Looking for someone to hold/ship a guitar for me

brianlcox · #1 11-12-2019, 04:13 PM

Hi All,

I'm in the process of buying a guitar in the US off of a well respected forum member and having it shipped to Switzerland. The buyer is wary of any potential hassels of shipping the guitar to Europe and would prefer that he ships to the US.

I was wondering if any of the respected forum members would be willing to act as an intermediary. I would have the seller ship the guitar to you. You would play it for two weeks until CITES on guitars is lifted, and then forward it on to me. I would pay the shipping and would make sure that you don't have any fees.

The guitar in question is from a well respected single luthier, so the chance to enjoy the guitar for a couple weeks before shipping is probably rather enticing.

Please only contact me if you are a well known and respected forum member with lots of experience shipping guitars. You should also be from somewhere near the east coast. I would also prefer if you had heritage insurance or similar.

It's best to contact me by email:

[email protected]

Thanks!

Dwight · #2 11-12-2019, 04:38 PM

There’s no way any of that could go wrong. I think you should reconsider.

tomiv9 · #3 11-12-2019, 04:51 PM

Agreed this almost sounds like a scam its such a bad idea. What happens if the guitar is lost or damaged when shipping from original seller (Person A) to Person B? Who bears responsibility? Same if this happens from person B to you? Say you never get your guitar or it arrives damaged? What recourse do you have? Pretty much none.

Goat Mick · #4 11-12-2019, 04:59 PM

I honestly don't think you're trying to scam anyone, but there are so many bad ideas in this proposition I can't see anyone touching it. If it's a custom built guitar, then it's obviously not a cheap guitar. You have no guarantee that the person that's holding the guitar for you will actually ship it to you. The person holding the guitar is responsible for a brand new and expensive instrument. What if something happens to the guitar? Something as simple as some minor pick marks, the case lid falls while he's putting it up or any other minor dents and dings that can happen even when you're being very careful. I strongly suggest that you reconsider your plan.

Brucebubs · #5 11-12-2019, 05:14 PM

I've bought 6 guitars from the USA and had them shipped to me in Australia without problem.

Why is this seller wary of shipping to Europe?

p.s. Fed-Ex tracking system was very good with frequent accurate location updates. USPS not so good, big gaps of inactivity - but guitar arrived OK.

I paid $US200 to 300 for shipping.

Tube Sound · #6 11-12-2019, 05:29 PM

Perhaps the well respected, single luthier, forum member, will see this thread and just maybe reconsider shipping it to you. I don't suppose you could find one of these guitars on the used market, where the seller would ship to you? I hope you find a solution.

Carmel Cedar · #7 11-12-2019, 08:49 PM

I could see this working, though it would take a high integrity AGF'er with an interest in the luthier's guitars, and experience with int'l shipping. I think there are honest souls on AGF that could be trusted with the task, and take responsibility if they damaged the guitar. They get to play a presumably cool instrument for a bit. I've borrowed (by shipment) a fellow AGFer's guitar and sent it back, taking the damage risk in order to try it out - so to me this can make sense (respect that it may not for most, however). Got to find a motivated person with impeccable character to do this with confidence.

A flaw I can't see a way around is insurance. I have Heritage, but to have a guitar covered, I am nearly certain I need to own it. In this arrangement, I could not claim ownership so could not cover it on my policy without misrepresenting the situation, which I won't do. A twist on Groucho Marx - if you find an AGF'er that would cut corners on insurance, you can't trust them with your guitar.

Agree with the other responses - best solve is a change of heart by the luthier on his/her willingness to ship to Switzerland.

chippygreen · #8 11-12-2019, 09:30 PM

Rereading OP's post, I think the seller is the current owner, but it is a luthier guitar. My suggestion here would be to have the seller ship to the luthier, have it checked out, set up, frets crowned etc. and have the luthier ship it to you with his/her insurance.

RP · #9 11-12-2019, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomiv9

Agreed this almost sounds like a scam its such a bad idea. What happens if the guitar is lost or damaged when shipping from original seller (Person A) to Person B? Who bears responsibility? Same if this happens from person B to you? Say you never get your guitar or it arrives damaged? What recourse do you have? Pretty much none.

I tend to agree...alot..............

brianlcox · #10 11-13-2019, 01:52 PM

Hey all, OP here,

I know this wasn't a very good idea, but I thought it was worth a try. There are a few forum members who I would have trusted this task with. In fact, I have a few friends in the US, but none of them know anything about guitars. I figured the guitar was safer with someone I don't know, but I know has a passion for gutiars and a history of being reasonable with selling and trading here on the forum.

The hang up is insurance - I saw that last night as I lay awake dreaming of my new guitar. The intermediary wouldn't have insurance on the guitar, so the whole plan could go terribly wrong!

I have ultimately found a better solution - I will visit my parents in Canada and have the guitar sent to a company on the border, from which I will pick it up. The seller has agreed to this, so it looks like we have a deal. In the end this only costs me about $600 more than dealing with all the shipping, so I just see it as a cheaper way to go see family close to the holidays!

By the way, the guitar is used - I guess I wasn't so clear in the original post.

JayBee1404 · #11 11-13-2019, 02:16 PM

I’m baffled as to why the seller won’t agree to ship to Switzerland - it’s on your dollar, so what’s his problem?

But, if you carry out the plan in your last post, make sure the instrument is declared to Customs when yo carry it in to Switzerland. You may get away with not declaring it but, if you’re caught, the penalties for smuggling are severe and could result in you forfeiting the guitar with no compensation, plus a fine.

Tread very carefully, is my advice.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

Jeff Scott · #12 11-13-2019, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianlcox

You would play it for two weeks until CITES on guitars is lifted!

Don't expect things will be clear sailing in two weeks. That's just the start point for countries to maybe think about considering a change in their current policy regarding this subject.

BTW, my sister and BIL just left earlier this week for Zürich; they could have brought the guitar with them.

Basalt Beach · #13 11-13-2019, 06:54 PM

The OP has found a solution, no need to continue with this thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianlcox

Hey all, OP here,

I know this wasn't a very good idea, but I thought it was worth a try. There are a few forum members who I would have trusted this task with. In fact, I have a few friends in the US, but none of them know anything about guitars. I figured the guitar was safer with someone I don't know, but I know has a passion for gutiars and a history of being reasonable with selling and trading here on the forum.

The hang up is insurance - I saw that last night as I lay awake dreaming of my new guitar. The intermediary wouldn't have insurance on the guitar, so the whole plan could go terribly wrong!

I have ultimately found a better solution - I will visit my parents in Canada and have the guitar sent to a company on the border, from which I will pick it up. The seller has agreed to this, so it looks like we have a deal. In the end this only costs me about $600 more than dealing with all the shipping, so I just see it as a cheaper way to go see family close to the holidays!

By the way, the guitar is used - I guess I wasn't so clear in the original post.