Shipping drums overseas - Is there a way that's cheap and secure?

[Mano Teo]

I’m selling off all my drums and percussion before traveling in Europe for some months and eventually taking a position in Poland teaching English. All my drums except for one: my handmade Guinean djembe.

The other drums were all brand name, mass-produced instruments, but this one has too much personality and it speaks to me like nothing else. My teacher, who sold it to me, says they made a sacrifice to the Lenke tree that it came from to see if it was willing to become a drum before they chopped it down. . .

It weighs about 20 lbs., so carrying it with me while I wander around Eastern Europe isn’t practical, plus the last thing I would want to have happen is to lose it, damage it or have it stolen. My question is, for those of you who have shipped instruments overseas, what’s the best way to do it? Is there a way that’s both cheap and secure?

Thanks,
Mark

[deadhead]

US postal service is the cheapest, which is expensive. I sent some bongos to a guy in Italy once and the cheapest method was like $50 and took 4-6 weeks. Anything quicker was outrageous and not worth paying for considering the bongos were sold for $150.

I looked into shipping a conga to a guy in Spain once via FedEx and it was like $200. I ended up telling the guy I couldn't sell it to him.

Its probably going to vary depending on what country you send to, alot of countries have very strict customs.

[korman]

Mano Teo, I think it is safer just to take it with you as part of your checked-in luggage. You can even stuff your clothes in it and put some on the drumhead to protect it. I have taken a guinean djembe from Paris to my country this way, and it worked out well, and was fast.
Plus, you may never know what happens to your drum if you send it by mail, and mail gets lost just as often as luggage, but if lost, luggage is found more often, I think.
Good luck in Poland!

[yambu321]

HELLO TO ALL THE CONGA, AND BATA DRUM PLAYERS OF THE WORLD, AND HELLO TO ALL THE PERCUSSIONIST. TODAY I HAVE GREAT NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL! CONCERNING THE WORLDS BEST SOUNDING, HAND MADE, CARVED STAVED,
(NOT STEAM BENT), CONGAS AND BATA DRUMS, BY ISLA-PERCUSSIONS. I HAVE JUST FINISHED SPEAKING WITH THE OWNER, MR MARIO ANTONIO PUNCHARD. HE, DURING OUR CONVERSATION, HAD MENTIONED TO ME, THAT HE IS NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE SHIPPING OF HIS WONDERFUL DRUMS TO EUROPE, AND JAPAN! THE CUSTOMER WILL STILL HAVE TO PAY CUSTOMS CHARGES UPON ARRIVAL, OF COURSE BUT THE SHIPPING IS FREE, IF, A CUSTOMER ORDERS MORE THAN ONE DRUM AT A TIME . SHIPPING TO EUROPE AND JAPAN CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE. ISLA DRUMS WERE, UNTIL NOW, BASICALLY, UNAVAILABLE OVERSEAS. WELL, THE WORLD IS NOW ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE, THE UNCOMPROMISING RUMBEROS AND CONGEROS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE GOING CRAZY OVER. ISLA DRUMS ARE NOT THE RINGY SOUNDING MASS PRODUCED DRUMS LIKE LP, TOCA, MEINIL, AND OTHERS. INFACT, THEY ARE THE NEW, MOST SOUGHT AFTER CUSTOM DRUMS. ISLA DRUMS ARE AUTHENTIC SOUNDING AFRO-CUBAN STYLE DRUMS. MADE BY A MAN THAT IS BLESSED WITH A RARE AND SPECIAL TALENT. ISLA PERCUSSIONS ALSO HAS THE FINEST CUSTOMER SERVICE I'VE EVER SEEN! PLEASE READ ALL THE POSTINGS CONCERNING THIS UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL COMPANY UNDER CONGAS AND ACCESSORIES. ISLA IS ALSO MENTIONED IN OTHER AREAS HERE AS WELL, ALL 100% POSITIVE. PLEASE VISIT ISLA-PERCUSSIONS WEBSITE AT (http://WWW.ISLAPERCUSSIONS.COM) AND, OR, SPEAK TO MARIO PUNCHARD HIMSELF AT 310-916-3425. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

ALSO, PLEASE DO SEE MY PROFILE, BY CLICKING ON
("EL COQUI") ON THE, MY CONGA PLACE ROSTER. YOU'LL ALSO SEE PHOTOS OF SOME ISLA DRUMS AS WELL, THANK YOU. :;):

