LeftyBassist.com

I'm planning on shipping a Hofner Contemporary from the UK to the US. Any tips? Recommended shippers? The bass does not have a case, but I do have the original box and packing, which I plan to put in a Thomann box.

Tough one. Many shippers have size limitations to packages, and a bass might just be too long. With bolt-on neck basses this can easily be solved, but with set neck or neck-through basses this might turn out to be a problem. When shipping basses, I found that most shippers won't go over 100 cm.

I don't want to be "that guy" but... I wouldn't ship a Hofner across town without a hardcase, let alone across the ocean... especially if you have insurance/size restrictions like we do here in the states.

I shipped a MIJ Fender Jazz over to your side, and the only "cheap" option I had for the size of the container I used was USPS "Priority Mail International" which has a maximum of something like $160 of insurance.

Even though the bass was worth $1000, the buyer agreed to allow the package to ship with the declared value that low... I packed the living daylights out of that box and hardcase, and fortunately nothing happened and he received the bass OK... but I don't think I'll ever do it again.

Even though he agreed to the sale with the restrictions, I would have felt horrible if something happened...

Your other options would be FedEx or UPS... but you'd likely have to pay $300-$400 USD for shipping, and, if somethnig did happen, I don't think they would cover damage if the bass was only shipped in a cardboard box.

Sorry... I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer... just being honest with you based on my knowledge and experience.

No, that's a fair assessment. I'm leaning towards UPS at the moment, with around £170 in shipping. I can discuss getting a case with the buyer if they're willing to pay for it. Frankly, I was appalled enough to discover it came from Germany to the UK in a cardboard box.

I know this may be a longshot, but if you knew someone travelling to the US soon, and they were willing to go to a US Post Office, you'd be able to ship it to the new buyer for about $40 Priority Mail. Just thinking of any option that might work....

Even then you'd have to worry about the baggage handers...

We may have found a solution; the buyer knows someone in London who might be willing to meet me in a face-to-face transfer. Might be a win-win for everyone.