Advice on shipping a guitar from Greece to the US

    I've been looking for a particular guitar for a quite some time, and have located one in Greece. The Seller is willing to do an international transaction, but doesn't have any previous experience in doing so. We've agreed to use an escrow service for the financials, so we're both protected there, but if anyone has any experience shipping a guitar from Greece to the US, I'd appreciate any information you could share regarding export fees, customs, etc.


    Thanks!!

    I don't have any experience but I know that in Athens and Thessaloniki there are UPS agencies.
    They should be reliable...
    Or... go there for a nice holiday and bring home the guitar by yourself! :D

    I know its not the same thing but I bought a guitar on Ebay a while back to go from the US to UK. To insure it properly you needed to have the correct value disclosed so that's where the customs assess it from for import duties etc.If your seller insures it then its protecting him from loss or damage in transit (not you in other words) - its his name on the insurance docs and he pays for it. A simple concept but very often misunderstood among ebayers but who assume the buyer claims etc.
    Your local customs office (or online) should be able to work out the correct fees based on the agreed value for insurance purposes.If seller is sending by Fed Ex then it will cost more, but is a safer option as they can usually include insurance. My guitar? It arrived damaged. Seller had sent it in what looked like an ok case and in the standard cardboard box but that wasn't enough. Anytime since I suggest (unless its in something like a Hiscox or flight case) using 2 pieces of 1/4 " plywood strapped to either side of the case - not very heavy,should still fit in a standard box but is as strong as hell and cheap too.

    You're damned if you do and damned if you don't