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Shipping Instructions Safely Packing and Shipping an Instrument or Bow The following instructions will help you safely pack and ship an instrument or bow. Please note that Tarisio makes every effort to guide you in shipping safely and efficiently, but under no circumstances will Tarisio be responsible for damage or loss in transit. Also please note that unless otherwise instructed Tarisio will NOT be responsible for cases shipped with instruments. These are generally of no commercial value and will be considered used for shipping purposes only unless we receive other instructions from you. Shipping a Violin, Viola, or Cello in a Case An instrument shipped with its strings in tension and with its bridge and post upright will arrive without problems 99 times out of 100; however, to be completely safe we recommend that all instruments are shipped with their bridge and post down or at least in low string tension. By default, all instruments purchased from Tarisio at auction will be shipped with the bridge and post down unless we hear otherwise from you. First loosen the string tension and remove the bridge. In many cases the soundpost will now fall; if not, you can push it over with a small object through the f-holes. Wrap the bridge generously in tissue paper or cloth and place it under the tailpiece. Tighten the strings slightly to hold the bridge in place. The bridge and tissue will keep the fine tuners of the tailpiece away from the surface of the varnish. Place the instrument in its case and securely fasten the straps or clasps. Wrap the head in tissue paper or cloth. You should fill all empty spaces with tissue – around the ribs, in the C-bouts, etc. A small pad of folded tissue should go between the fingerboard and the top to protect the varnish (see photo below).
Before closing the case, place several folded sheets of tissue paper over the top of the instrument. Your name, address and phone number should be included inside the case. You will need a long rectangular sturdy box, preferably one that opens from the broadest side. There should be several inches between the walls of the box and the case for protection. Place the case in the middle of the box and surround it on all sides with Styrofoam, Polyfil, tightly crumpled newspaper or any other light, dense packing material. Packing a Bow Without a Case A PVC plastic tube is safe and inexpensive and can be found at most hardware stores. Wrap the bow in bubblewrap and suspend it inside the tube. It is important the length of tube is longer than the bow and the bow does not touch the tube ends at frog or tip. Another solution is to tape the bow (wrapped in bubblewrap or tissue paper) to a strong ‘splint’ of wood or metal. Again, make sure the splint is longer than the bow. The tube or splint should be suspended inside a bigger box. The poster tubes of triangular cross-section available from FedEx and UPS work well for this. Again, remember to include your name and phone number on the inside of the box. Shipping and Insurance Tips FedEx, UPS, DHL, Airborne, and USPS all work fine. Some are more convenient and some are more economical. Insurance is available through UPS and some other carriers in limited amounts although some have strict exclusions for musical instruments. Rates are approximately 0.5% of the value declared. We highly recommend insuring all packages for at least $1,000 (£500). In our experience this is an effective way to ensure the awareness and caution of the driver and handlers. Addresses for Incoming Shipments Incoming shipments should be sent to one of the following addresses: New York office (US sales only) Tarisio Auctions 244 West 54th, 11th Floor London office (UK sales only) Tarisio Europe |
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