Packing and Posting a Trumpet

I have spent my ebay years buying and selling trumpets all over the worldand have seen some over-the-top packaging and some inadequate packaging. I have sent trumpets that have been damaged and received damaged items. If you have to send a trumpet by parcel this guide may well save you time, effort and money. If anyone has more tips or feels that I have missed something then please get in touch with me.

Choice of Courier

I always choose to take my parcels to the post office. You have a written receipt, can choose insurance and it is convenient for both parties. There is nothing more annoying than some obscure courier leaving a card through your letterbox telling you to pick it up from their depot which is usually miles away.

The post office also act as an agent for Parcelforce - the best courier for overseas parcels.

Postage Option and Cost

Trumpets in a case generally weigh 3-5kg when packed. Royal Mail standard parcel delivery option is less than 10. Insurance is Optional but worth the extra. Its about 10.50 to post including 250 insurance and about 12.50 including 500insurance.

If you want to choose next day special delivery it is 20.70 to post including insurance upto 500.

International standard delivery charges change from country to country but is around 32 to EU countries, 48 for other european destinations and around 59 for US or Canada postage. International standard delivery is pretty fast but does not give you a tracking number. Global Priority does and it may cost 10 extra and is a little quicker delivery. Basic international deliveries only include insurance upto 150.

Packing

In my experience hard and semi-hard cases protect the trumpet against normal handling. When someone decides to stand on a trumpet case it really does not matter how well boxed it is, it will get damaged. Therefore, as the trumpet is already protected in a case your packaging materials are merely protecting the case from damage. I find that a wrapping of bubble wrap and then enclosing the whole parcel in a black bin bag is neat, tidy and effective.

Gig bags offer very little protection against bumps so I'd recommend placing these into a sturdy cardboard box. Similarly a trumpet sold without a case needs to be well wrapped in bubble wrap and ideally double boxed to give them the best possible protection.

Handling Charges

Ebay say it is reasonable to charge a handling fee. I would guess that it takes 10 minute to pack the trumpet and at least 20 minutes to go to the PO and queue. I may be wrong but it just doesn't seem right to add half an hours labour charge onto the cost of postage! I normally just charge actual cost of postage; buyers appreciate this and are more likely to be a return customer and reflect their appreciation in feedback.