Selling used guitars or basses on Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange is a convenient way to turn your old equipment into liquid resources, be they cash or credit toward tempting items stuck waiting in your shopping cart. The only downside is the dreaded task of shipping.
Finding a proper box presents a challenge, especially when there’s a case or gig bag involved. Then there’s the anxious packing process. Did you use enough bubble wrap to guard the gear against rough handling? What about protecting particularly vulnerable areas such as the neck? How do you plan for that? Well-intended DIY solutions often fall short of offering maximum security and protection. At Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange, happy buyers and satisfied sellers are priority number one, and that’s why we’ve partnered with Aeris, your new, top-notch provider of safe ship kits for guitars.
Here’s the Best Way to Ship a Guitar or Bass
Aeris ship kits have a long-standing reputation for safe arrival when it comes to shipping guitars. Many businesses purchase and use Aeris kits in bulk quantities, and now they’re available to GX customers a la carte in sizes tailored for electric or acoustic guitars shipped with or without a case. Bassists, fear not! Universal bass shipping kits will soon be arriving.
Let’s look at what’s inside each Aeris kit (check out the video below for a demonstration by the GX team).
Each Aeris ship kit includes:
- Packing instructions
- One (1) box
- Sturdy packing tape
- Custom inflatable air cells, a.k.a. a “life vest”
- Neck support collar
- One (1) hand pump for air-cell inflation
These materials arrive at your door in a flat-packed box that’s compact and easy to store if you don’t need to ship a guitar right away. If you aren’t planning to ship immediately, then don’t unpack the box when it arrives. This will make it easier to store the kit in a closet, beneath your bed, or even behind a crowded rack of guitars. Aeris kits are so compact that frequent sellers can save time and money by purchasing several and storing them for future use.
When it’s time to ship, you can secure and seal your guitar and be ready for drop-off in a matter of minutes. Simply unpack the box, slide the guitar into the silky, scratch-resistant cover, and inflate the life vest with the included pump. The life vest’s inflatable air cells are stronger than bubble wrap, so sudden shocks or bumpy rides won’t affect what’s inside.
Once you’ve inflated the vest and placed it with your guitar inside the box, there’s one last layer of protection: the all-important neck support. Neck support is often what separates a risky, amateur packing job from a safe, professional one. Improper neck support greatly increases the risk of serious damage in transit. That’s why Aeris kits include a neck collar that safely cradles the neck in a fixed position. But let’s not dwell on gruesome thoughts of splintered neck joints and shattered hopes. You’re choosing Aeris ship kits, and that means unbeatable protection and unbeatable peace of mind.
Now Shipping Is as Easy as Selling on GX!
With Aeris ship kits at your service, you have every resource for safe shipping and earning extra cash on GX. The next step is to post your first listing on Gear Exchange if you haven’t done so already. If you have ever created a Gear Exchange listing, then, as an established GX seller, you can enjoy a $10 discount on each ship kit you purchase. The following kit styles are now up for grabs: electric guitar with case, “bare” electric guitar, acoustic guitar with case, and “bare” acoustic guitar. Bass guitar kits are slated to arrive in the near future. Now, go forth and turn all that old gear into gold! New to Gear Exchange? Check out our Help Center to learn more about buying and selling used gear. Have a question but can’t find an answer? Fill out a GX contact form or call the Gear Exchange experts at (888) 221-0033!
