When shipping a Saxophone, most carriers do not offer full cover in the event of loss or damage. Overland Express have been delivering Saxophones for over 30 years and have our own insurance cover that fully covers loss or damage in transit, up to £20,000.00 in value. So whether you are sending an Alto Sax, Baritone, Soprano or Tenor, we have got you covered.
Our Saxophone shipping service starts at just £7.07 for next working day delivery throughout the UK and we work with the most trusted names in the industry, such as DHL, Fedex, Parcel Force and UPS and whilst they do not offer full cover in transit, we do. To see how much you could save by sending a Saxophone with us, simply enter your details above for an instant quote.
You can use our Saxophone delivery service for instruments that you have sold on eBay, items that you have purchased, or if you are sending it for a service. We have various delivery options, including drop off services, all fully tracked, so you can rest assured that your valuable instrument is in safe hands.
If you require any help or advise on shipping Saxophone's, we can be contacted by phone, email, or live chat during working hours.
When sending a Saxophone by courier, it is essential that the item is well packed for transit, so before sending, please take a few minutes to read our packing guide below.
Sending a Saxophone within the UK
We have various options for delivery of Saxophones throughout the UK, with timed delivery options as well as drop off options to local service points and post offices. All services are fully tracked and door to door. To see how much we can save you on your shipping costs, enter your details in the quick quote box above. If you do not have both post codes, you can use any mainland post code to get a quote, there may be a small surcharge to some of the remote Scottish Highlands post codes.
Shipping a Saxophone Overseas
Our International shipping service is available to over 220 Countries, in addition to various road delivery options throughout Europe.
Shipping Worldwide is pretty much the same as shipping throughout the UK, the only difference being that Customs paperwork is required. This comes in the form of a commercial invoice, stating the value of the instrument and the reason for sending. You will also need to enter an HS code (commodity code) when making the booking. The HS for a Saxophone is 9205100000. All Customs paperwork is generated during the booking process and sent to you with the parcel label.
When sending a Saxophone overseas, please be aware that the receiver maybe liable for duty in the receiving Country, even if it is being sent as a gift.
How to pack a Saxophone for shipping
Prerequisites:
• Hard case (if you have one)
• Double walled cardboard box and additional larger outer box if you do not have a hard case
• Bubble wrap
• Packing peanuts
• Strong parcel tape
As the Saxophone is made from thin brass and contains many moving parts, the potential for damage is considerable. By following our instructions, potential damage can be greatly reduced.
Remove any loose items, such as mouth pieces etc and securely wrap in bubble wrap. These items can then be placed in the storage compartment within the case. If you do not have a case, please ensure that they do not come into contact with the body of the horn, as it may cause damage to the instrument.
Place the end plug into the top of the Saxophone body, you can make one of these from a wine bottle cork wrapped with tape, so it is thick enough to act as a stopper. You can also place small slices of cork under the keys to prevent any movement, as well as small foam bumpers to go under the bell keys.
Wrap the neck in bubble wrap and place in the storage area within the case.
Using thin bubble wrap, place a layer under the body of the horn, prior to placing within the case, with an additional layer to cover the horn. If you are sending in a box, rather than a hard case, use thicker bubble wrap, in 2-3 layers, to provide adequate protection to the horn and wrap the entire body, so it fits securely within the box. Use additional bubble wrap to fill any gaps.
Assuming that you are using the instruments hard case, fill any voids in the case with additional bubble wrap. We do not recommend foam packaging peanuts for this, as they can make quite a mess inside the case. Once you are happy with the packing, give the case a shake to check that the instrument cannot move about inside the case. If there is any movement, add additional packing material to fill any gaps.
Do not over fill the case with bubble wrap, as the pressure could easily damage the fragile keys.
Place the case into a larger outside box, leaving an additional 2 to 3 inches (50-75mm) in each direction for packing material. Wrap the case in 2 or 3 layers of bubble wrap, so that it fits securely within the outer box. If there is any movement, add additional bubble wrap, or packing peanuts.
If you are looking for an outer box, we recommend the following sizes:
• Alto: 81 x 40 x 30cm
• Baritone: 122 x 46 x 40cm
• Soprano: 81 x 30 x 30cm
• Tenor: 91 x 40 x 30cm
Always use double walled boxes, as they offer better protection and avoid using previously used boxes.
Once you are happy with packing, tape the box securely closed, with 2-3 layers of strong parcel tape, paying particular attention to any corners or flaps.
Shipping insurance for Saxophones
Our insurance cover is optional and is available on the second page, after you have selected your preferred carrier. This is charged at 2.00% of the value and fully covers your Saxophone against loss or damage, up to a value of £20,000.00. As mentioned above, it is our own insurance, independent of the carrier's insurance.
When taking out insurance, please take some photographs that clearly show the internal and external packaging, as these will be required in the event of a claim - See the insurance Terms and Conditions for exact requirements.
Don't just take our word for it, see what other people are saying about us on Trustpilot.
Feline Guitars have been using this small company for a number of years and always had great service and competitive pricing. We had previously used UPS directly till it got to be hard work to communicate with them. The personal attention and help that you can get in an industry that is increasingly automated and hands-off is a welcome thing to have.
Jonathan Law
Southwell Guitars have been using Overland Express for some years now for sending our guitars worldwide. Most major courier companies do not insure musical instruments but Overland Express have an insurance service that specialise in musical instrument insurance, giving my customers and me peace of mind. I also like that Stuart and Tim are always easy to contact if there are any questions or If I need any help. This was especially helpful after the chaos created by Brexit and the Covid pandemic. Overland Express are my first choice when I am sending guitars, something I do on a regular basis and recommend them to anyone.
Southwell Guitars
Gary Southwell
I've been using Overland Express now for a number of years. As I send a good number of both electric and acoustic guitars every year, I wanted to find a company that offered reasonable shipping and insurance rates that guaranteed to cover guitars against loss or damage to their true value. Step forward Stuart and Overland Express. They offer top couriers and reasonable insurance costs to send guitars worldwide. In all the time I've used them I've never once had an issue. Service is quick, reliable and it is a real bonus you are able to contact someone quickly who will deal with issues should any arise. Highly recommended.
Loxley Custom Guitars
Matt Loxley
We pride ourselves in offering the best rates for parcel deliveries, our buying power allows us to offer discounted rates from premium names.
Use our online 'Quote and Book' tool to obtain an instant price for domestic parcel deliveries. We can also ship to over 220 international destinations.
We only use the best courier names in the industry, we do not compromise by using budget providers that are renowned for poor quality of service.
The majority of our parcel delivery services are provided with free updates via text messages, which will inform you of your delivery window.
We also specialise in the shipping of difficult items, for example, liquids, paint and perfumes. See our specialist areas above for these services.
We are one of the few courier companies that allow you to speak directly with a customer service advisor without being placed in a complex calling queue.