Ship Tips

In the past couple months, I have been applying for more shows to have my work represented by galleries across the country. In doing so, I have learned a couple things about shipping, pricing, and filing claims with the postal service.

By channeling the excitement for being accepted to an exhibition, wrap the package as such. In other words be careful with the work and prep the packaging to look presentable to the receiver. A thank you card included with the wrapping is a nice touch I like to add to show the gallery my gratitude.

When wrapping, I have learned to take many photos of the process. These might seem tedious and space consuming at the time; however, they might come in handy later. If using bubble wrap, the most protection is provided to the work when the bubbles are facing outward. Also, the entire box must be filled to the brim with packing material. If there is any wiggle room, the work might be compromised during the transition by hitting the walls of the box. It also leaves more room for the box to be smushed, thereby crushing whatever is inside. When wrapping ceramic works, it is also recommended to double box. If the outer box is damaged, the inner box containing the work will not be as likely to be impaired due to the blow. 

I have recently discovered through shipping work of my own that packing material weighs little enough that adding more to decrease the likelihood of damaged work is not a reason to worry about the cost. While the size of the box seems intimidating, it’s the weight that determines the overall cost of the package. By using “Click-N-Ship,” through USPS, I am able to list the cost of the item in the package (up to $50 insurance for free) as well as pay for the shipping before I arrive at the post office. If the gallery asks for a return shipping label, purchasing two labels with the return address and shipping address reversed and placing the second one in the box suffices. This can be easily enclosed with the thank you note and image list. Be sure to take photos along the way!

With this total price calculated, the commission price of the work sent to the gallery should be all encompassing. If not, I know better for next time how to price my work. To be completely transparent, it costs me an average of $15 for shipping in one direction to send most work I’m making currently. Double this price, and the work must be at least $30 to cover the shipping costs. If the exhibition required an application fee ($35), then that must also be factored into the bare minimum cost of the work ($65). Lastly, the gallery deserves anywhere from 20-40 percent of the sale for promoting the work to the public if the work is sold. Theoretically, this cost is partially already factored in due to the return cost; however, if the shipping label is bought before the exhibition, that money might not be compensated. If I enter a small cup into the exhibition, I feel as though $75 is steep for the customer; however, this price is justified. Once shipping and commission prices are subtracted, I am still being underpaid for the time and research being put into the work.

Remember the photos I was suggesting to take? Say the work is damaged in the mail, and insurance was purchased for the package – unless there is photo documentation, proof of proper packaging, the blame for broken work will be turned back on the artist not properly securing the work for transit. I had this happen to me recently, and it is heartbreaking. A work I had valued at $500 was shattered in the mail, thereby not being viewed by the public. Even though the gallery director allowed me to send another work in its place, it was research lost and more money spent on my account. If more photos had been taken during the packing stages, I might have been able to file a proper claim. Even though this would not have provided the exposure for the research, I would have been paid for my time. It is definitely a lesson learned to pay close attention to the packaging process. Even if the package is marked as fragile, there is no guarantee everyone will treat it as such.