WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING USPS PACKAGE SHIPPING DELAYS! WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO FIX THE SITUATION. PLEASE ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR YOUR ORDER TO BE FULFILLED BY USPS.
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR CONTACT USFOR MORE INFORMATION.
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $99+ OF BRAND NEW, DEMO, or B-STOCK GEAR*: If your order is eligible for free shipping, choose that option at checkout and it will automatically ship with the best carrier for the job, typically UPS Ground or SurePost, FedEx Ground, or USPS First Class or Priority Mail depending on size, weight, and delivery speed. (Free shipping is limited to domestic orders to the contiguous 48 states.)
(*exclusions apply for oversize gear, some manufacturer restrictions, and more)
For more information on if an item you're interested in qualifies for shipping, feel free to reach out via phone, email, or chat.
The CME Difference: CME's mission is to make sure your shipment will arrive quickly, carefully, and correctly. We realize that the online ordering of guitars and instruments, in general, can be a nerve-racking experience. We are here to put your mind at ease and make your transaction smooth and enjoyable! As musicians ourselves, we want to make sure everything gets to you the way it should, every time. We ship most orders placed before 2pm Central Time the SAME DAY once payment has been approved. Exceptions to this include guitars, amplifiers, and drum kits that require setups and inspections and additional packaging time. When placing a single order that includes multiple items, please note that processing time may be delayed 1-3 days if a transfer is required, as we aim to ship the items together if possible. Please contact us for a shipping timeline if needed, we're happy to provide that info for you!
Our Bottom line: We care! This is something we take very seriously, because it's what you deserve. Our shipping, sales, and customer service teams are always striving to create the best experience for you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, we want to know. *Holiday Hours may affect shipping times — contact us for expedited options or Gift Cards, and check our Support Page for full Holiday Hours!
Every guitar gets a full inspection, as well as basic setup. Used guitar amps and drum sets undergo rigorous packing procedures to ensure quality and protection. Please contact our Sales team with any special requests.
*Any order valued over $700 USD will automatically be signature required unless otherwise requested.
USPS, UPS, FedEx Service Delays:
USPS:
USPS has suspended their service guarantee for First-Class Mail, as well as for Priority Mail 2 and 3-day delivery service. Potentially, packages can be in transit for an extra 4-7 days or so, with absent or infrequent scans.
UPS' service guarantee is suspended as of 3/26 and until further notice. This applies to shipments coming from any origin, to any destination. Delays will normally be posted in the tracking details for the shipment as soon as determined. UPS’s Signature Required guidelines are temporarily being adjusted such that consignees will no longer need to sign for UPS Signature Required deliveries. Despite this adjusted process the driver will still need to make contact with the consignee. The consignee must, at the time of delivery, acknowledge that UPS is making a delivery and, if applicable, show a government-issued photo ID.
FedEx:
Effective Jan. 3, 2023, the FedEx money-back guarantee was reinstated for select FedEx Express services for U.S. domestic and U.S. export shipments. Services include:
- FedEx First Overnight - FedEx Priority Overnight - FedEx Standard Overnight - FedEx First Overnight Extra Hours - FedEx Priority Overnight Extra Hours - FedEx Standard Overnight Extra Hours - FedEx International First - FedEx International Priority - FedEx International Priority Express - FedEx International Priority Freight
The FedEx money-back guarantee for all other FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx SameDay City, and FedEx Office services remains suspended. You only have to sign for a package if required by the sender or by FedEx policy. To find out if your shipment requires a signature, you can look at the tracking information that is emailed from the sender or enter in the shipment's tracking number on fedex.com.
If your shipment requires an indirect signature, you can sign electronically through FedEx Delivery Manager. If the shipment requires a direct or adult signature, then someone must be available to sign in person. If someone is not home to sign for a direct or adult signature, the courier will leave a door tag or reattempt delivery.
All packages are fully insured at no additional charge if lost or damaged in transit. Not all items are insured, or can be replaced in the event of theft. Please contact us when placing your order for more information about insurance.
Your instrument and/or gear will be shipped using the highest level of industry-standard packing materials, in every attempt to make sure it arrives in ready-to-play condition. We will notify you prior to shipping your instrument if additional steps need to be taken in the packing process. Always feel free to contact us if you have any questions!
In the event there is a delivery issue with your order (delayed, lost, damaged, or stolen), please contact our Customer Service Team HERE, or directly at 773-525-7773 for assistance. We understand these situations require support. We want to be as helpful and solution oriented as possible!
All shipping rates are for actual transportation charges and do not include VAT, import taxes, or brokerage fees, which vary from country to country and are the full responsibility of the recipient.
Brazilian Rosewood & CITES: If your order contains Brazilian Rosewood or any other CITES restricted woods, your shipment might be delayed due to Customs processing standards that CME is subject to as the shipper. All orders requiring CITES documentation must ship to the buyer's residential address. If your country requires CITES import permits, please work with your local Customs agency to obtain these permits prior to shipment. More information on that can be found here: Fish and Wildlife services.
International Shipping Rates: Most of our preset shipping rates are for USPS International Service. USPS is typically less expensive than UPS & FedEx, but their international tracking system is not as accurate. Arrival times may vary from country to country. Some large items such as bass guitars, drum kits, amplifiers, and speaker cabinets may not be eligible for shipping to all countries via USPS, FedEx, and/or UPS. Items over $1500 USD are also not eligible for shipment with USPS.
Manufacturer's Restrictions: Note that certain manufacturers put shipping restrictions on some products, including some products that cannot be shipped to international destinations.
Shipping Restrictions: We are unable to ship to Russia due to the current trade sanctions.
WE SHIP FAST! Most orders are picked, packed, and shipped within 24 hours.
SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED: After your purchase is completed, and as soon as the order is shipped, you will be e-mailed your tracking number to track the status of your shipment until it gets to your door.
TIME IS MONEY: We have excellent relationships with all our carriers, so at checkout you'll have a bevy of shipping services to choose from, including overnight and second day options, ensuring your order arrives when you need it to. Chat or call anytime to learn more.
UPS Regional Transit MAP
FEDEX Regional Transit Map
*For any trade or selling transactions at Chicago Music Exchange, due to the potentially sensitive nature of some of the finish materials used on instruments and the pending weather factor changes, we will typically wait up to 24 hours to open the gear sent to us. Then another 24-48 hours to process the instrument. IL residents are eligible for tax credits for trade-ins. We appreciate your patience!
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
