[Paul Adkins]

I have never shipped a carving out of state. How is the best way to ship a bird carving? Should I insure it? Any advice is appreciated.

[Ashbys]

Paul,
Bubble wrap it well! Most postal consider the box should hold 60 lbs. That is a lot of weight for open air inside the box.

And Yes I would insure, the value of the carving , getting a broken piece is one thing , but to replace it without some recovery is even harder.

Garry

[Callynne]

Paul, I have shipped a lot of carvings and never had one arrive broken or damaged in any way.

First, yes, absolutely, you want to insure it! My experience is only dealing with UPS, as far as shipping carvings. It was suggested to me as the best method and I've just stuck with them.

I wrap my carving in bubble wrap, as Garry mentioned, using masking tape to secure the bubble wrap in place. I place this in a box about an inch or so larger than the bubble wrapped carving. I usually wad up plastic grocery bags for the padding around the piece in this box....works as well as peanuts and it's free padding!

Next I pack that box into another box that is about two inches larger all the way around. Double boxing is the very safest way to send anything! Again I use wadded up plastic bags to pack around this box. (Everyone saves me their plastic bags, they love getting rid of them and I love having them!)

Before you seal the box, it's a very good idea to put a note in the box that has both your name, address and phone number on it and the name, address and phone number of where it's going to. Tape the box up securely and ship it.

I believe UPS covers all their parcels for $100.00 value automatically, you have to purchase additional insurance if it's necessary. Check to see, whatever method of shipping you use, you definitely want your piece insured for the full value!

Hope this helps! Now how about showing us a picture before you ship it! Deborah

[Thor]

All of what Deborah says. I ship original artwork all over the country, and another "proof of value" that comes in handy in case it is broken is a price tag inside the shipping package. I have never had a single piece damaged in the least with the double boxing method that was so eloquently described, but you never know when a UPS truck is going to back over something.
I have had to respond to claims due to artists shipping pieces to my gallery that have not survived the trip. The internal price tag really helps determine the value.
Thor

[wade clark]

Good advice! In our Auction business we receive boxes of merchandise from all over the country. Some people are clueless or careless or just don't care when they package their items, and occasionally someone sends us something that I believe they intended to collect the insurance on...you see it all in the Auction business. I've seen that it's very hard to collect the insurance; UPS would rather spend $500 sending someone out to inspect the shipping and decide it was wrapped wrong/inadequately, than pay a $100 claim. Maybe it's the principle. But you're far ahead to wrap it right.
Wade