Our Shipping Policies
Accordions, especially large vintage instruments, are vulnerable to shipping damage and require special packing.
How we ship accordions to customers:
We ship to the continental US only.
We ship via UPS ground, insured for full value with signature required for delivery.
The customer can choose to ship to a UPS store for pickup at their convenience.
$85 flat rate includes thorough protective packing, shipping fee, and insurance.
How to Ship Accordions to Our Shop
Planning to ship an accordion to us for repair or restoration?
Here are common problems - and how to reduce the risk of damage.
The larger the accordion, the greater the risk.
The springs in the bass/chord system are designed to handle only a few button-presses at a time. When an accordion gets dropped or bumped a certain way, it's as if ALL buttons had been swatted down at the same time! The springs can't handle it, so lots of buttons drop… and get stuck down.
Sunken Buttons
Use tape and “keepers” (soda straws, wood coffee stirrers, strips of boxboard, etc.) to hold the buttons in place.
Press soda straws or strips of cardboard between every 2nd or 3rd set of buttons. The top of the "keepers" should be level with the tops of the buttons.
USE Clear packing tape or masking tape.
Stretch tape across the buttons and keepers. Lightly run your finger across the tape to make sure it's sticking.
Something is Loose Inside!
Older accordions can arrive with loose stuff rattling around inside.
The reeds in an accordion (usually 200 or more) are attached with beeswax which gives a secure, airtight seal… for 20 to 30 years. After that wax tends to shrink, turn brittle, and crack very easily.
For older accordions, normal parcel delivery is bumpy enough to knock some reeds loose!
"...maybe we could use it for percussion, as a big, ornate shaker..."
Block the Bass Mechanism
Here’s another way to prevent bass buttons from dropping during shipping. It’s effective and used by many accordion shippers!
Be aware: The recipient will need to remove and replace both the bass strap and the bass panel. Some folks find it hard to get the air-button back in place when replacing the panel; some find it hard to get the threaded “bass-strap-adjuster” to re-engage properly. Proceed with care and caution!
I'm pressing 3 buttons, to show the movement you want to block. You can use simple cardboard strips to prevent this motion.
Cut strips wide enough (similar to what I’m holding in this photo) to hit what's underneath, so they won't be able to wiggle out of place.
This 1/4" strip was too narrow on its own, and I ended up needing ~1/2" to fill the gap.
Now you just "carefully cram" the strip into the gap!
In this case, the single layer of 1/4” cardboard left some wiggle room.
I cut a 2nd strip, and pressed it under the other - for a snug fit.
Does yours have a center support like this?
It will get in your way, but you can work around it. However, it might be easier to remove it, and re-install after blocking.
Use Two Layers of Cushioning
FIRST LAYER - Cushion the ACCORDION inside the CASE
If you're shipping without a case, double-box it.
Place padding between the accordion and case on all four sides, top, and bottom.
Use bubble wrap, padded envelopes, layers of corrugated cardboard, crumpled craft paper. As you lower the lid, you should feel some resistance as you press it down and fasten the latches.
SECOND LAYER - Cushion the CASE inside the SHIPPING BOX
Use chunks of styrofoam, bubble wrap, layers of boxboard, etc. The case must have AT LEAST 1.5” cushioning on ALL sides.
Use 1.5" - 2" of packing between case and shipping box: all 4 sides, top & bottom.
Shipping an accordion with no case? Double-box it!
Use one sturdy box as the "case." Put cushioning all around the accordion; tape the ‘case-box’ securely. Put the ‘case-box’ in another sturdy box, big enough for 2" cushioning on all sides, top & bottom.
Last Steps
Insure the parcel for full replacement value.
Put a copy of the shipping label inside the box.
As you pack, take pictures of:
all angles of the accordion before packing
the “keepers” over the bass buttons
the accordion in the case, with cushioning all around
the case inside shipping box, with cushioning all around
the shipping box, ready to go
If you need to file a damage claim, the pictures show that you packed it properly, and that the box was in good condition before shipping.