a forum member and i traded guitars. I was shipping my GC Taylor-in the Taylor box-thru my local USPS which is always a fine place, and i've had excellent pricing and shipping with them over the last few years.
I inquire on cost of overnite and 2-3 day(which usually means 4-5 days). also there would be $2300 insurance. I knew the taylor box came in 1 inch "under" the 108" oversize upcharge, but while packing it, i had opportunity to cut the top down 1 more inch-it just made everything snug. I do a good job cutting and folded all edges with a 48" straight edge so everything looked and worked "factory".
So "dora" helps me. she's a young very efficient worker there. she measures, and i tell her the actual measurement as she's doing it. all of a sudden she says "$29 shipping but it will carry an upcharge for oversize and the insurance is......................"
I stall for a moment and ask if the 108" measure has been changed. she said no. i told her the box in its original size is 47x8x21-but now was 46x8x21. she balks and says its still oversize. i calmly ask her to remeasure and plug it all back in. she hurriedly does the measure and enters her original measurements and tells me it is the same-so the cost is over $100 without insurance(both ways-overnite or 2-3 day). i see i am hanging at the end of the rope with no help here so i request her other work partner to help us. he appears, listens to my story, looks at her and says the Taylor boxes are undersize, he measures it, comes up with the specs i offered at first and the total shipping with insurance ended up being $54.
so be careful out there, if you know you are correct and are facing a wall, request another aid.
d