Shipping a Cue
- Thread starter jgpool
- Start date
Radiophonicus
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A triangle box by nature is more crush proof, but I'm sure a square box will do just fine. Insurance is pretty cheap and I really, really prefer UPS. For filler I'd go with bubble wrap but others here might have a better idea.
From a consumer pov:jgpool said:
1. Either round or triangle. Good thing about the triangle is that it won't roll away in the back of the truck.
2. Insurance is a personal choice. There's a minimum if you get it, then it goes up from there. In the past couple of weeks, I paid $6.50 for $500 and $3.35 for $200.
3&4. I've been using USPS 2-3 day. Shipping itself was ~$10 before insurance. But, sending it overnight might be in your mind. That's going to be more. Normally a minimum of $25 or something like that. I ship stuff all over the world (and have no idea what the cost is!!!), and I'm a fan of UPS Red. But, that's just me.
5. I've saved the plastic that the cues are in when I receive them and put the cues in there. Then it's just newspaper around the cue for me, most of the time. The packing is just for the cue not to mess itsel up inside the package. It won't protect it from something really heavy falling on it.
Fred
I have used bubble wrap, just wrap the but and shaft separately, the wrap them both together. I agree about UPS. I have used USPS for small stuff, but their tracking blows. UPS or FEDEX is the way to go. I print all my own shipping labels, then just drop it off when ever I am around a drop off point (usually on the way home from work).
jgpool said:
I guess that would depend.......what value do you place on your most prized possesion?
3"X36" Round tube ....inside a triangle Fedex box works best for me. Fits perfect and the little extra protection goes a long way with the gorillas.
100% cotton fleece sleeve for the cue and shafts......drop inside a plastic bag for mositure protection. Wrap ONLY 3-4" of each end of the cue with bubble wrap before inserting in the tube so the cue is suspended at both ends inside the tube. Dont use too much bubble....just enough too hold it in place......don't need unwanted pressures during shipping cycle.
Use a company that scan tracks it every time it is touched in the system so you know where it is at all times and not just after it has been delivered.
Hope this helps............
UPS is fine if you have extremely good packing. They call their handlers "throwers" if that tells you anything. They really do throw... like right in front of me at their center near Hampton they chucked a small box labeled "fragile" (I saw it as it rolled to a stop) that bounced off the rim of the bin the guy was aiming for. I've had more than 5 bad experiences using UPS... and on two occasions shipping to my uncle in Alaska, they gave me a USPS or FedEx shipping number after it got to Washington state... I dislike UPS. USPS has been the least expensive and most reliable for me personally.
Hierovision said:
I have refused to use UPS for a couple years now. Fedex has never done me wrong, nor has USPS.
I bought a food vacuum over the summer and have used it to package my cues. The plastic is very heavy-duty, and after vacuum-sealing you don't have to worry about moisture. I roll them up, then bubble-wrap.
-Roger
I always tell people to ship their cue in a tube or triangle box. The tube needs a 1/4" wall thickness.
Send it by trackable means so you know where it is and if it made it to its destination. UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, all have pros and cons. Use the one you trust.
Insure it for the replacement value only. Any more than that and you are wasting money. The shipping company will want proof of the value.
Do not rubberband or tape the cue and shaft together. Cues hate sidepressure.
Do not tape anything to the cue. Cues hate adhesives.
Pack with newspaper or bubble wrap. Cuemakers/repairmen hate peanuts. Pack it tight but not too tight. The favorite excuse the shipping companies use is "insufficient packing."
Always include you name, address, daytime phone number, and a packing list of what you sent.
Did I leave anything out?
Send it by trackable means so you know where it is and if it made it to its destination. UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, all have pros and cons. Use the one you trust.
Insure it for the replacement value only. Any more than that and you are wasting money. The shipping company will want proof of the value.
Do not rubberband or tape the cue and shaft together. Cues hate sidepressure.
Do not tape anything to the cue. Cues hate adhesives.
Pack with newspaper or bubble wrap. Cuemakers/repairmen hate peanuts. Pack it tight but not too tight. The favorite excuse the shipping companies use is "insufficient packing."
