Shipping a bass outside of the EU?

[TRBboy]

Hi folks, 

So, I might have need to ship a bass outside of the EU (Israel to be specific), but I don't know where to start with it really, never had to do outside of the UK before. I had a quick Google, but most of the services I could find don't offer high enough compensation to cover it. 

Has anyone here done this before? Any advice? Thanks for your help! 

[Grahambythesea]

I did Australia once for a Washburn guitar. Used the Royal Mail Parcel Force, but I can’t remember if the insurance was enough or the buyer took the risk. Anyway it got there okay but cost far too much.

[TRBboy]

Thanks Graham, I'll keep looking. I did look at parcel force but couldn't see a decent service there. Will check again. 

[Paul S]

Looks like Eurosender will do it.  

[TRBboy]

13 minutes ago, Paul S said:

Looks like Eurosender will do it.  

Not heard of them, but I'll check them out, thanks Paul! 

[BigRedX]

Before you sort out any shipping quotes does your bass have any CITES restricted woods in it? Rosewood fingerboard for instance?

If so you will need a CITES export licence, and your buyer will need an import licence. UK export licence is £76 IIRC, and I would suspect that the import licence in Israel will be about the same.

Without this paperwork in place before you send it, if there is any suspicion that the instrument contains CITES restricted woods it will be seized by customs (and probably destroyed).

Edited September 3, 2019 by BigRedX

[TRBboy]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

Before you sort out any shipping quotes does your bass have any CITES restricted woods in it? Rosewood fingerboard for instance?

If so you will need a CITES export licence, and your buyer will need an import licence. UK export licence is £76 IIRC, and I would suspect that the import licence in Israel will be about the same.

Without this paperwork in place before you send it, if there is any suspicion that the instrument contains CITES restricted woods it will be seized by customs (and probably destroyed).

Thanks for the advice BRX, hadn't considered that! It has an alder body, maple neck and ebony fretboard, so I'll look up a CITES list from somewhere and see if any of those woods are subject to the regs (I don't think they are). I was under the impression that it was a USA only thing, but I have to confess I haven't looked into CITES in any detail. 

[BigRedX]

CITES affects any import/export outside of a customs zone. For the moment that means anywhere not in the EU if you are sending from the UK. If/when the UK leaves the EU it will mean anywhere not in the UK.

With those woods you should be OK although I would also want to get written confirmation of the woods used from the manufacturer of the bass to satisfy any over-zealous customs officials.

[Lozz196]

On 02/09/2019 at 19:27, TRBboy said:

Thanks Graham, I'll keep looking. I did look at parcel force but couldn't see a decent service there. Will check again. 

Their T&Cs specifically prohibit musical instruments - don’t use them.

[TRBboy]

This is sounding like a lot of hassle.... 

[Burns-bass]

12 hours ago, TRBboy said:

This is sounding like a lot of hassle.... 

Personally, I wouldn’t bother...

[TRBboy]

3 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

Personally, I wouldn’t bother...

Thing is, he's really keen and offering much more than I'd get for it in the UK... 

Had a look at CITES last night, and this bass wouldn't be affected. 

Will think further....