Taylor shipping box to big for USPS ? What!

[Redwood Tree]

 I stopped by my local United States Post Office / USPS To get a price of shipping a Taylor I'm trying to sell. The Lady behind the counter said the maximum length box they take is 42 inches with a total of 79 inches girth / inches around sides and front back?

 I came home and messured my Taylor box at 48 inches x 9"x 20 1/2",  so It seems the Taylor box is to Long for USPS ?
 Help! ....  Guess I'm going back to UPS.

[bo1142]

I usually use UPS or Fedex.   Have had a few bad experiences with USPS.  They could make more money if they, you know, SHIPPED PACKAGES!

[darylcrisp]

i typically try to use the USPS as i've had really good service with them and the cost is good where i live.
i also try to find a taylor box to ship as they are built 1 inch "under" the volume rule of 108 inches that most places upcharge as oversize.  taylor boxes had this marked on one end-lately the measurements on the box are not there, seems like it was inked as 47x9x21.

now if she measured it wrong and that sounds like it, i would ask for another clerk or point it out to her-some folks throw the tape measure up haphazardly and get the wrong measure. if the box is distorted it may be out of shape giving a wrong measurement also. even if it came out to 48x9x21 and was oversize, they still ship but tack on an extra charge.

so options are:

1)take it to another USPS and be sure to stand your ground and even take your own ruler and show them(check at home and make sure the box is in the right size 47x9x21)
2)take it back and ask for a remeasure or maybe another clerk will be present and do it more correct.

hope it works out for you
d

[mcookoc]

i have mailed two guitars in taylor boxes by usps and had no problem, i would check again, unless there has been a new change i would guess there is a mistake.

[Redwood Tree]

Yea Thats the thing ... I've mailed a few in the recent past with no problem , So I ask,  Whats the deal with the 42 Inch max Lenght ? Anybody know for sure ?

[Terry]

If you were mailing in the US, you should have been fine.  I always try to get Taylor boxes for shipping because they do fit the size requirement if I have to ship out of the country. In the US I use FedEx. Now some different countries have restrictions on their end with their postal service and the size can be less. It seems Australia is one of the places where you have to have a smaller sized box to ship there.
Terry

[michaelw]

hi Tom,

that's interesting -
unless USPS recently changed it, or unless the box is being shipped internationally,
the last time a shipped one the cumulative dimensions could be 108" (48"x21"X9")

if the limit is 42" long & 79" overall, one would not be able to ship
even a baby Taylor box (38"x15"x7.5"), as it would come out to be 83" ...

oops, sorry, i misread your post - 42" & 79" girth would be 121"

just the case dimensions on a Taylor GA is 43.5" long & some of the other ground
shipping service require a minimum of 1.5" cushioning on all sides of the box -
figuring that in & and additional 0.5" for the doubled over top/bottom flaps is 47"

i would think that 121" total is correct, but not 42" long, as USPS will ship basses

my only suggestion would be another clerk or another post office -
as i am uncertain what method & to where you are shipping,
i would look on the USPS website for size restrictions & print them out

domestic (click on 'min & max sizes')
https://www.usps.com/ship/prepare-domestic-shipments.htm?
international (click on 'size')
https://www.usps.com/ship/can-you-ship-it-internationally.htm?
global express max is 46" long, first class international is max is 36"

i hope this info helps

[Iplay2]

I wouldn't be surprised if the USPS did make a change like that.  They just quit doing next day delivery, and they are closing post offices left and right.  If they thought they could save money, a change may have been made.

[Cindy]

There is a link on the USPS web site with Min & Max sizes. Maybe it will offer you some additional info? Click on the Min& Max Sizes tab under Prepare Domestic Shipments. https://www.usps.com/ship/prepare-domestic-shipments.htm

[Redwood Tree]

Ahaa, I think you guys may have answered the question. The guitar was to ship to Singapore. Thats most likely it.  I hope as I've used USPS for domestic shipping with standard Taylor boxes with little problem.

[bo1142]

Which one did you sell?  The DMSM or the 615?

[Cindy]

I just measured the Taylor box from my BTO. My other GA boxes are 48" tall, but the BTO box for a GA guitar was only 46.5". Not sure how they pulled that one off. Still it's just a tad too tall for international shipments.

[mgap]

I have shipped a Martin to England and had no problems.  I don't remember what the dimensions were.