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Drums FAQ TOC African Dance USA Overseas Links Glossary |
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Drums FAQ TOC African Dance USA Overseas Links Glossary |
SHIPPING DRUMS IN THE U.S.A. |
Shipping Drums-Overseas/Domestic U.S.
Original Post
From: Lena Slachmuijlder
Date: Sun Dec 17, 2000 1:32am
Subject: 'Posting' drums in the US
I will be faced with the challenge of sending some drums to people within the US, after
arriving from Africa with them in New York. They need to be sent to the southeast of the
US, generally. What is the best way to send drums in the US? Is the US postal system
careful enough, and cheap enough? Or, are there courier companies that people could
possibly recommend that would do the job better and cheaper? Here in SA one would trust
the courier to handle the drum better than the postal system, but I'm not sure about the
US.
Thanking you in advance for constructive suggestions.
Field of Rhythm
(Moderators Note: For those not familiar with Lena, the "SA" in the above
message indicates "South Africa" not "South America".)
____________________________________________________________________
Responses
[R.Clark 12.17.00 clark@acceleration.net]
In the past the "courier" services (United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and
so on) here in the USA were significantly better than the United States Postal Service
(USPS). Today, other than the fact that the package might get caught in the cross-fire
when some dis-eased (sic) postal worker "goes postal" with their private arsenal
<Grin>, USPS is good enough for me. Although I've not compared the rates, I think
they are similar.
I hope this Helps, R.
____________________________________________________________________
[Kenne Thomas 12.17.00 <thomasjp@mninter.net>]
Drums From A Small Planet
http://www.kennethomas.com
For sending any kind of package,especially musical instruments constructed of wood,
PACKAGING is the most important thing to consider. Next of course is price and then time.
You want your instrument to arrive as you sent it so pack WELL!!!!!! United States Parcel
Services (USPS) has a weight limit. I don't believe a single-packed Jembe would exceed
their requirements.
Pack it in a case then put it into a sturdy box. You can fill it with almost anything. Of
course light-but sturdy materials would be preferred. be sure to label EVERYTHING, inside
and out. Tape the box and then rope it (string won't do) or strap it up. I used to send
things back stateside often and found the best way was by courier service. FedEx is a very
good choice. They are in the business of box style packages so they KNOW how to handle
them. After that, any local courier which has a reciprocity agreement with one in the US
will do.
____________________________________________________________________
[Robin 12.17.00]
Ruarto's Rhythms
http://www.ruarto.com
Great answers so far, let me add a bit. UPS is great as you can follow the shipment online
at - http://www.ups.com and see where they are in the system. I often use empty milk
bottles or empty plastic water bottles, etc, as filler. Wadded paper can get heavy and
peanuts (Editor's note: peanuts refers to foam packing pellets which resemble
"peanuts" in shape) can often make a real mess (Editor's note: Static is a big
concern with "peanuts"). You use these to sort of wedge the drum into the box so
it wont shift around during shipment. I only ship by USPS if it has to go to Canada or
overseas, in which case it seems to get there so much faster it isn't funny.
The boxes you buy from U-Haul will do but are a bit expensive. Look around computer stores
for monitor boxes, or buy a batch of 10 from a commercial box company.
Plastic strapping tape (2" wide) is great and found in most hardware stores. (Wrap)
two or three over the seam between the two top flaps and two bottom flaps. (Add) at least
one across it, perpendicular to those as well. If in winter or a rainy season also tape
the sides of the flaps so you have no open slots into the box.
One last thing, the head is often exposed to a lot of weight as they stack stuff high in
the planes and trucks. Put at least one if not two layers of cardboard between it and the
end of the box. A few peanuts or foam between them is good, so you have basically,
counting the wall of the box, 3 cushioned layers of cardboard protecting the head. You
will probably want to put a plastic bag over the head before doing much of any packing, to
keep moisture and stray packing fluff off the drum.
Good luck, and Regards for the season.
