oneeyedhobbit

This might have been asked, but for whatever reason the search function refuses to work for me right now.

At any rate, I need to have my trumpet shipped from MN to me in Chicago. The last two packages I've gotten by UPS have been terrible. My bike came in a torn open box with a broken crank, and a "care package" of food (hey, I'm broke, and appreciate the gesture) came mostly crushed. So, any suggestions on how to keep the trumpet/mouthpieces/accessories/case safe? Any companies who don't typically mangle your packages, as I'm not using UPS again after the bike?

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"You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, that is something you are free to do and it accords with your nature. But perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could avoid." --Franz Kafka

alanbach

This site may help you to pack your instrument carefully http://doctorvalve.com/Instrument_Pa...Slideshow.html

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Alan

Manny Laureano

I send and receive everything to and from dave monette via FedEx. Have never had a problem in 20 years. In fact, coincidentally, just sent sent him a horn I had on loan and it's sitting outside waiting to be picked up shortly.

I wrap the horns in bubble wrap and styro-peanuts and sfterwards shake the box. If I hear movement, I didn't do it right and I pack it until there is ZERO movement in the box.

ML

Tootsall

And if I may comment: I've shipped and received a couple of horns from overseas. I think the biggest mistake made by the "casual" shipper (of ANY product) has to be in selecting a box that's really too small to provide adequate "crush" space. You just can't provide the padding necessary without having a container that's 4" larger in length, width, AND height of the contents and still expect reasonable protection. Courier and mail services use automated sorting equipment and boxes can (and DO) get dropped on top of other boxes and have other boxes get dropped on top of them. That means that a "corner hit" is always possible and THAT can mean a puncture.

Don't go too cheap and try to save $$ by using "the most compact package possible"... it'll cost you in the long run.

A.N.A. Mendez

I agree with the above, make the trumpet a fat pillow (of bubble wrap) then surround it with "peanuts".

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oneeyedhobbit

All of this is much appreciated--but what about the case and everything else? Would I be better off to ship it and the other accessories in a different box from the trumpet (which is shipped by itself as described with copious bubble wrap, et cet.), presumably using newspaper/packing-peanuts/bubble wrap to cushion mutes and other accesories in the case, and a nice padded box around the case?

Edit: Sorry for the questions, I have never shipped an instrument in my life. Like I said, after seeing UPS with my bike, I'm terrified of what could happen to my trumpet.

__________________
"You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, that is something you are free to do and it accords with your nature. But perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could avoid." --Franz Kafka

Tootsall

Do NOT ship the horn in it's case. Cases aren't (usually) designed to hold the horn totally imobile and the horn will rattle around in there and get damaged. I haven't heard a single person recommend shipping a horn in its case and that includes ALL of the factory and service guys who have posted in any of the trumpet forums over the last three, four years.

I've seen horns shipped by the Schilke factory to a dealer... NOT shipped in a case. I've received instruments from a custom builder/repairer in the UK... again, NOT in a case. Manny has already said how he sends/receives Monettes.

Save money and leave the case "at home". Wrap the horn in a soft cloth and tape the cloth down. Then wrap the horn and cloth inside one or two wraps of bubble wrap. THEN pack the horn inside a box that is the 4" larger than the horn with peanuts and make certain that the horn cannot move! Make sure there is space between ANY of the horn surfaces and the inside of the box itself. Do like Manny said... test it and if it moves, redo it.