Shipping a Phonograph
Shipping has become mind-numbingly expensive!
Costs to ship heavy items has almost doubled since COVID. Properly packing a very fragile antique phonograph/horn requires specialized crating,
double-boxing, and a lot of packing material — which adds considerable size, weight and cost to every shipment. We make absolutely no money on
shipping. The price you pay is exactly what the carrier charges us. Receipts always provided.
Tabletop & External Horn Models
(under 75 lbs., no base cabinet): We prep the machine for transit and deliver to a UPS facility. They pack it, double-box everything and fully insure it, for direct delivery to your door. Note, if we pack it and the items become damaged, insurance claims become very difficult. Best to let them handle it all, which mitigates your risk.
Floor Models
(often 200+ lbs.): Crating and freight for large cabinets is a specialized job we're not equipped to handle. The buyer arranges and pays the carrier directly — we'll prep the machine, shrink-wrap it, and deliver it to a carrier near us at no charge. We're happy to walk you through the process, which usually only takes a few minutes of your time.
Avoid low-cost "blanket wrap" carriers (Greyhound, White Glove, etc.) for floor models. Based on our experience, the results have been catastrophic. We strongly recommend against these services for any valuable phonograph.
Shipping via discount brokers such as "Shipping Pirate" can save a lot of money, but insurance is unavailable, and is thus strongly discouraged. If your phonograph arrives in pieces because someone dropped it from the back of a semi truck, there is no recourse for the buyer.
Recommended carriers for floor models:
CRATERS AND FREIGHTERS of CHARLOTTE NC: cratersandfreighterscharlotte.com
U-SHIP SERVICES: uship.com
PAKMAIL: pakmail.com/stores/pak-mail-greenville
Personalized Delivery
IMPORTANT: We travel the East and Midwest for estate sales and auctions (April–October). If you're not in a rush and near one of our routes, we'll deliver and set up your phonograph for a nominal mileage/expenses fee. For large/heavy machines, offloading and moving assistance will be required at the delivery location.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS (Including Canada and Mexico):
Due to fraud and customs charge-back issues in the recent past, we no longer ship outside the USA. No exceptions. If you're an international buyer, consider having someone in the USA receive the machine and forward it to you.
Pickup or Handoff
If you're within reasonable driving distance of our upstate Southeast USA location, you're welcome to pick up your phonograph in person — this is always the lowest-cost (and lowest-risk) option, since there's no packing or carrier involved at all. In some cases, we may also be able to arrange a handoff midway, at a mutually convenient location. Contact us to discuss what might work for your situation.