____________________________________________________________________
[Bob Fulbright 12.17.00 bob@bongocentral.com
www.bongocentral.com
The US Postal system is in my experience the cheapest, fastest, and most secure delivery
system within the US. I've been shipping drums throughout the US for 6 years and have not
had a single problem with them. UPS offers faster insurance resolution for damaged
deliveries, but I've never had a damaged parcel with the US Postal Service while I've had
three with UPS. Fed. Ex. is dreadfully expensive and has lost 2 shipments. RPS (now a
subsidiary of Fed Ex) requires a hassle of an account application. Emery is very good but
expensive.
If you are shipping a pallet load of drums or more than perhaps two at a time, I would
choose Emery, but you can investigate all aspects of all major courier companies
(including the USPS) at - http://www.intershipper.net, the most complete shipping resource
site I know. Free registration.
____________________________________________________________________
[Pam 12.17.00 NishandOv@aol.com
]
People usually send drums to me via UPS, and they've been fine. One thing I've noticed is
some people will carefully pack them (foam peanuts or cardboard covers to stabilize the
drum and prevent if from moving around) but occasionally one will arrive in a box with
nothing else, and it is OK. I can't believe it! So that leads me to believe that UPS is a
good shipping service.
____________________________________________________________________
[Happy Shel 12.17.00 happy@drums.org
]
Drums Not Guns
http://www.drums.org/
Ship drums only via UPS-United Parcel Service because UPS *knows* how to handle large
boxes and, each box shipped has an automatic built-insurance of $100. Plus, if you goto to
a UPS Package store, they will help you pack and secure the drum for a reasonable fee.
They charge by the weight and they ship to address (zipcode).
Generally speaking, a djembe weighing 15 lbs shipped from Dallas, TX to Washington State
(2200 miles) costs with packaging $30.
Hope this helps, Peace,
HappyShel
P.S. I have shipped over 100 djembes and never has one arrived damaged or has one ever
been lost.
____________________________________________________________________
[Walter Alter 12.18.00 limejello@earthlink.net ]
The largest and most reliable US carrier is United Parcel Service (UPS), a
non-governmental company. The U.S. Postal system is a close second in reliability and is a
bit cheaper for standard delivery times. UPS will deliver to the customer's door, the U.S.
Postal system will deliver to their nearest Post Office which is found in every city and
town with a population of about 1,000 inhabitants or more, which is almost every town in
the U.S. Be sure that the boxes are strong, well padded and sealed with approved packing
tape. I have found that foam rubber carpet padding makes a good shipping padding that can
often be found for no cost at carpet companies when they remove old carpet.
(Editor's note: UPS will not deliver to Post Box addresses. USPS will deliver anywhere
mail can be received as long as it can be signed for or accepted)
____________________________________________________________________
[Steve Colvin 12.18.00 colvin@hotmail.com
]
I agree with a previous poster that packaging is the single most important choice. I've
shipped my djembe twice and had great results. I put it in a box with peanuts and a foam
cover on top of the head, then put THAT box inside another slightly bigger box with
peanuts in the space between. The outside box still meets the size restrictions for both
USPS and UPS. I've shipped it via UPS and USPS, with good results in both cases. Oh, and
I'd like to correct another post (See editor's note) that said that USPS will deliver only
to a post office near you - they deliver to MY door, at least, and I don't think this is
atypical.
____________________________________________________________________
[Jay Cat 12.19.00 jaycatvt@hotmail.com
]
http://www.jaycatdrums.com
I make/sell and send drums regularly. I take a finished drum to my local
'pack & ship' (Mailboxes Etc, to be specific). their 'packing' is very professional
and first-rate. I've used their services for several years, and have never had a complaint
from any of my customers. The actual shipper is United Parcel Service (UPS) so the drums
are packed at Mailboxes Etc, and then transported via UPS. You have the ability of
'tracking' the shipmental so. In general, I've grown to favor USPS over UPS for shipping.
Since the strike, I think UPS service has degraded.
Many thanks to Kenne Thomas for condensing and editing the thread on Djembe-L mail list re: Shipping Drums.
Last Edited 02/04/2005