Always include you name, address, daytime phone number, and a packing list of what you sent.
Did I leave anything out?
In my experience USPS seems to be a little hit and miss. I've received cues from the states in a couple of day, some have taken a couple of weeks and one took well over a month! When I've had cues shipped with UPS they have always got here inside a week, but it costs a lot more that USPS.
I'm shipping hundreds of important packages a year - I don't want headaches.
For cues, I always use FedEx 2 day in their triangle box if it fits, insured. I have a commercial discount with them. My cost is usually $20 or so and i do it all online. I had one package damaged by Fed Ex, filed a $400 claim and was paid within two weeks. I wrap the cues in paper or thin bubble wrap so they don't move around in the box, and put JP's on them if I can.
My experience is UPS is rougher on packages and also had glitches in their tracking system, so they are second place.
USPS is a distant 3rd place. I've had cues snapped in half, run over boxes, etc, etc., delayed, untrackable if addressed improperly. Their service is spotty. If something does go wrong, it's much harder to straighten out than Fed Ex or UPS. Their express mail is excellent, especially internationally (which I do use and and actually prefer for my own reasons) but then you're into Fed Ex prices.
Chances are all of these providers will provide adequate service, but in my experience, when it comes to quality cues or antiques, don't cheap out - use the best, it's just not worth it.
Chris
For cues, I always use FedEx 2 day in their triangle box if it fits, insured. I have a commercial discount with them. My cost is usually $20 or so and i do it all online. I had one package damaged by Fed Ex, filed a $400 claim and was paid within two weeks. I wrap the cues in paper or thin bubble wrap so they don't move around in the box, and put JP's on them if I can.
My experience is UPS is rougher on packages and also had glitches in their tracking system, so they are second place.
USPS is a distant 3rd place. I've had cues snapped in half, run over boxes, etc, etc., delayed, untrackable if addressed improperly. Their service is spotty. If something does go wrong, it's much harder to straighten out than Fed Ex or UPS. Their express mail is excellent, especially internationally (which I do use and and actually prefer for my own reasons) but then you're into Fed Ex prices.
Chances are all of these providers will provide adequate service, but in my experience, when it comes to quality cues or antiques, don't cheap out - use the best, it's just not worth it.
Chris
mjantti said:
USPS International Express mail is the best international service, in my opinion. The reason why is they have so many packages going through, they are less likely to be delayed by issues in customs than FedEx or UPS.
I've sent maybe 20 - 25 expensive cues overseas and the USPS International Express has been perfect. It's expensive, but their service is very reliable.
The USPS domestic service is affordable but not as good.
Chris
Chris, I'm tap, tap, tapping with you regarding USPS Express (EMS)
I just got a cue from Japan that took total of three days (door to door) via EMS. Previously, I've shipped a cue to Taiwan on Friday and they got it on Monday .. that's pretty fast for an affortable shipping.
I just got a cue from Japan that took total of three days (door to door) via EMS. Previously, I've shipped a cue to Taiwan on Friday and they got it on Monday .. that's pretty fast for an affortable shipping.
I have shipped 30 cues.
I use USPS priority, with insurance and return receipt and it costs around 20 ish for a cue worth 1000.00 bucks... IT has always arrived in less than 3 days.
For high end stuff i won;t Scarp and do it fed ex overnight. That's the way i get my SouthWest's shipped.
I use triangle boxes, cheap bubble wrap, and some good paper filler and make the tube real solid. Write Fragile all over the damn thing 100 times.
just my .02 as i browse AZ today...
I use USPS priority, with insurance and return receipt and it costs around 20 ish for a cue worth 1000.00 bucks... IT has always arrived in less than 3 days.
For high end stuff i won;t Scarp and do it fed ex overnight. That's the way i get my SouthWest's shipped.
I use triangle boxes, cheap bubble wrap, and some good paper filler and make the tube real solid. Write Fragile all over the damn thing 100 times.
just my .02 as i browse AZ today...
some cue makers prefer you not ship them in a case. just something else for them to keep up with and be responsible for. ask the cue maker what he prefers