Shipping policy

Every guitar I sell is packed by hand, by me — the same person who inspected it, photographed it, and dialed-in. Nothing gets handed to a warehouse. Here's exactly how your guitar gets to you.

Processing Time

Orders usually ship within 1 business day of payment clearing. Most go out the same day if the order comes in before mid-afternoon.

Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If you need a guitar to arrive by a specific date, message me before ordering and I'll tell you honestly whether it's achievable.

Domestic Shipping (United States)

$75 flat rate — fully insured, tracked, signature required.

  • Shipped via UPS or FedEx Ground
  • Typical transit time is 3–5 business days depending on your distance from Florida
  • Insured for the full purchase price, at my expense
  • Signature is required on delivery — a guitar of this value is never left on a porch
  • Tracking is emailed to you as soon as the label is created

The flat rate is the same whether you're one state away or across the country, and it covers full insurance and the packing materials described below. I don't mark shipping up as a profit center — this rate is lower than what you'd pay for the same guitar through the marketplaces I sell on, and it doesn't scale up with the price of the instrument.

How Your Guitar Is Packed

This is where most damage claims are won or lost, so I don't cut corners:

  • The guitar ships in its hard case or gig bag whenever one is included
  • Strings are detuned to reduce neck tension in transit
  • The headstock and neck are supported and immobilized so the instrument can't shift inside the case
  • Any loose hardware, tremolo arms, case candy, certificates, and paperwork are secured separately

If a guitar arrives without a case, it's packed in a purpose-built guitar shipping carton with the same internal support.

Insurance and Damage Claims

Every shipment is insured for its full purchase price. If your guitar arrives damaged:

  • Contact me immediately — the same day if possible
  • Send photos of the damage and the outer box, including any crush points or punctures
  • Keep all original packaging materials until the claim is resolved. Carriers routinely deny claims when the box has been discarded, so this matters.
  • I file the carrier claim and handle it — you don't chase the carrier
  • You choose the outcome: I cover the cost of professional repair, or you return the guitar for a full refund

Damage must be reported promptly so the claim falls inside the carrier's filing window.

Tracking and Delivery

Tracking is emailed as soon as your label is created. If tracking hasn't updated within 48 hours of shipment, message me and I'll chase it down.

Because signature is required, the carrier will attempt delivery and leave a notice if nobody is home. If you'd rather redirect to a work address, a carrier hold location, or a neighbor, tell me before shipment and I'll set it up.

Address Accuracy

Please double-check your shipping address at checkout. Carriers charge an address-correction fee on rerouted packages, and rerouting a high-value shipment mid-transit increases handling risk. If you catch a mistake, message me immediately — if the guitar hasn't shipped yet, there's no charge to fix it.

International Shipping

I ship worldwide. International rates are calculated live at checkout by the carrier (DHL Express, FedEx, or USPS depending on destination) based on the guitar's packed weight and dimensions.

  • Duties, import taxes, VAT, GST, and customs brokerage fees are the buyer's responsibility and are not included in the shipping rate. These are assessed by your country, not by me, and I have no way to estimate or waive them.
  • Customs clearance can add anywhere from a few days to several weeks. International transit times are estimates only.
  • Refused or abandoned international shipments are returned at the buyer's expense, and return shipping plus any duties incurred are deducted from the refund.

Wood restrictions (CITES): Many guitars contain rosewood, ebony, or other protected species regulated under the CITES treaty. Guitars containing Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) generally cannot be exported without permits and I do not ship them internationally. Other species may require documentation or may be seized by customs in certain countries. If you're buying from outside the United States, message me before ordering and I'll confirm what that specific guitar is made of and whether it can legally reach you. I'd rather tell you no upfront than have your guitar confiscated at a border.

Local Pickup

If you're near Spring Hill, Florida and would rather pick up in person and play the guitar first, message me. I'm happy to arrange it.

Questions Before You Order

If you want to know the packed weight, confirm the carrier, arrange a specific delivery window, or ask anything else about getting a guitar to you safely — just ask. You're dealing directly with the person packing the box.

Reach me through the contact page

Returns are covered separately in the Refund Policy.

Aeonic Frets — Spring Hill, FL