Many people expect too much from an art shipping service. Obviously, everyone wants to get the best deal for their money, but it’s important to keep in mind that end-to-end coverage is still limited in scope. Here is an overview of the services an art shipping provider typically doesn’t include in this package. Study this guide to make sure you reserve money, time, and effort to cover these additional aspects (if they really matter to you).
What Does Art Shipping Service Presuppose?
As a rule, when you order an art shipping service from a professional company, you may expect that well-trained and experienced art handlers will arrive at your location, pack the artwork according to the industry standards, load it into the truck either manually (if it’s a small-size, lightweight object) or with the help of specialized equipment (if it’s a large-scale, heavy object), deliver it to the destination, and install the piece if required.
What Shouldn’t You Expect from Art Shippers?
Now, the interesting part. The scope of art shipping services typically doesn’t cover:
- Expert art assessment. Art handlers and art shippers don’t perform the assessment of your object’s monetary value. This is the task of certified appraisers, and it’s a totally different service.
- 24/7 real-time object tracking. Online tracking is a common service for shipments handled by regular carriers, but when it comes to interstate art transportation by trucks, things become more complicated. The main issue is the security of high-value items being transported in one vehicle. Art shippers don’t usually share the exact location of their trucks to protect their clients’ possessions. However, you can always contact your manager and get an update on where your artworks are at every stage of the shipping process.
- Light arrangement. While art handlers are responsible for artwork installation if this service is required by the client, they don’t assume responsibility for the adjustment of light and the fine-tuning of other environmental settings. You need to plan the installation spot in advance and engage lighting and other specialists to help you with this part of the task if needed.
As you can see, an art shipping company can do pretty much for you, but the scope of its duties and responsibilities is still limited. Therefore, you should plan the artwork’s move in advance and engage additional experts if you need services beyond the scope of shipping and handling.