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bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 11:07 AM
How much would you guess an average acoustic guitar weighs? My buddy is selling his on ebay and he checked on the UPS shipping calculator to see how much much it would be to ship the guitar and he claims mostly every estimate was close to 200 bones. That is just crazy. I'm hoping someone on here can shed some light on the subject.
Feb 19, 2010 11:07am
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Feb 19, 2010 11:10 AM
Worked at UPS for 5 years in IT and the shipping software.

#1 What are the dimensions?
#2 Is he requesting special handling? AKA shipped in a case?
#3 Where is the destination?

Weight is a portion of the cost but additional handling/special handling is where UPS charges $$$$ Things in guitar cases,buckets, longer boxes, wider boxes take additional time consuming processes and that is why UPS charges additionally. If he does ship it, make sure his dimensions are to par and weight is to par. If it isn't, they will bill him for it.
Feb 19, 2010 11:10am
B

bartsimpson

Senior Member

168 posts
Feb 19, 2010 11:32 AM
I've shipped 1000's of packages over the years, both business and personal. I've never once been billed for anything based on dimensions. When I was shipping for business I never once filled that information in. I've shipped PA speakers in boxes weighing 70 pounds and only ever paid for the weight...never any extra for size. Just weigh the guitar, and figure the cost based on that. Also, maybe tell him to look for a "local" business that will ship it. The UPS Store or any of the "shipping stores" add outrageous amounts of $$$ onto the actual shipping costs. That's how they make their money. Find someone who uses UPS for their own shipping. A lot of those places will ship your package for a buck or two over UPS charges you just need to find one.
Feb 19, 2010 11:32am
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Feb 19, 2010 11:37 AM
70 pounds isn't considered an irregular weight at UPS.

They do not bill on small package dimensions being off unless that are over 36" long I believe but there is a threshold.

Like I said, if you are shipping the guitar in a guitar case, you will pay additional handling.

I speak from experience, I worked on the weight/measures systems at UPS for 3 years. I knew every working component of these systems, fixed them all. I had people call me from out of state on how to fix these machines because we had the most accurate systems in the nation and made the most money off of them for a building of our size.
Feb 19, 2010 11:37am
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 12:47 PM
Keebler wrote: Worked at UPS for 5 years in IT and the shipping software.

#1 What are the dimensions?
#2 Is he requesting special handling? AKA shipped in a case?
#3 Where is the destination?

Weight is a portion of the cost but additional handling/special handling is where UPS charges $$$$ Things in guitar cases,buckets, longer boxes, wider boxes take additional time consuming processes and that is why UPS charges additionally. If he does ship it, make sure his dimensions are to par and weight is to par. If it isn't, they will bill him for it.
I don't know what the dimensions are. Yes, he is shipping it in a case and the destination is somewhere in Connecticut.
Feb 19, 2010 12:47pm
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Feb 19, 2010 1:36 PM
If it's being shipped straight in the case with nothing around it, it will get smacked with additional handling because it is not made of cardboard. Is he shipping it ground or an air level.

If you tell me what city in OH he is shipping it from I can get an approximate time in transit and if the customer wants it in 3 days, he may be able to get away with shipping it ground.
Feb 19, 2010 1:36pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 1:45 PM
Here is a couple other guitars with cases on Ebay..nowhere NEAR $200.00. And those are prices with the Post Office. UPS was only like $5.00 more on one of them.

From Iowa To Ohio...$13.49

From Delaware To Ohio...$16.00
Feb 19, 2010 1:45pm
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Feb 19, 2010 1:48 PM
Yeah, I doubt it would be $200 so something isn't right.
Feb 19, 2010 1:48pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Feb 19, 2010 2:25 PM
He's probably inputting the data wrong. The most I paid for a package was 30 or 40 bucks, and that's because it was going overseas.

Also, FWIW: USPS tends to be a bit cheaper when it comes to shipping. I think USPS is cheaper with smaller stuff, but UPS/Fedex are cheaper with bigger.
Feb 19, 2010 2:25pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 3:56 PM
Yeah, there is no way 200 bones is right. He said he was planning on taking it to the UPS Store in Sandusky and dropping it off.

Lol I sure nobody buys this guitar. I know that probably sounds dickish considering he is my friend but I just looked at the estimated delivery time on the auction page and it says 11 to 16 days. So the person is already going to be paying 200 bucks for shipping and then they won't even get it for 11 to 16 days. Wow that is insane. He told me on the phone that people need to get educated on how much it costs to ship things before they email him and complain about it.
Feb 19, 2010 3:56pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:11 PM
Just to make sure..is this his listing? :D http://cgi.ebay.com/M-50VC-Morgan-Monroe-beautiful-guitar-and-great-tone_W0QQitemZ260554626290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3caa4414f2

Should message him and f*ck with him about his shipping charges. LOL That is unreal. As a power seller on Ebay..unless he has this guitar extremely under priced at $450.00..there is no way in hell he is going to sell it. Hell..he's going to scare people away just b/c of the shipping charge! Most buyers can't stand sellers who jack there shipping charges up to make an extra buck and many refuse to do business with them no matter HOW great of a deal it is.
Feb 19, 2010 4:11pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:16 PM
GoChiefs wrote: Just to make sure..is this his listing? :D http://cgi.ebay.com/M-50VC-Morgan-Monroe-beautiful-guitar-and-great-tone_W0QQitemZ260554626290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3caa4414f2

