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Need some help shipping speakers

I recently found a pair of speakers I’ve been wanting for years. Unfortunately, they’re about 1000 miles away. Great price, great condition, great seller but just a little too far away for a road trip.

The seller is an elderly gentleman who can’t help in any way, but is willing to accommodate me once the money is paid (yes I know there’s risk buying speakers sight unseen and not unheard but the price is too good to pass up, and I’m willing to roll the dice).

 

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for a company that would come to his house crate up the speakers and ship them to me? I’ve heard some happy ending stories over the years, but never really paid much attention to the detail.

 

Thank you for any advice you can give me!

bcg
inagroove
262 posts
 

@bcg 

Another option: 

FLY to the home town of the speakers, then rent a VAN and DRIVE them back home over several days.

Pros: faster than driving both ways / you have control of the shipment / you can see a bit of the landscape on your way home

Cons: a few $k. for flight, truck, gas, hotels and food.

food for thought...

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
5,933 posts
 

As a shipper, Estes has a door to door service that I have used a few times . As far someone to pack the speakers, I am no help.

incorrigable
200 posts
 

I would do the road trip. Not enough information on the size of the speakers. One pair I ordered new arrived in flimsy cardboard stuffed with random slabs of foam. Another came on their own pallet expertly encased in heavy boxes with custom foam. That's the skill range you are gambling on.

signaforce's avatar
signaforce
547 posts
 

I recently sold my KEF R11’s FedEx ground shipping from East coast to Salt Lake City. Packed well with original packaging. They were destroyed, but luckily fully insured & FedEx honored the claim, which I understand is the exception. 

The R11’s had replaced Klipsch Epic CF-1’s, again sold & shipped well packed in original packaging to Colorado. Arrived unscathed. A crap shoot. 

My current Ref 3’s, I drove 400 miles to pickup. Recommended. 

sounds_real_audio
1,095 posts
 

Things to consider..There are many good freight companies that ship fine art etc. call some of the smaller companies near you and ask who is the best for expensive pieces. 

This is really important. Insure the cost of replacement for both speakers on each speaker....that way if one gets damage and there are no matches you can get new matched pair. 

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