Shipping Used Pro Audio Internationally: Crates, Pallet Freight and Insurance

Choose the freight mode before the price

Subwoofers and large cabinets almost always move by pallet freight, not parcel courier. Consoles and DJ decks can travel by courier in a proper flight case, but only if the case is rigid and the inner foam is intact.

Get quotes for door-to-door service, not port-to-port. The cheapest quote often ends at a warehouse you cannot easily collect from, and the difference can exceed the savings.

Pack for the way freight is handled

Freight is handled by machines and forklifts, not by people who care about your gear. Cabinets need edge protection, a pallet base and shrink wrap; consoles need a rigid case with foam that still has compression left in it.

Never rely on the original retail carton for international freight. It is designed for palletised retail distribution, not for a mixed freight container.

• Palletise and shrink-wrap heavy cabinets
• Use rigid flight cases for consoles and decks
• Photograph the packed pallet before pickup
• Declare the real value for insurance

Insurance and documents

Insure for replacement value, not purchase price. If a cabinet is damaged beyond repair, replacement value is what it costs to buy an equivalent unit, which is often higher than what you paid.

Keep the commercial invoice, packing list and photos together. A claim without photos of the packed pallet and the damaged item is usually rejected.