What Glass Artists Should Know About Shipping!
Have you ever shipped something marked "fragile" only for it to end up in a crushed package with glass shards on the other end??
I've shipped a LOT of packages, and most contained glass in one form or another. I joke that making a package "fragile" is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Unfortunately, fragile items break, often. I have learned through experience how to package my glass items to minimize breakage.
You can have the best materials and resources, but you don't have a guarantee that fragile items will make it to their end destination intact. It's not realistic! We are glass artists who repurpose glass, often in broken form, to create new pieces of art, hence the sustainable part! We buy vases, cups, plates, and many other prized glass items from thrift stores, only to break them to make beautiful new art!
If you sell art, glass, or anything considered fragile, you are going to risk breakage. There are several things you can do to mitigate the damage.
The following are a few practices that should mitigate damage to fragile items while in transit:
Use properly sized boxes — too big, then items may move around — too small, not a good idea either. Don't use torn, dilapidated boxes, only ones that are still in great shape. No matter how good you are at taping a box, assume a damaged box will not make it to the destination in one piece. Recycle those Amazon boxes!
Purchase sufficient shipping insurance. If the contents are worth $105, insure it for $200!
Restrict movement — there should be no room between the materials and the items — a snug fit is what you're looking for.
Seal tightly. Tape the box up securely. Some packing tape is poor quality and will not stay stuck. Make sure you use several strips in a crisscross format to ensure sufficient contact with the package.
Bubble wrap or packing peanuts? Both work and a combo is perfect!
Crumpled packing or craft paper makes good recyclable items.
Place the shipping label properly. If you print it yourself at home, make sure it's legible.
Mark the package as fragile where it is clearly visible.
Be discerning about which postal carrier you use.
Communicate shipping terms to your customers. They should be aware of your return policies and whether you will reimburse them in case of breakage.
While accepting the probability that the glass items you are mailing will likely break — it's called shard art, after all — knowing the facts can help you avoid repeated issues. Have you seen Mary Hong's art? She coined the term "shard art," and she can create anything with broken media, including ceramics, china, wine bottles, embellishments, etc. She's the original shard guru! I took one of Mary's workshops a few years ago, and I marveled at her amazing creative talent and vision with seemingly useless items! A little bit about epoxy resin because a blog post without sidetracking is just boring!
What is epoxy resin and why should I use one brand over another? Glass and resin art has really taken off as a mixed media format over the past 10 years, but epoxy resin has been around since the 1930s. Resin art became the rage after artists started incorporating glass, adding a unique luster and glam element to otherwise "ordinary" art. Until then, resin was mostly used in industrial applications. ArtResin became the front runner as a coating or doming resin in that they guarantee their formulation has the highest UV resistance.
However, resined work should NEVER be placed in direct sunlight, or where UV light can turn it prematurely yellow. If you have used UV resin, you will notice that it has a slightly yellow tone, and I personally would not use it for canvas art. While its price range is on the higher end — ArtResin is geared towards use in fine art — it has been held up as the gold standard of epoxy resin since its inception in 2015. There are several different types of resin, but that's a completely separate article.
What about shipping that freshly resined piece of art? There are several factors to consider to avoid unnecessary damage from happening:
Shipping a piece of art before the resin is fully cured — it can take up to two weeks for the resin to completely dry.
Assume all resin is created equal. Casting resin cures/dries differently from coating resin, and so does UV resin, so always check the recommended guidelines before placing anything on top of a resined surface. While most coating resin dries to the touch within 24 hours, it can be tacky in spots for longer. In this case, you may need to take additional measures to fix the problem.
Avoid placing any rigid options against the resined surface, no matter how dry it is — an ugly indent is like a scar and will be an unsightly detractor.
If in doubt, buy the accessory shipping kit from the shipping carrier that costs a little extra. Do not blindly trust shipping carriers.
Blindly accept shipping rates. If you ship a LOT of items, you should qualify for commercial rates, which are substantially less than retail. Check out websites that offer rate comparisons. Avoid unnecessary trips to the post office or shipping facility by printing and processing your own shipments.
Which package delivery/postal company should you use?
As mentioned before, shipping insurance is a critical part of the process. I don't believe one shipping company is necessarily a safer bet when it comes to shipping. I use USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and I can't tell which one is the best for shipping what. I don't ship internationally, so I don't have experience with international couriers. Do some research on the ones you use and their practices. What is their claim process? Do they offer good customer service?
