How to ship an amp to Brazil

[KT66]

A potential customer of mine wants me to ship him an amp to Brazil. Anyone have any suggestions as to who the best shipper would be to use for this ?

[backpack]

Take a little trip and bring it as carry on.

[NickC]

FedEx is well equipped to service that market, with complete package tracking to destination (I'm not affiliated with FedEx in any way other than as a frequent customer).

http://blog.fedex.designcdt.com/blog/br ... ming-world

[ApexJr.]

Your kind of stuck, you don't have an item over 100lbs
not multiple boxes whereas you can call the major fast
freight forwarders.
So, your stuck with either UPS or FexEx. These 2 have heavy
brokerage fees on the back end. Along with expensive rates too.
I try and use the US Mail. There brokerage fees are inexpensive
however it will still be expensive to ship to Brazil.
I lose quite a few orders through expensive postage costs
Thank goodness for their Flat Rate Envelopes and boxes.

Steve @ Apex Jr.

[selloutrr]

What about GSO? They ship overnight delivery.

You might be over 100lbs if you put in an 5/8" flight approved ATA case. That would solve your shipping issues and take care of protecting the amp. Include a storage compartment and use it to store the tubes.

[ToneMerc]

I used these folks before, see if they will give you a quote to Brazil.

http://www.airfreight.com/

[amplifiednation]

Does he want you to write "old broken radio" on the customs declaration? I think they pay tax on imports. I would make sure to accurately describe the item, especially if they ask you to misrepresent it.

I shipped an old Gibson amp to Brazil using the usps and it was like $120. It was easy though.

[KT66]

Thanks for all the replies. Ya Taylor, there is an import duty that I have been asked to declare the value lower on. Is there some way I can get screwed by doing this ? For example, if I insure it for the actual cost is that going to prohibit a lower declaration for customs purposes ? I guess I'll figure it out if I make the deal, which seems likely at this point.

[ApexJr.]

Declaring a lower amount can hurt you, you can't insure for over what you declare.. And would raise red flags and will be stuck in customs.
So, if you do declare it less and insure it for that amount that's all they will pay if it's lost or damaged..
Plus when that happens it does take quite awhile to get your check
They need to check with the post office in the country it was going to and can
take up to a year to get it settled...It has happened to me.

Steve @ Apex Jr.

[amplifiednation]

I was watching dateline or something the other night -- if you are in jail in Brazil, no matter how serious the crime, they allow you to have sex with your wife ever other week. NO joke!

Ship in a tube amp from the US?? ...not a chance!!

Yeah you are definately taking a gamble playing around with values and customs. Thats a game I wouldn't try to win.

[selloutrr]

If your client can't afford to have the amp imported you might want to find another client. I'm confussed why you would bother taking the risk and dealing with the hastle in the event something did happen.

Doesn't it always turn out.. If you follow the rules everything is find, if you don't you usually get caught?

It will largely depend on the relationship your shipping provider has with the customs agent. The speed in which it is shipped, the value "flags", the description of the item being shipped, how frequent you ship to that country, and the size of the package.

best of luck.

Keep in mind if you are on the up and up you wont ahve anything to worry about after it leaves your hands and starts the journey.