WITH RESPECT FOR ALL THE PERCUSSIONIST,
CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO (YAMBU321)



Edited By yambu321 on 1186364593

[Garvin]

I woulod echo what deadhead mentioned concerning customs. I have shipped several drums for ebay customers to Canada, Great Britain, and France... The customs charges for the value of the drums is outrageous. I've seen it as high as $850 for shipping puls customs! This was a full drumset of course, but packed into 2 small boxes. I would consult a freight company and see if you could include your package in a freight shipment for a smaller fee. This may cut down on the cost, but you may be better off just getting a comfortable bag and carrying it. Stuff your clothes in the body of the drum (insulate with garbage bags). Just my opinion. Good Luck!

[JohnnyConga]

Ok the cheapest way to send anything is as "freight" by ship...the problem is it takes 3 months to get to you. but IT IS the cheapest way to go..i know cause when i lived in Germany I had a conga drum from Japan shipped to me...took 3 months, but didn't cost more than $50.oo for the shipping...."JC" Johnny Conga.....

[109-1176549166]

HELLO TO ALL THE CONGA, AND BATA DRUM PLAYERS OF THE WORLD, AND HELLO TO ALL THE PERCUSSIONIST. TODAY I HAVE GREAT NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL!...

...I HAVE JUST FINISHED SPEAKING WITH THE OWNER, MR MARIO ANTONIO PUNCHARD. HE, DURING OUR CONVERSATION, HAD MENTIONED TO ME, THAT HE IS NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE SHIPPING OF HIS WONDERFUL DRUMS TO EUROPE, AND JAPAN! THE SHIPPING IS FREE, IF, A CUSTOMER ORDERS MORE THAN ONE DRUM...

Charlie,

That's wonderful news, Bro!!! Now, more and more of our brothers and sisters all over the world can enjoy the incredible, traditional Afro-Cuban sound of Isla drums and, thus, further celebrate and share the profound richness and beauty of Latin music with greater authencity!!!

I just hope and pray that Mario will be able to keep up with the potential windfall in demand for his drums without ever compromising the superb quality of his drums.

I wish Mario all the best! It couldn't happen to a nicer guy!



Edited By mjtuazon on 1186166616

[bongosnotbombs]

HELLO TO ALL THE CONGA, AND BATA DRUM PLAYERS OF THE WORLD, AND HELLO TO ALL THE PERCUSSIONIST. TODAY I HAVE GREAT NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL! CONCERNING THE WORLDS BEST SOUNDING, HAND MADE, CARVED STAVED,
(NOT STEAM BENT), CONGAS AND BATA DRUMS, BY ISLA-PERCUSSIONS. I HAVE JUST FINISHED SPEAKING WITH THE OWNER, MR MARIO ANTONIO PUNCHARD. HE, DURING OUR CONVERSATION, HAD MENTIONED TO ME, THAT HE IS NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE SHIPPING OF HIS WONDERFUL DRUMS TO EUROPE, AND JAPAN! THE SHIPPING IS FREE, IF, A CUSTOMER ORDERS MORE THAN ONE DRUM. SHIPPING TO EUROPE AND JAPAN CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE. ISLA DRUMS WERE, UNTIL NOW, BASICALLY, UNAVAILABLE OVERSEAS. WELL, THE WORLD IS NOW ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE, THE UNCOMPROMISING RUMBEROS AND CONGEROS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE GOING CRAZY OVER. ISLA DRUMS ARE NOT THE RINGY SOUNDING MASS PRODUCED DRUMS LIKE LP, TOCA, MEINIL, AND OTHERS. INFACT, THEY ARE THE NEW, MOST SOUGHT AFTER CUSTOM DRUMS. ISLA DRUMS ARE AUTHENTIC SOUNDING AFRO-CUBAN STYLE DRUMS. MADE BY A MAN THAT IS BLESSED WITH A RARE AND SPECIAL TALENT. ISLA PERCUSSIONS ALSO HAS THE FINEST CUSTOMER SERVICE I'VE EVER SEEN! PLEASE READ ALL THE POSTINGS CONCERNING THIS UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL COMPANY UNDER CONGAS AND ACCESSORIES. ISLA IS ALSO MENTIONED IN OTHER AREAS HERE AS WELL, ALL 100% POSITIVE. PLEASE VISIT ISLA-PERCUSSIONS WEBSITE AT (http://WWW.ISLAPERCUSSIONS.COM) AND, OR, SPEAK TO MARIO PUNCHARD HIMSELF AT 310-916-3425. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

