Shipping from France to Germany

**fabiansey** · 04-06-2022, 02:26 PM

Hello,

I m thinking about buying an expensive archtop which is located in France.
How would you ship it? Do you have experience with chronopost? Would you choose express?
If you have any advice let me know.
thank you.

**Gitterbug** · 04-06-2022, 02:41 PM

1) Wait until the cold spell is over. 2) How it's packed matters more than the carrier. 3) UPS and GLS okay. 4) Let season for 24 hrs before opening the box.

**339 in june** · 04-06-2022, 02:52 PM

No experience on such a shipment, but for the last guitar I bought (in France) the seller told me that Colissimo was no more dealing such big boxes and shipment has been made through Chronopost. Everything went perfect.
I have experience receiving shipment from Germany (Thomann !) through UPS. No problem.
I'll insist on the packaging, too !
HTH

**RJVB** · 04-07-2022, 09:41 AM

Chronopost inbound to France has earned my ire at several occasions pretending I wasn't home or didn't hear the doorbell (which has 4 paws and a loud bark). I'd vote for GLS too; they've become very reliable in recent years (plus have started sending me an SMS at t-15min which I appreciate a lot).

**fabiansey** · 04-07-2022, 05:26 PM

Thank you for your input. I guess I have to discuss the right packing with the seller and wait for better weather.

**RJVB** · 04-07-2022, 05:47 PM

Re weather: is it an old instrument?

I ordered my jumbo maybe a week after we had been locked up for the 1st time here in France; March 17th 2020, from an experienced shop in the UK. It was very well packaged inside its gigbag, itself in a big cardbox box with lots of bubblewrap and/or foam peanuts. I had no idea you had to let this kind of shipment acclimate so I unpacked her as soon as she arrived, without any ill effects as far as I can tell. Not to say you shouldn't play it safe and wait with the unpacking, but waiting with shipping may be a bit overcautious. Can't hurt to ask the seller though - private seller or a pro?