Pianotech

  • 1.  Shipping Pianos Abroad

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-19-2025 21:37

    Can anyone offer input about shipping pianos out of the US and into, let's say, a country in South America?  No ivory involved, it's just that these clients are very attached to their small, fairly new Japanese grand.  I have no idea if it would be easier or less expensive than trying to find a suitable replacement down there.  Thanks in advance,



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    Chuck Christus
    Flagler Beach, FL
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  • 2.  RE: Shipping Pianos Abroad

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-20-2025 01:38

    I had a customer in Los Angeles with a Cable Nelson upright. I had been servicing it for them since it was new, about eight years. The couple were both established dentists and had one son, who was the piano player. And quite good. In 2018, the family decided it was time to go home and moved back to Columbia to start a business. I learned, later, that they had completed the move to Columbia but could not take the piano. Customs required the box to be opened when it came into the country and the insurance company said that would void the insurance. They sold it here, made the move and started visiting stores in Columbia for a replacement. 



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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 3.  RE: Shipping Pianos Abroad

    Posted 08-20-2025 11:15
    In 2010 I shipped a Baldwin SD10 to
    Medellin, Columbia to a university
    there. I used Keyboard Carriage to
    pick up the piano and build a crate
    to ship it. It was then delivered to
    the international shipper in Miami.
    There are some forms to fill out for
    the IRS and probably you'll need to fill out forms for import or whatever in
    the country of destination. I didn't
    do that as the purchaser did it.

    Here's the shipper I used at the time (2010)....prices have certainly gone up since then! This shipper may no longer
    be in business or the phone numbers might not be working. You might need to google this. Also call someplace that moves household items. I should think
    that if they are getting a shipping container to move all the stuff, they could certainly get one big enough for the piano. However, it needs to be sealed up well as it will be above board on a ship inside a metal (sweating) container....so consider all that and then perhaps they should just buy a new Yamaha in their destination country. Sell the one they have, etc....

    Ship To:
    Name:  GLOBAL CARGO ALLIANCE-AVIATUR
    Street:  2250 NW 96th AVE-SUITE 203
    City:  MIAMI
    State:  Florida
    Zip:  33172
    Phone #1:  786-5070462
    Phone #2: (574) 219 5241
    Contact: Oficina Aviatur-Catalina Morales


    Mind...this was for Columbia, but they
    may ship to other South Amercian countries as well.

    This is all I know and the only time I've every shipped abroad.

    Good luck!


    --
     Richard Adkins 
     Keyboard Tuning and Maintenance
     Curator of Instruments 
             
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  • 4.  RE: Shipping Pianos Abroad

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-20-2025 11:39

    Charles,

    Expeditors. They are an international air shipping company. Pianos are not shipped via boat. I can tell you though the shipping cost to South America is going to be significantly higher than the value of the piano.

    Roge 



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    Roger Gable RPT
    Gable Piano
    Everett WA
    (425) 252-5000
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  • 5.  RE: Shipping Pianos Abroad

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-21-2025 21:31

    Thank you Geoff, Richard, and Roger for your valuable input, I appreciate you relating your experiences.  You corroborated my guess that it would be fraught with logistical difficulties as well as significant financial pain.  Since these pianos are generally very uniform in overall quality and character it should hopefully be fairly easy to find a suitable replacement in the destination country, provided the market has not collapsed there (or would that be to their benefit - making it easier to find a good used one at a better price than normal, as in a "buyers' market"?)

    Thanks again,

    CC



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    Chuck Christus
    Flagler Beach, FL
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