Arta packaging guidelines

Now that you are on managed shipping, you may have questions about how to package your items. We provide further information below to ensure all your orders are successful!

Who is responsible for packaging the artwork if you manage shipping on my behalf?

The partner we’re using for managing shipments on behalf of our artists is called Arta. They provide several types of delivery services (some already including packaging), but not all of these will be available to all sellers, as this will depend on the artist’s location and type of artworks sold.

Therefore, it is likely that most of the time, you will need to package the artworks for shipment yourself, and we will only provide a prepaid shipping label that will allow you to ship your artwork.

Who is responsible for the packaging costs?

Customers will be responsible for paying the relevant delivery costs for their items; however, for orders that qualify for the Self-Ship service, this will only cover courier and transportation fees. Any packaging costs will be the artist’s responsibility.

If your order qualifies for the Parcel or Premium, then Arta will collect the item from you and package this securely for transport via parcel networks at their facilities before shipping. 

What guidelines should I follow when packaging artworks?

For artists on Self-Ship i.e., artists who manage their own packaging, this must meet Arta’s packaging requirements for the goods as follows:

If your artwork falls into one of the "Do not ship" scenarios, you will need to reach out to us at sellers@artfinder.com, as we'll need to arrange an alternative shipping service for your order.

For Arta Parcel and Premium, we will use the information you provide on the listing, such as object materials, value, and dimensions, and work with our partner to determine a safe and economical packing method. 

What is the maximum artwork dimensions you can ship?

We will be able to ship artworks with dimensions of up to 2 metres for Premium shipping services and up to 4 metres for Self-ship and Parcel.

How many artworks can I ship per package?

The number of artworks you can ship together will depend on the type of artwork, and their value.

If the value of multiple artworks exceeds the above mentioned thresholds, you will need to ensure that appropriate packaging is provided.

You can specify how many artworks you can ship together by ensuring this is set up in your shipping profiles, as otherwise labels will be generated for each individual item. For more information, please refer to How to set up & manage my shipping profiles?

Sellers may request additional shipping labels for items if they feel it is required to package these separately.

If you have any doubts or concerns about the number of items you can ship, please reach out to sellers@artfinder.com and we'll be happy to assist further.

Can I continue packaging my items sustainably?

Yes, absolutely! We have always encouraged artists to ensure their packaging is as sustainable as possible, so as long as your packaging meets the above outlined standards, you can continue to do so.

If you are unsure whether your packaging is sufficient, we’d encourage you to reach out to us about this. 

What if the information provided on my listing is incorrect?

If the information provided for your artwork dimensions/weight is not correct, you will need to share notable item or package size discrepancies with us at sellers@artfinder.com before releasing the packages to the carrier.

What should I do after packaging the item?

You will be able to either drop off your parcel at your nearest courier drop-off location or get in touch with Artfinder Support at sellers@artfinder.com  so we can book a collection for you.

What if I can’t ship on time?

You will need to communicate to us any delays encountered in releasing the parcels to the courier.

You will be expected to respond to inquiries from us and our shipping partner promptly when a shipment’s release to the courier is delayed.

Further suggestions on packaging

Please also check out the following suggestions on how to safely pack items for transport:

• Reinforced cardboard box

• Foam-lined box

• Eco Crate

• Double cardboard box

• Shipping tube

• Stabilising box

For more information on managed shipping, you may also wish to check out the article: Everything you need to know about managed shipping or reach out to us at sellers@artfinder.com.