Should message him and f*ck with him about his shipping charges. LOL That is unreal. As a power seller on Ebay..unless he has this guitar extremely under priced at $450.00..there is no way in hell he is going to sell it. Hell..he's going to scare people away just b/c of the shipping charge! Most buyers can't stand sellers who jack there shipping charges up to make an extra buck and many refuse to do business with them no matter HOW great of a deal it is.
lol you should message him. That would be classic. Don't get me wrong he isn't jacking the price to make extra loot. He honestly just thinks that is how much it would be to ship it lol. That is why I asked how much everyone thought an acoustic guitar in a case weighed so I could check the shipping rates myself.
Feb 19, 2010 4:16pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Feb 19, 2010 4:25 PM
no way in hell it's that much to ship. It probably wouldn't be over 75.
Feb 19, 2010 4:25pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:36 PM
Probably wouldn't even cost over $40.00 to be honest! There is another one on there..to ship it from the east coast to the west coast..$36.00.
Feb 19, 2010 4:36pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:40 PM
"ARE YOU INSANE?!?!??!?!?!?!?!? $200.00 does ship a guitar? Is this thing made of IRON or something? No way in hell does it cost $200.00 to ship a guitar. Other guitars on here..to ship from one coast to the other costs $35.00! It's sellers like YOU that turn buyers away from Ebay! Jacking shipping prices up to make an extra buck. Come on dude...get serious!"


Yeah..that should get him fired up! LOL
Feb 19, 2010 4:40pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:43 PM
lol yeah I noticed that every other shipping cost on there was 35 to 40 bucks. He said he put 40 lbs in for the weight. I'm not good at guessing weight but it doesn't seem to me like a guitar in a case would weigh 40 lbs and I really did pay 200 bucks for shipping I better get the guitar in an hour lol.
Feb 19, 2010 4:43pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:44 PM
GoChiefs wrote: "ARE YOU INSANE?!?!??!?!?!?!?!? $200.00 does ship a guitar? Is this thing made of IRON or something? No way in hell does it cost $200.00 to ship a guitar. Other guitars on here..to ship from one coast to the other costs $35.00! It's sellers like YOU that turn buyers away from Ebay! Jacking shipping prices up to make an extra buck. Come on dude...get serious!"


Yeah..that should get him fired up! LOL
lol good call man.
Feb 19, 2010 4:44pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:50 PM
Just looked it up at USPS. The most it would cost for shipping for something 40 pounds in the US is like $42.00. That's Parcel Post. Assuming it's no bigger than 130 inches in length and girth. I wouldn't imagine it would be bigger than that.
Feb 19, 2010 4:50pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 4:55 PM
Well he's sending it UPS though. He must think it's too hard to ship it through the mail.
Feb 19, 2010 4:55pm
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Feb 19, 2010 5:00 PM
bigdaddy2003 wrote: Well he's sending it UPS though. He must think it's too hard to ship it through the mail.
He is probably thinking, "That won't fit in a mail box!"
Feb 19, 2010 5:00pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 5:00 PM
Don't know anything about UPS..don't use it. Even still...I'd imagine I'd want to use whatever shipping service was cheaper..especially if there is a price difference of that much.
Feb 19, 2010 5:00pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 5:04 PM
^Yeah, I would want to use whatever is cheapest also. I'll have to ask him why he is using UPS.
Feb 19, 2010 5:04pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 5:07 PM
His response:

"good luck bidding.
If you didn't like the shipping price you could have asked about it nicely like everyone esle. there is no reason to be rude about it. We have had problems shipping stuff before and wanted to be safe rather than sorry. The price to ship to LA with UPS was $173, if you are not that far than we can change or refund the shipping differance."

LOL
Feb 19, 2010 5:07pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Feb 19, 2010 5:12 PM
I replied with:

"Good luck bidding? Yeah..that's not happening..I won't be bidding..just like everybody else! Lower your charges..then maybe I'll think about it..I..just like everyone else..won't even consider bidding for an item such as a guitar, that someone is charging $200.00 to ship! That's just another form of rape!! Regardless of past issues. Parcel post..with insurance..for something valued at $600.00..coast to coast..isn't even CLOSE to $75.00! Let alone $200.00. Good luck trying to sell something with that price! I see you have only 3 feedbacks..so I'm assuming you are fairly new to as a seller? As a power seller and top rated seller..let me be the first to tell you..ripping off your customers will not get you any business on this site. Have a great weekend!"
Feb 19, 2010 5:12pm
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

Senior Member

7,384 posts
Feb 19, 2010 6:20 PM
^Lol that is classic. He just called me and never once mentioned that anyone had messaged him about it. He mentioned the people who were interested in his other auction. He said he would stop here tonight to see the auction end and email whoever buys it. I thought to myself bro no one is going to buy it.
Feb 19, 2010 6:20pm