Shipping an instrument to Joseph Curtin Studios

Our specially designed shipping-case and box is now available to our clients for $150, plus shipping. It allows quick and convenient packing and unpacking, and minimizes the risk of damage during transit.

Before putting the instrument into its case, place some kind of soft padding on either side of the bridge, and under the end of the fingerboard and tailpiece. Unless the instrument is damaged, please do not loosen the strings or remove the setup.

Next, place the case into the shipping box, and then put the corrugated insert on top. Close the flaps and seal with packing tape.

For your instrument’s safety, we recommend United Parcel Service (UPS) Overnight service. Please DO NOT ship to us via the US Postal Service, and DO NOT ship on a Friday or the day before a holiday.

Please do NOT request a signature upon delivery, as this could possibly cause delays in delivery.

Please do not send an instrument without notifying us first! Send us an e-mail when the instrument is on the way, and include the 12-digit tracking number. You can drop the box off at a UPS location, or if you have an account, have them pick it up from your home or business. 

Good packing is essential to your instrument’s safely while it is being shipped. If you don’t have one of our shipping cases, please read the following guidelines.

• Please do not send an instrument without notifying us first!
• Before putting the instrument into its case, place some kind of soft padding on either side of the bridge, and under the end of the fingerboard and tailpiece.
  
• Unless the instrument is damaged, please do not loosen the strings or remove the setup
• Find a sturdy box big enough to allow an inch of two of space all around the case
• DO NOT use foam chips. We recommend bubble wrap or packing paper. Simply wrap it around the case and then tape shut the box. DO NOT use adhesive tape to hold the wrapping around the instrument case. Doing so only makes the material difficult to unpack and unsuitable for re-use.
• For your instrument’s safety, we recommend UPS Overnight service. Please DO NOT ship to us via the US Postal Service. And DO NOT ship on a Friday, or the day before a holiday.
• Requesting a signature upon delivery will likely cause delays and could result in the instrument being sent back to you.
• Keep the top copy of the shipping label for your records. Please e-mail us when the instrument is on the way, and include the tracking number, or just a photo of the shipping label.

Once you have opened the box and removed the case, we ask that you:

• Note how it was packed, in case you need to send it back.
• Check for any damage to the instrument.
• Let us know by e-mail that the instrument is safely in your hands
• Do not discard the shipping box or enclosed return shipping label

Before packing the instrument, place the foam pads on either side of the bridge, and under the end of the fingerboard and tailpiece. Please do not loosen the strings!

• Place the instrument case into the shipping box, then put the corrugated insert on top. Close the flaps and seal with packing tape.
• For your convenience, we have included a pre-paid return shipping label – just tape it to the shipping box over the old label
• Please make sure there are no old shipping labels visible on the box.
• Please DO NOT request a signature upon delivery. This will likely delay delivery, and could result in the instrument being sent back to you.
• Please DO NOT ship on a Friday or the day before a holiday, as this lengthens the transit time, and thus the possibility of damage.
• Keep the top copy of the shipping label for your records. Please e-mail us when the instrument is on the way, and include the tracking number.
• You can drop the box off at a UPS location, or if you have a UPS account, have them pick it up from your home or business. 

If you are receiving an instrument from us on trial, our insurance policy covers it during transit and while in your possession. There is no need to get additional insurance from UPS, so leave the “declared value” box on the shipping label blank.

If you are shipping your own instrument back to us for maintenance, check with your insurance agent that your policy covers damage during shipment. Any good policy should do this. Insurance provided by UPS is expensive, and the upper limit to the amount insured is low.