough research and outreach - there's going to be some way to work something out that avoids forklifts, conveyor belts. stacking, falling, throwing, dropping, people who couldn't care less, and all those sorts of things.

[Schlitzz]

No, he’s not driving to Seattle. He’d go completely bonkers. It’s not Intercourse, TN out here.

[bloke]

No, he’s not driving to Seattle. He’d go completely bonkers. It’s not Intercourse, TN out here.

Trust me, I wouldn't stay any longer than it took to blow on the tuba, make sure it was as represented, turn the ignition key, and get the hell out of there...no gas stop, no fast food, no nothing. (I have to admit though that were an instrument that I really wanted actually in Seattle, the location would be a hell of a deterrent, and not because of how far away it is.)

I have a kook sister-in-law (Society for Creative Anachronism member, if that tells you anything) who actually went out there two or three months ago on purpose.

Trust me, if I can negotiate driving in Manhattan, I can deal with Seattle - maybe even during one of your top-down engineered riots.

[Mary Ann]

So does that mean, if I go out to Phoenix, I can't play test it?

You'd have a hard time play testing it in Phoenix when it is in Tucson, anyway.