If you research the differences, you will likely find that the three main companies offer some savings, free packaging, and some other options. However, they do differ when it comes to factors like flat rate options, reliability, speed, customer service, and the claim process. Is it worth paying 5 cents less for one option, but dealing with poor customer service or a lack of drop-off locations with another?
You should also account for lost packages. Double-check addresses before you purchase a label. Unfortunately, you might learn this lesson the hard way, as I have. You don't have recourse if you don't insure your shipments, you will suffer avoidable losses. Don't simply accept an address the system automatically changes if it looks suspect. It's better to confirm information before you mail a package.tap
I have scrimped on shipping costs before, thinking that the extra cost of insurance is unnecessary; after all the contents are packaged well enough to avoid anything going wrong. Big mistake! Have you filed a claim with the USPS? It's virtually impossible to even get the process going, let alone be compensated for losses! If you choose shortcuts with shipping, you're going to suffer losses.
Coming back to the issue of glass breakage during shipment ... We all know that fragile means "probably will break," even if you've added stickers cautioning handlers to be more delicate and perfectly packed and taped up the contents! You must assume the worst outcome to be effective with your business policies. You also need to decide how you will handle each individual case with individual customers, who may not want to deal with filing an insurance claim themselves, and what costs are you passing on to the customer.
I'll admit that I have scrimped on shipping costs before, thinking that the extra cost of insurance is unnecessary; after all the contents are packaged well enough to avoid anything going wrong, right? Big mistake! Have you filed a claim with the USPS? It's virtually impossible to even get the process going, let alone receive compensation for losses where they were at fault! If you choose shortcuts with shipping, you're going to suffer losses.
I use several postage options when it comes to calculating and purchasing postage online, including stamps.com, goshippo.com, pirateship.com, and shipstation.com — each one has its merits for different reasons. On my website, I've set up shipping parameters that calculate shipping and handling based on location, weight, and size of packaging.
What about shipping and return policies?
I've added a disclaimer — "all glass purchases are final" — to my invoices. I cut bottles, ceramics, handblown glass, and other materials with a 10" wet saw, the glass is possibly going to have a small flaw that may crack at any time during shipment. Once the glass has been placed under stress, it may break under the least amount of pressure or the slightest movement —it's the nature of glass. If you introduce trauma, it will respond by cracking or shattering. That knowledge must be conveyed to your customers. It's an unfortunate aspect of selling glass.
If you have any questions related to this article or recommendations for additions, please email me at jazzystreasuresgmail.com!
Shard on!
Theresa
aka Jazzy's Treasures
ADDITIONAL RECOURCES:
https://www.easyship.com/blog/express-couriers-vs-postal-services
https://www.artresin.com/collections/artresin-epoxy-resin
https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-frequently-asked-questions/types-of-epoxy
UPDATED VERSION FROM GOOGLE DOCS
WHAT A GLASS ARTIST NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT SHIPPING!
Have you ever shipped something marked "fragile," only for it to arrive in a crushed package with a pile of shards on the other end??
I've shipped a LOT of packages, and most contained glass in one form or another. I joke that making a package "fragile" is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Unfortunately, fragile items break, often. I have learned through experience how to package my glass items to minimize breakage.
You can have the best materials and resources, but you don't have a guarantee that those fragile items will make it to their end destination intact. It's not realistic! We are glass artists who repurpose glass, often in broken form, to create new pieces of art, hence the sustainable part! We buy vases, cups, plates, and many other prized glass items from thrift stores, only to break them to make beautiful new art!
If you sell art, glass, or anything considered fragile, you are going to risk breakage. There are several things you can do to mitigate the damage.
The following are a few measures that could mitigate damage to fragile items while in transit:
Use properly sized boxes — too big, then items may move around — too small, not a good idea either. Don't use torn, dilapidated boxes, only ones that are still in great shape. No matter how good you are at taping a box, assume a damaged box will not make it to the destination in one piece. Recycle those Amazon boxes!
Purchase sufficient shipping insurance. If the contents are worth $105, insure it for $200!
Restrict movement — there should be no room between the materials and the items — a snug fit is what you're looking for.
Seal tightly. Tape the box up securely. Some packing tape is poor quality and will not stay stuck. Make sure you use several strips in a crisscross format to ensure sufficient contact with the package.
Bubble wrap or packing peanuts? Both work and the combo is perfect!
Crumpled packing or craft paper makes good recyclable items.
