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Selling and shipping

techkiller80

techkiller80

Member
I'm just curious for those of you who have sold speakers on this site do you do local pickup only? If you do ship how do you actually ship the speakers? It seems like the bigger speakers would not be safe to box up and ship and very difficult given the size.
 
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Pony Express, Personal delivery meeting somewhere.

Shipping takes some serious work to make a proper shipping box for speakers. It can be done, manufacturers do it all the time. We just need to make the speaker fit the boxes used. Lots of serious packing material not bubble wrap anywhere it can be popped and loose ability to cushion the goods.
 
I bought Vandersteen 3A with stands in VA shipped to CA with work but no problems. Cost about $200. I bought AR 2ax and KLH 6 both on east coast and shipped. Again no problems but was work and $$.

1" foam core sheets cut to size, painters tape, plastic pallet wrap (like saran wrap). That is all it takes. For the Vandy the foam was doubled.
Follow thread with pictures
https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/i...-w-o-a-scratch-__-hjames.699818/#post-9388418
 
dfunghi said:
I bought Vandersteen 3A with stands in VA shipped to CA with work but no problems. Cost about $200. I bought AR 2ax and KLH 6 both on east coast and shipped. Again no problems but was work and $$.

1" foam core sheets cut to size, painters tape, plastic pallet wrap (like saran wrap). That is all it takes. For the Vandy the foam was doubled.
Follow thread with pictures
https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/i...-w-o-a-scratch-__-hjames.699818/#post-9388418
Click to expand...

$200 was a bargain.

I have only shipped twice. The Infinity Quantum 5's, using U-Haul boxes, saran wrap the speaker with grille and protection cardboard, have enough 2-3" foam at bottom, put speaker in, fill with the 1" insulation foam 4'x8' sheets until nothing moves. I cut out holes for handle and reinforce with cardboard around the holes on the inside. My thinking was the easier you make for the handlers, less likely they will drop them. Shipped USPS from California to Jersey...

Second was buyer paid for a small mom-and-pop shipper to come over to pick up pair of JBL 250Ti LE. Saran wrap, lay them on their sides, and he palletized them...
 
Sold speakers twice. First pair were ADS, (local, and picked up, with audition), second, ADS, bookshelf, double boxed, and shipped.
 
I've shipped dozens of speakers, but anything with a 10" woofer or larger will require separate cartons and be very costly, say $50/min per carton for shipping fees alone. Packaging, materials, and insurance are all extra.

The high fees involved are a key player in determining if I sell them whole or part out, as many times the woofwrs and tweeters can bring as much as a whole speaker in a less than mint cabinet
 
I have shipped dozens of speakers -- the largest weighed 80 pounds each.

It costs about a dollar per pound if you print your label at home using FEDEX or UPS. Sometimes the cost is more depending on the box size and shipping distance.

If you're using a quality double-walled box then double boxing is a total waste, and it only adds to your weight.

Most recently I shipped a pair of ADS L810 speakers from NC to Texas in a single box -- Two sides and the top and bottom each had 1.5 inches of cardboard, and about 4 inches on each of the other sides. Box and speakers arrived in perfect condition.

If you think that sounds like skimping on material then try this test -- see how much weight it takes for you to crush 2 inches of double walled cardboard ... I weigh 220 pounds and I can't crush it, even after stomping on it.

Another thing you can do is look at pictures of speakers in their original packaging, you'll see almost every manufacturer uses either cardboard or polystyrene sheets in their original packaging to make a shell around the speaker to protect it during shipping.
 
My only concern with the all cardboard approach is that a drop that lands on a corner could damage the integrity of the cabinet. There is no cushion to soften the blow. While you might not see any damage, the glue joint in the corner might have been broken..
 
Actually, I've found several OEM speaker cartons that use quadruple ply corrugated corner angle pieces that run the length of the carton with no styrofoam, just the 1" air gap.
I have some EPI cartons here I'll dig out for pics later to illustrate.
 
BTW, I am happy to help ship airfreight for any AK member. Another perk of membership. You must have a known shipper ID to ship with airlines post 9/11 and getting that is not as easy at it may sound. It involves inspections of facility and shipper pays for that inspection, annually. Airfreight is much faster, involves less handling and is typically same price as ground (or cheaper sometimes) but is not door to door and has weight requirements. Shipment must be dropped at airport freight office (not terminal so parking non issue) and picked up at same on other end. Packing must meet standards or will be refused. Insurance is extra. I helped our esteemed hoofed friend get some serious JBL from Denver to Seattle. Over 250 pounds of speakers.

I want to chime in that absent protection (be it air spaced cardboard or foam) expect damage by commercial carriers. They all use a bin and conveyor method, expect a 4' drop at some point. If on a corner and no protection expect disaster. Cardboard alone will protect from scratches and little else.
 
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