For Collectors, Artists, and Dealers: A Guide to Shipping Art

ShipandInsure.com makes shipping and insuring fine art easy for artists and collectors.

We caught up with Elaine Lockard, the VP of Sales and Marketing of ShipandInsure.com, at a recent art show. We were amazed at the offerings for shipping and insuring of fine art for artists and collectors. Elaine, maybe start off by telling a little about the company and how it began:

ShipandInsure.com was founded in 2002 when there was an obvious need for covering shipments sent FedEx, UPS & USPS of bullion, coins, collectible currency, watches & other collectibles with higher values for loss or damage. We consider “high value” to be over $500 up to a million and higher. Items of this type were either uninsurable by the shipping firms or the limits (through USPS) were not high enough to cover shipments of these values. Our owners were experts in numismatics & other collectibles, establishing the North American Collectibles Association (NACA) in 1982 to provide insurance products for dealers and collectors.

What types of fine art and valuables can be shipped through ShipandInsure? Can you handle shipments outside of the United States?

ShipandInsure.com covers all fine arts, sculpture, custom crafted items such as furniture, musical instruments such as guitars, handblown glass & ceramics, jewelry & loose stones as well as all items of value with the exception of perishables & contraband. Our coverage is for loss or damage. Domestic coverage includes FedEx, UPS, USPS, Freight, transportation by your car or truck and armored car. International coverage includes FedEx, DHL and Freight.

Are there limitations on which carriers can be used and do you offer any special rates?

Next Day or Overnight coverage limits are $75,000, with the exception of FedEx. With an online request through our website, values over $75,000 for FedEx Overnight shipping are granted and placed in the shopping cart for processing. We negotiated an exceptional arrangement in 2021 with FedEx for 50% off shipping rates on Priority or Standard Overnight, 2nd Day & International. FedEx Ground is 25% off standard shipping rates, exclusive through our program.

Does ShipandInsure have limitations on the values of goods that can be shipped?

USPS Priority Mail is limited to $10,000. Express & Registered Mail is limited to $75,000. UPS Next Day is limited to $75,000 and the UPS Ground limit is $15,000. FedEx Ground shows a limit of $20,000, but with an online request, we can override the limit to $35,000 max. Our posted limits for the other covered options are flexible.

Walk us through a step-by-step process of shipping a piece of art with ShipandInsure.

Of course, packaging or crating the work of art is so important because of frequent mishandling by shipping firms. A good rule of thumb is the ability to drop the package at 4 feet with no damage being inflicted. Once a tracking # is assigned, login to your ShipandInsure.com account, select domestic or international shipping and select the carrier & shipping method, tracking #, zip to and from and value. You have up to midnight, your time zone, to enter the shipment for coverage.

What happens when an insured shipment is lost or damaged?

Coverage through ShipandInsure.com is for loss or damage. We do not need an appraisal prior to coverage. Our claim process is online. For a loss, we ask for a declaration of loss by the shipping firm and a substantiation of the wholesale value or replacement cost. For damage, we would like before and after photos, a substantiation of the value and a repair estimate from a conservator. If the item cannot be repaired for less than its value, we may ask for the item to be shipped to us for salvage and the claim will be paid in full for the wholesale or replacement cost.

Is there a Customer Service Department and someone to talk with if there are questions or claims issues?

We have exceptional customer support and workarounds for most all situations that occur in the shipping and insuring process. If calls aren’t answered by a live person, a return call can be expected usually the same day, but no later than the next business day.

How easy is it to work with ShipandInsure and what sets you apart from your competition?

Setting up your account through the application process is simple and most likely your account with a secure login will be active within 1 business day. Your application is for a membership through NACA, which also offers you the FedEx Discount program, up to 50% off FedEx shipping rates, and other insurance products for collections and inventory. ShipandInsure.com is the NACA’s exclusive shipping insurance benefit program so currently popular for collectors, dealers, and artists.

To begin insuring your shipments for full value, no deductible, visit our website, ShipandInsure.com. If you are not a member of an association shown, such as OPA or AIS, please click on North American Collectibles Association for the application.