What is the safest method to ship to Hong Kong?
March 25, 2013 2:42 PM Subscribe
I have a $2,000 piece of artwork that needs to get to Hong Kong. I am not sure what carrier I should go with and would love insight. I am pretty nervous about this, but also don't want to spend a fortune if I can help it.
It will be coming from the U.S., metal and wood, so not very breakable, and will fit about a 12"x12"x12" box.
Right now I am between USPS and FedEx, but I have no experience with Hong Kong at all. I just really want to get it there safe, so I can breathe again.
Thanks!
It will be coming from the U.S., metal and wood, so not very breakable, and will fit about a 12"x12"x12" box.
Right now I am between USPS and FedEx, but I have no experience with Hong Kong at all. I just really want to get it there safe, so I can breathe again.
Thanks!
Personally I trust FedEx the most. Here are some related topics:
http://customcritical.fedex.com/us/services/market-industry/art.shtml
http://ask.van.fedex.com/learn/how-to-pack-artwork
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/customcritical/whiteglove/museums.html
http://lauradenhertog.com/blog/10972/fool-proof-method-for-shipping-art
posted by Dansaman at 3:14 PM on March 25, 2013
http://customcritical.fedex.com/us/services/market-industry/art.shtml
http://ask.van.fedex.com/learn/how-to-pack-artwork
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/customcritical/whiteglove/museums.html
http://lauradenhertog.com/blog/10972/fool-proof-method-for-shipping-art
posted by Dansaman at 3:14 PM on March 25, 2013
Have you phoned an art gallery (preferably one that doesn't deal exclusively in photography or something) and asked how they would do it? Shipping art is really, really common.
posted by hoyland at 3:16 PM on March 25, 2013
posted by hoyland at 3:16 PM on March 25, 2013
FedEx and DHL are both pretty notorious for totally gouging the person on the other end for bullshit customs fees and stuff. So check if this is likely before deciding, otherwise you may be screwing over whoever you're sending this too. This might not be a problem if it's a gift, but check anyway because I do mean gouging (I've had charges of more than 50% of the value of the package from both of those companies). Also, the companies themselves won't tell you easily, you need to google around looking to see if people complain about it.
posted by shelleycat at 3:21 PM on March 25, 2013
posted by shelleycat at 3:21 PM on March 25, 2013
I have successfully shipped an oil painting on stretched canvas by removing the canvas from the stretchers, rolling it, and putting it inside a plastic tube made for this purpose. It is then pretty much indestructible and can be shipped normally. An art shop can probably do the disassembly and reassembly for you for not too much money (in my case, the artist removed the stretchers and I had a framing shop replace them and frame it).
If it's a watercolor, bending it is likely to ruin it, so none of this applies. Basically, it depends on what exactly you're trying to ship.
On preview, I missed the metal/wood part. Not sure how you'd tackle that, sorry.
posted by zug at 3:51 PM on March 25, 2013
If it's a watercolor, bending it is likely to ruin it, so none of this applies. Basically, it depends on what exactly you're trying to ship.
On preview, I missed the metal/wood part. Not sure how you'd tackle that, sorry.
posted by zug at 3:51 PM on March 25, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
DHL, FedEx, Ups = route 1
Hand courier for ultimate protection = route 2
posted by Kruger5 at 2:54 PM on March 25, 2013