How do I find shipping fees ?

[m1469]

I am wondering how I would find out what shipping fees would be to have a piano shipped from a private citizen's home (out of town) to mine. 

Would I look at the post office for this kind of service ?


Thanks,

m1469

[gfiore]

 The post office. You're kidding right? You need to get the phone book out and look under piano movers.  Depending on the piano Grand or vertical, it's size, and the distance being moved(less than 100 miles), it will usually cost between $250- $450. More if the distance is over 100 miles.

[m1469]

he he... no, I wasn't kidding this time  .  And that is the very reason I have asked !
They say having it "shipped", so I didn't know, and you can ship a bike through the post office (I think).  ANYWAY !  I ddin't realize that normal piano movers move pianos long distances.  I guess I will look into some things.

Thanks for your response.   


m1469

[gfiore]

 m1469, sorry but the post office does'nt ship pianos. If they did, would you trust them? This is why there are piano movers. Depending on how far the piano is to be shipped, there are two options. For coast to coast moving, you can have a piano air-freighted. This runs about $2000, and is the fastest way to ship a piano long distance. Otherwise, just find a reputable piano mover in your locale. Like I said, a move of a few hundred miles is easy, further distances takes more time as more than one mover will be involved, and will cost more money.
 I had my Bösendorfer air-freighted from Vienna to NYC. Then had a local mover I trusted and have used for years, bring it to my home.

[leahcim]

I am wondering how I would find out what shipping fees would be to have a piano shipped from a private citizen's home (out of town) to mine. 

What gfiore said plus, another alternative, you can get piano movers to load a hire van, drive it yourself and get piano movers to unload at the other end. It might be cheaper if you don't mind driving yourself, because at both ends the people handling the tricky piano moving part can be local.

Someone posted who had done that [although the firm he used had damaged the piano in the process IIRC]

[m1469]

m1469, sorry but the post office does'nt ship pianos. If they did, would you trust them?

Sure, if that was how it was done.  But the point is, I didn't know.  And now I do.


Okay, I have to ask... did you move from Vienna ?  If not, why did you get a Bose there and not in NYC ? 

What gfiore said plus, another alternative, you can get piano movers to load a hire van, drive it yourself and get piano movers to unload at the other end. It might be cheaper if you don't mind driving yourself, because at both ends the people handling the tricky piano moving part can be local.

Someone posted who had done that [although the firm he used had damaged the piano in the process IIRC]

Hmmmm... I will think about this.  I was thinking of something like this myself, except I didn't think about the piano movers putting it into and out of the van on either end.  That would make things easier 


Thanks for your help, you two 
m1469

[gfiore]

 M, my Bösendorfer 214 was purshased through my friend Rich Galassini at Cunningham Piano Co in Philadelphia, PA who represents Bösendorfer in my area. I choose to pay for the piano to be air-freighted from the factory to the USA, instead of waiting several weeks for it to sail across the Atlantic. I wanted the piano to arrive in perfect form, without the ravages of temp and humidity an ocean crossing can inflict on a piano.
 In your situation, it is best to have the piano professionaly moved by one insured mover.  If you have one mover load a truck/van for you, then have another mover unload the piano at it's final destination, you risk no coverage, insurance wise, when the piano is in transit with you driving.
 Call movers and get estimates, don't get cheap when it comes to moving pianos. In the end you will lose, with possible damage and headaches that accompany that kind of situation.

[m1469]

M, my Bösendorfer 214 was purshased through my friend Rich Galassini at Cunningham Piano Co in Philadelphia, PA who represents Bösendorfer in my area. I choose to pay for the piano to be air-freighted from the factory to the USA, instead of waiting several weeks for it to sail across the Atlantic. I wanted the piano to arrive in perfect form, without the ravages of temp and humidity an ocean crossing can inflict on a piano.
 In your situation, it is best to have the piano professionaly moved by one insured mover.  If you have one mover load a truck/van for you, then have another mover unload the piano at it's final destination, you risk no coverage, insurance wise, when the piano is in transit with you driving.
 Call movers and get estimates, don't get cheap when it comes to moving pianos. In the end you will lose, with possible damage and headaches that accompany that kind of situation.

hmmmmm.... more stuff I didn't think about.  I do agree it would be good to have it insured during transit.  I just didn't think about it.   Okay, thanks again


m1469

[kamike]

Without a doubt you should seek movers who are experts at moving pianos.   Check with reputable piano dealers or technicians for recommendations.  Ask prospective movers for references, and check the references.  Do NOT use price as your only criteria for selecting a mover/shipper.

Our post office just lost 3-weeks of my entire business' mail - everything ....I'll bet they could lose a piano, too, if they had the chance.