ALSO, PLEASE DO SEE MY PROFILE, BY CLICKING ON
("EL COQUI") ON THE, MY CONGA PLACE ROSTER. YOU'LL ALSO SEE PHOTOS OF SOME ISLAS DRUMS AS WELL, THANK YOU. :;):

WITH RESPECT FOR ALL THE PERCUSSIONIST,
CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO (YAMBU321)

Please don't threadjack, your comments belong in a new thread, not this thread.............

[yambu321]

BONGOSNOTBOMBS,
I DISAGREE.
MY POST IS VERY FITTING FOR THIS TOPIC; FOR THE TOPIC IS ABOUT SHIPPING DRUMS OVERSEAS CHEAPLY, AND SECURELY. SECURE FREE SHIPPING TO EUROPE, AND JAPAN, IS BEING OFFERED BY ISLA. NOW, THATS VERY RELEVENT. THIS IS AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT SHIPPING OVERSEAS. THIS IS NOT A FIXED PRIVATE CHAT. I DO, VERY MUCH UNDERSTAND, THAT THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS THREAD (MANO TEO) WAS MOST LIKELY CONCERNED ABOUT SHIPPING PERSONALLY OWNED DRUMS. BUT, IF THIS, OR ANY OTHER THREAD, WAS LET TO BECOME FIXED AND EXCLUSIONARY OF ANY, OR ALL, PERTINENT INFORMATION. THE THREAD WOULD QUICKLY WITHER AWAY, DUE TO A LACK OF INCLUSIVE AND EXCITING POSTS. WHICH WOULD INTERN CAUSE A LACK OF INTEREST. I FEEL THAT MY POST IF ANYTHING, WOULD HELP KEEP THIS TOPIC OF SHIPPING OVERSEAS ALIVE AND WELL. BONGO, I THINK IF YOU'LL GIVE IT SOME REAL THOUGHT, YOU'LL AGREE. :;): AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, MAYBE YOU CAN CONSTRUCTIVELY SHARE SOME PERTINENT INFO ABOUT SHIPPING, BECAUSE SO FAR YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO.

RESPECTFULLY,

CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO



Edited By yambu321 on 1186198346

[109-1176549166]

bongosnotbombs,

I'm very curious as to your post that Charlie is disagreeing with. How come that it appears not to be visible. Am I the only one having this problem?

[109-1176549166]

bongosnotboms,

OK, I've got it now. I just realized that I had inadvertently clicked the "Ignore" button on all your posts. I simply unclicked it and "voila" your posts re-appeared!

I learn something new about a different software each time.

[109-1176549166]

bongosnotbombs & yambu321,

Brothers, this is like splitting hair, but IMO, you're both right.

Although Charlie's post may not have directly addressed Mano Teo's question about shipping his djembe to Europe, the wonderful news (that Mario is now offering free international shipping for the purchase of more than 1 drum) does make purchasing Isla drums potentially more attractive to overseas customers like Mano Teo who may want to replace down the road the congas and other percussion instruments that he'll have to sell and leave behind.

[Amber]

Hi,

a friend of mine was in Guinea this year and brought a big djembe from there to Germany. She transported it without problems or paying extra money directly with her flight .
The important thing is to pack it carefully into a bag and than the bag in a second one, preferably stabile hard case like Rubbermaid gal.container or something like this. Your luggage
all together should not weight more than 20kg.
This way you avoid to pay custom because the instrument is for pivate use and anyway nobody will ask. If you send something extra you will pay custom on the instrument and on the transport fee!!

Good luck and a pleasant stay in Europe,

Amber

[yambu321]

THANK YOU AMBER,
THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION, THAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US, AND VERY SMART AS WELL.

I AGREE WITH YOU! :;):

RESPECTFULLY,
CHARLIE "EL COQUI" VERDEJO

[Smejmoon]

I shipped my djembe with air cargo this year. There were no scratches, but when I tuned it up the skin broke. That was pretty new skin, so I assume temperature or humidity changes caused that.