Reluctance To Sell / Ship To Hawaii ? ? ? ? ?

[Denny Turner]

Trusting that most folks know that Hawaii is a state in the USA (although amazing how many don't!):

I cannot figure out why so many people don't want to sell / ship to Hawaii, Alaska and P.R. --- The shipping process via USPS to Hi, Ak and P.R. is the very same as shipping from / to anywhere else in the USA; And USPS rates to Hawaii / Alsaska / and P.R. are the very same Zone 8 rates as shipping from the east coast USA zone to the west coast zone. The FBI and US Postal Service jurisdiction and enforcement are also the same throughout the USA (and P.R. by Compact Reciprocol) ...and both take Internet / Interstate / and Mail Order transactions very seriously.

Notwithstanding folks that don't know there is a package size cusp for all carriers beyond which shipping costs are "prohibitive" with any carrier and should be checked before packing and getting shipping rates; FedEx and USPS rates are just about the same for similar services; And FedEx and UPS both offer Ground rates to Hawaii (actually air for the leg between the west coast and Hawaii) while USPS "ground" aka Parcel Post usually goes by cargo ship on the west coast / Hawaii leg (with 3 to 5 weeks delivery times).

Except for USPS Parcel Post, full scale length bass guitars require their necks to be removed (if removeable of course) to get under the cost prohibitive package size cusps. And except for custom crate packing, I have never encountered a guitar or steel guitar that couldn't be very well packed below the "prohibitive" size limit, ...and I've shipped over 600 guitars and steels from Hawaii over the past 20 years.

I stand eager to educated otherwise.

Maybe Nat'l Geographic did us a dis-service:

[Shaffer Smith]

Well, it was going the other way, but I recently purchased a Mullen SD10 RP through this forum. I have to admit when I saw the seller was in Alaska I thought to myself "man it's going to take forever to get here". He shipped it USPS on a Thursday afternoon and it was on my doorstep Monday morning. Tracked it the whole way. Smooth and easy.

[Bill Hatcher]

i sold a uke to a guy in Hi. it was no problem to ship it to him via the usps.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

Denny, now you know how we feel here in Europa

[Peter den Hartogh]

I had only 2 cases where people did not want to sell abroad,
and in both cases this happened because they were actually
working for their wives and could not deal with the distractions.

All other cases went smoothly without any problems.
Check my signature to see what I did buy in the past.
(This does not include parts or gadgets)

[Bob Knight]

I just shipped a guitar to Denny in HI., NO issues, normal deal.
BTW, Denny is a super guy to deal with...

Bob

[Doug Beaumier]

Yes, Hawaii has been a USA state since 1959 I've shipped dozens of packages there and never had a problem. Probably shipped a couple of guitars there too, I can't remember. I also bought a mint condition Alkire Eharp from Denny a few years ago. A very smooth transaction and a great guy to deal with.

[Jerome Hawkes]

if i ever ship to hawaii, i will have a few stipulations...
#1 - it must be hand delivered by me
#2 - i have to stay for 1 week to make sure the check clears.

[Steve Whetstone]

I have shipped packages all over the world. Go for it. Its not that hard. Just make sure you have proper tracking for your shipments.

Steve

[Bob Blair]

I've never understood the "lower 48" concept, or even the U.S.A.-only concept as long as the recipient is paying the shipping. I have seen ads where someone made it clear that they would rather have their item stay in their home country, which is certainly their prerogative, but it seems misguided because of course the buyer might turn around and sell it to someone in Canada (for example) - once an item is sold the seller loses all control anyway. But if the goal is keeping it in the country, the "lower 48" arbitrarily excludes Alaska and Hawaii, and PR for that matter. So it makes no sense at all to me. Still, if someone does not want my business I am always happy to take it elsewhere.

That said, I do completely understand the sentiment of someone who is looking for a local buyer - that not only avoids the hassle and cost (and carbon footprint) of shipping but it allows the transaction to take place in real time, and allows the buyer to kick the tires beforehand, perhaps avoiding difficulties. I have had good success at placing guitars locally (though I seem to have gotten past the guitar-flipping phase I experienced awhile back) and that would always be my preference, although it certainly cuts down the market. There are guitars that we have all seen in the Buy-Sell that have made the rounds and probably eaten up more than their value in UPS fees. But if you are prepared to send it from Miami to Seattle, you have already entered the game, so why not Anchorage?

[Greg Cutshaw]

From Steel Guitar Nashville's latest newsletter:

"School is back in session in Tennessee so we decided a Back-To-School event would be appropriate. For the month of August, we are paying the shipping on all guitars shipped anywhere within the lower 48 states. We’ll also throw an extra set of strings in the box."


I have run into slow delivery problems to Hawaii which led to customer delivery complaints. It's been more than a few years since I tried opening up sales all the states so I'm willing to try again. Those offering only certain options to the lower 48 states are not doing so out of meanness. I am sure they have had bad experiences with shipping to some states.

Greg

[Larry Allen]

After living in Alaska And Hawaii for the last 40+ years I can tell you we have had to pay more for the same shipping services, I've had several shipping managers on the phone wondering why the costs are more from west coast cities to us when it's the same distance to the east coast cities. Many of the sellers advertise FREE shipping if you spend over $99 EXCEPT Alaska and Hawaii. The only reasonable service is the USPS. The costs for sending a pedal steel are well over $250 UPS, FEDEX, while the the post al parcel post is around $75. Larry

[Ransom Beers]

"I had only 2 cases where people did not want to sell abroad,".

I bought both cases & both broads too.

[Chris Sattler]

Yeah I don't really get it either. It has to be packed the same whether it's going interstate, overseas or into the next street. Once it leaves your place and it's been packed what does it matter to the sender where it goes?

My steel came from bOb in Ca and arrived in perfect condition in no time at all. (By the way BoB love the zum)

I'm looking to buy an acoustic guitar from USA too. That scares me a bit more but I'm sure if it is packed correctly then no problem.

Chris

[Niels Andrews]

Barry is including the ones he intends to add like Mexico, and Cuba, Haiti etc.

[Niels Andrews]

Barry is including the ones he intends to add like Mexico, and Cuba, Haiti etc.

[Peter den Hartogh]

Here is another one who refuses to ship overseas.
(See my post above)

Carl Williams wrote:
"Hi Peter,
Thanks for the order but unfortunately I no longer ship overseas
due to numerous problems I've had in the past.
Thanks again, Carl Willams"

These things must be very fragile and extremely heavy to cause those "numerous problems".