How do I safely ship a guitar in South Africa?Get the payment sorted first, pack it tight, and use a courier — not the post office. Payment first Wait for cleared EFT before releasing the guitar. In the forum's long-distance sale thread, the seller only let the buyer arrange courier collection once the money had cleared — both deals went seamlessly 1. Local courier options The Courier Guy gets regular praise here — roughly R250-R350 in 2017 (about R400-R600 in today's money) for a guitar in a case, buyer usually pays and arranges the pickup 1. Postnet counter-to-counter works well too: one member shipped an acoustic CT to Pretoria in a moulded case for about R750 in 2017 (about R1,200 in today's money), bubble-wrapped by Postnet, and it arrived happy 1. Postnet packing service: a member paid R250 in 2011 (about R600 in today's money) and the buyer said the Ibanez was "packed like a champ" — worth it if you don't have a hard case 3. Packing the guitar Hard or moulded case is best. If the case is a loose fit, plug the gaps with rags or scrap material so the guitar can't shift 1. No case? Box it properly or pay a pro packing service 3. Wrap and label: clingfilm around the case plus a big FRAGILE / THIS SIDE UP sticker worked fine on two forum shipments 1. For imports, Alan Ratcliffe, our Guitar Doctor, reckons budget roughly 15% on top of the guitar's price for duties and VAT 8. From these forum threadspostnet/courier of guitar - help/advice please (2017): How forum members handled a JHB-CT sale safely, end to endMy new guitar is stuck in Cape Town! (2011): Postnet's R250 packing service praised for a shipped IbanezEbay Import tax and handling costs? (2011): Alan Ratcliffe's ballpark for duties, VAT and shipping surprises
