Gibson Shipping Box Crush

**vinnyv1k** · 03-12-2020, 08:16 PM

Gibson Shipping Box Crush-8b0f2bb1-da21-49b6-b44e-3b917ca03a6c-jpg

Gibson Shipping Box Crush-8dae5f10-dd2f-4031-86a3-c73ace1277e6-jpg

**citizenk74** · 03-12-2020, 08:31 PM

Boo-Boo?

**Marty Grass** · 03-13-2020, 09:42 AM

A few years ago I talked with one of the Heritage owners about breakage during shipping. He had the figures. I think it was like 4%. That's factored into the wholesale cost.

Gibson certainly does the same. Their packaging balances the costs of protective boxing vs. losses during shipment.

I ship individual instruments and don't want a single one damaged. I know the person receiving the guitar and I know the hassle that follows for everyone when damage occurs. I do my best to protect the headstock and top. I also have time stamped pics during packing that show the guitar was "healthy" when it was boxed and exactly how it was protected. I get insurance at either FedEx or UPS.

I have had bad outcomes but very few. The carriers have always paid, although that can take some commitment to make that happen.

**vinnyv1k** · 03-13-2020, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by citizenk74

Boo-Boo?

yup

**Stringswinger** · 03-13-2020, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

A few years ago I talked with one of the Heritage owners about breakage during shipping. He had the figures. I think it was like 4%. That's factored into the wholesale cost.

Gibson certainly does the same. Their packaging balances the costs of protective boxing vs. losses during shipment.

I ship individual instruments and don't want a single one damaged. I know the person receiving the guitar and I know the hassle that follows for everyone when damage occurs. I do my best to protect the headstock and top. I also have time stamped pics during packing that show the guitar was "healthy" when it was boxed and exactly how it was protected. I get insurance at either FedEx or UPS.

I have had bad outcomes but very few. The carriers have always paid, although that can take some commitment to make that happen.

The only way to (mostly) avoid guitar buying hassles is to buy in person, either at a music store or from a private seller.

Buying guitars from a distance exposes you to the following:

Fraud (both not getting what you paid for and/or getting something that has intentionally omitted flaws)

Shipping damage

Negligent nondisclosures

Gear that doesn't live up to your expectations

It is a gamble. But choosing the right carrier, using the right method of payment, using insurance and vetting the seller (and even the buyer, as there are fraudster buyers out there) can reduce your chances of a bad experience.

Be careful. Buying guitars sight unseen is indeed a minefield.

**Hammertone** · 03-13-2020, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Buying guitars sight unseen is indeed a minefield.

And love is a battlefield.

**lammie200** · 03-13-2020, 04:40 PM

It's more feel unfelt. I wouldn't go for anything without pics.

**lukmanohnz** · 03-13-2020, 09:58 PM

Guess I have just been lucky. I have purchased several acoustic and electric guitars (and a couple of mandolins) that were shipped UPS ground to me and arrived in great condition, and have sold/shipped quite a few the same way with nary a scratch. But I know there’s always a risk of something going awry, which is why I have always insured my shipments at the full value of the contents.

**starjasmine** · 03-13-2020, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

That's gotta be an open it in front of the courier thing, right? Well, it would be for me.
But MG has shipped and received many, so couldn't be anything but, I'd imagine.

I did open a guitar in front of the UPS driver the only time I ever bought one that wasn't an in-person sale.

@OP: My God, if those guitar boxes had arrived at my doorstep in that condition, I'd have needed a diaper!

@Stringswinger: that guitar shipped to me was a Gibson Custom Shop archtop, and I spoke to the seller on the phone before finalizing the purchase. He assured me it played "like butter" and that the neck was "perfect," and that I'd love it. I told him that I've been playing (at the time) for 30 years and that I also planned to have it inspected by a luthier. We agreed clearly that I could have a 48-hour evaluation period and that the axe would be on its way back if there was anything wrong with it. Well, indeed that axe played like s---. My hand hurt after 45 minutes. Two luthiers and a super-experienced local player of the same guitar all confirmed my feeling that it was a lemon. That was the first and last time I ever bought a guitar without an in-person, hands-on evaluation before parting with the cash.

**wmachine** · 03-14-2020, 10:40 AM

Marty, is the label for what was in the box? If so, that BB King is the exact one I have, made 10 days later.

FWIW, every recent years Gibson Memphis guitars I've seen were shipped with bubble wrapped headstocks in the case. Including the BB King.

**Marty Grass** · 03-17-2020, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by wmachine

Marty, is the label for what was in the box? If so, that BB King is the exact one I have, made 10 days later.

FWIW, every recent years Gibson Memphis guitars I've seen were shipped with bubble wrapped headstocks in the case. Including the BB King.

Those were two Lucilles, cherry and licorice! I don't recall any bubble wrap around the headstock when I got them from CME.

Headstock breaks are from acceleration-deceleration forces causing a high energy flexion of the headstock. Bubble wrap may decrease the maximum distance of the flexion but not abate the high impulse nature of the blow in most cases. The headstock must be packed tightly above and below to prevent the smallest amount of flexion. The only good and practical way I know of is to pack the underside of the headstock with "too much" tight, almost uncompressible padding. The upper surface of the headstock is packed the same way. The strings are loose. The case should be hard to close from overpadding the headstock above and below.

BTW, these two Lucilles are the best I've seen, and I've owned more than a few. The center block is lighter, which I like better. Some of the older ones were 10+ pounds.