Place the shipping label properly. If you print it yourself at home, make sure it's legible.
Mark the package as fragile where it is clearly visible
Be discerning about which postal carrier you use
Communicate shipping terms to your customers. They should be aware of your return policies and whether you will reimburse them in case of breakage ...
While accepting the probability that the glass items you are mailing will likely break — it's called shard art, after all — knowing the facts can help you avoid repeated issues. Have you seen Mary Hong's art? She coined the term "shard art," and she can create anything with broken media, including ceramics, china, wine bottles, embellishments, etc. She's the original shard guru! I took one of Mary's Intensive 2-day workshops a few years ago, and I marveled at her amazing creative talent and vision with seemingly useless items! A little bit about epoxy resin because a blog post without sidetracking is just boring!
What about shipping that freshly resined piece of art? There are several factors to consider before mailing it:
Shipping a piece of art before the resin is fully cured — it can take up to two weeks for the resin to completely dry!
Assume all resin is created equal. Casting resin cures/dries differently from coating resin, and so does UV resin, so always check the recommended guidelines before placing anything on top of a resined surface. While most coating resin dries to the touch within 24 hours, it can be tacky in spots for longer. In this case, you may need to take additional measures to fix the problem.
Avoid placing any rigid options against the resined surface, no matter how dry it is — an ugly indent is like a scar and will be an unsightly detractor.
If in doubt, buy the accessory shipping kit from the shipping carrier that costs a little extra. Do not blindly trust shipping carriers.
Blindly accept shipping rates. If you ship a LOT of items, you should qualify for commercial rates, which are substantially less than retail. Check out websites that offer rate comparisons. Avoid unnecessary trips to the post office or shipping facility by printing and processing your own shipments.
Which package delivery service should you use?
I don't believe one shipping company is necessarily a safer bet when it comes to shipping — each has pros and cons. I use USPS, UPS, and FedEx. I can't tell which one is the best for shipping what. I don't ship internationally, that's a different ballgame.
If you research the differences, you will likely find that the three main companies offer some savings, free packaging, and some other options. However, they do differ when it comes to factors like flat rate options, reliability, speed, customer service, and the claim process. Is it worth paying 5 cents less for one option, but dealing with poor customer service or a lack of drop-off locations with another?
You should also account for lost packages. Double-check addresses before you purchase a label. Unfortunately, you might learn this lesson the hard way, as I have. You don't have recourse if you don't insure your shipments, you will suffer avoidable losses. Don't simply accept an address the system automatically changes if it looks suspect. It's better to confirm the information before mailing that package.
We all know that fragile means "probably will break," even if you've added stickers cautioning handlers to be more delicate and perfectly packed and taped up the contents! You must assume the worst outcome to have effective business policies. You also need to decide how you will handle each individual case with different customers who may not want to deal with filing an insurance claim, but rather expect you to remedy the situation. What fees are you passing on to the customer, and why?
I'll admit that I have scrimped on shipping costs before, reasoning that the cost of additional insurance is unnecessary; after all the contents are packaged well enough to avoid anything going wrong, right? Big mistake! Have you filed a claim with the USPS? It's virtually impossible to even get the process going, let alone receive confirmation of a successful claim. Why expect rightful compensation for losses where they were at fault? If you choose shortcuts with shipping, you're going to suffer losses in revenue.
I use several postage options when it comes to calculating and purchasing postage online, including stamps.com, goshippo.com, pirateship.com, and shipstation.com — each one has its merits for different reasons. On my website, www.coastalglassdesigns.com, I've set up shipping parameters that calculate shipping and handling based on location, weight, and size of packaging.
What about shipping and return policies?
I've added a disclaimer — "all glass purchases are final" — to my invoices. I cut bottles, ceramics, hand-blown glass, and other materials with a 10" wet saw, the glass is possibly going to have a small flaw that may crack at any time during shipment. Once the glass has been placed under stress, it may break under the least amount of pressure or the slightest movement — it's the nature of glass. If you introduce trauma, it will respond by cracking or shattering. That knowledge must be conveyed to your customers. It's an unfortunate aspect of selling glass. You also need to know the individual dynamics of different types of glass (see previous blog article).
If you have any questions related to this article or recommendations for additions, please email me at jazzystreasuresgmail.com!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
https://www.easyship.com/blog/express-couriers-vs-postal-services
https://www.artresin.com/collections/artresin-epoxy-resin
https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-frequently-asked-questions/types-of-epoxy