Jean Lehman on fri 17 oct 97
I have been debating with myself on responding to this topic, because it
brings out a few hostile feelings on all sides. But, as a show organizer, I
can certainly see why some shows have added the $25 fee for shipping the
pieces back. I doubt it is to repay the WORK involved in the return
shipping, although we would all agree it is a LOT of work.
The truly frustrating part from our last exhibit is that 10 people did not
send ANY money for the return shipping, although they were instructed to
include it. Maybe they were sure their pieces would sell???
Maybe they didn't want the pieces back???
Out of our 95 pieces, we packed up 34 to return. Out of those, 20 did not
send enough money to cover the return shipping. If it was less than a
dollar, we took the loss. If it was between one and three dollars, I sent a
postcard. Ten pots were held *hostage* until we received their money (more
than $3.) All this took a LOT of extra time, bookkeeping and trouble. Some
people were very apologetic and sincere, and that helped. But, in fact, one
person STILL has not sent any money. I have made two phone calls to leave
messages on his machine and sent one certified letter which was not
delivered. So, his package still sits here six months later...
Why didn't people send enough money??
Maybe we packed it tighter than they did... we DO pack really tight.
Maybe they sent it UPS BUSINESS rates instead of RESIDENTIAL??? The new UPS
rules are very strict on the pricing. If the address is not an obvious
store front, residential rates will apply. That is probably the reason
people underpay -- people can send things to us at a business address, but
we must return pieces based on the residential rate. My own address (while
a business), is not a store front - so UPS would ship things to me at a
residential rate. Not fair, but that is the way it is.
So, every year our committee talks about how much easier it would be to
make a flat return shipping (or *handling*) fee -- like $25 perhaps!!! But
we look at the figures and 8 out of our 34 pieces cost less than $5.00 to
ship this year; 11 were over $15.00; and four were over $25! The rest are
somewhere between $5 and $15. That range makes it hard to make a fair price
to assess everyone. Most of us who might have a $5. shipping fee do not
want to subsidize the larger pieces.
So, what IS the answer? If you have good suggestions, we (and I suspect
other exhibit organizers) would welcome them!
Jean
---------------------->
Jean Lehman, in Lancaster, PA
j_lehman@acad.FandM.EDU (that's an _underscore_ not a hyphen)
http://www.art-craftpa.com/lehman.html
Check out the 1997 Strictly Functional Pottery National at:
http://www.art-craftpa.com/art-craftpa.html
VICTOR JOHNSTON on sat 18 oct 97
Could UPS or RPS or whatever method have a means of a prepayment
lable for return shipment? Or is this a service reserved only for those
companies ship constantly? I know that the toner cartridges I use have a
prepaid UPS return label if the recycleable used cartridge is shipped in
the same packaging.
If they will do this for everyone (you could check it out) then you could
require each entrant to enclose one for return shipment. They would
then pay the correct return shipping price in advance and you would'nt
have to worry about it. It may be worth checking out.
Your challenge may be to retain the shipping containers and remember
which went in which package.
>>> Jean Lehman 10/17/97 07:21am
>>>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I have been debating with myself on responding to this topic, because it
brings out a few hostile feelings on all sides. But, as a show organizer, I
can certainly see why some shows have added the $25 fee for shipping
the
pieces back. I doubt it is to repay the WORK involved in the return
shipping, although we would all agree it is a LOT of work.
The truly frustrating part from our last exhibit is that 10 people did not
send ANY money for the return shipping, although they were instructed
to
include it. Maybe they were sure their pieces would sell???
Maybe they didn't want the pieces back???
Out of our 95 pieces, we packed up 34 to return. Out of those, 20 did not
send enough money to cover the return shipping. If it was less than a
dollar, we took the loss. If it was between one and three dollars, I sent a
postcard. Ten pots were held *hostage* until we received their money
(more
than $3.) All this took a LOT of extra time, bookkeeping and trouble. Some
people were very apologetic and sincere, and that helped. But, in fact,
one
person STILL has not sent any money. I have made two phone calls to
leave
messages on his machine and sent one certified letter which was not
delivered. So, his package still sits here six months later...
Why didn't people send enough money??
Maybe we packed it tighter than they did... we DO pack really tight.
Maybe they sent it UPS BUSINESS rates instead of RESIDENTIAL??? The
new UPS
rules are very strict on the pricing. If the address is not an obvious
store front, residential rates will apply. That is probably the reason
people underpay -- people can send things to us at a business address,
but
we must return pieces based on the residential rate. My own address
(while
a business), is not a store front - so UPS would ship things to me at a
residential rate. Not fair, but that is the way it is.
So, every year our committee talks about how much easier it would be to
make a flat return shipping (or *handling*) fee -- like $25 perhaps!!! But
we look at the figures and 8 out of our 34 pieces cost less than $5.00 to
ship this year; 11 were over $15.00; and four were over $25! The rest
are
somewhere between $5 and $15. That range makes it hard to make a
fair price
to assess everyone. Most of us who might have a $5. shipping fee do
not
want to subsidize the larger pieces.
So, what IS the answer? If you have good suggestions, we (and I
suspect
other exhibit organizers) would welcome them!
Jean
---------------------->
Jean Lehman, in Lancaster, PA
j_lehman@acad.FandM.EDU (that's an _underscore_ not a hyphen)
http://www.art-craftpa.com/lehman.html
Check out the 1997 Strictly Functional Pottery National at:
http://www.art-craftpa.com/art-craftpa.html
Danny Bird on sat 18 oct 97
Jean,
It seems that if a person wanted their work returned they would include
the proper postage... And if they didn't include it, they don't get
their work back. I don't think it's asking too much.
In the package mailed to exhibitors, you could take two paragraphs to
explain the difference in shipping rates (that was news to me) and make
them aware that their failure to include appropriate amounts for return
shipping, would mean their peices don't come home.
Birdboy
> So, every year our committee talks about how much easier it would be
to
> make a flat return shipping (or *handling*) fee -- like $25 perhaps!!!
But
> we look at the figures and 8 out of our 34 pieces cost less than $5.00
to
> ship this year; 11 were over $15.00; and four were over $25! The rest
are
> somewhere between $5 and $15. That range makes it hard to make a fair
price
> to assess everyone. Most of us who might have a $5. shipping fee do
not
> want to subsidize the larger pieces.
>
> So, what IS the answer?
Darrol Shillingburg on sat 18 oct 97
Hi Jean and All,
I have been involved with shows as an organizer and artist for years, seems
a good time to speak my own peace.
As an artist I prefer juried shows that do not have entry fees, transfer
fees and pay return shipping. I am after all providing them with the reason
and wherewithall to mount a show. There seems to be some relationship
between the quality of the show and the budget. As a museum professional I
also saw the same relationship. However I think it is important enough to
have my work seen in a variety of venues that I enter juried shows that do
have resonable entry fees, and require me to pay shipping both ways,
depends on the reputation or location of the show. I do get exposure,
advertising, and credibility by showing and am willing to pay for that.
My preference on return shipping is to have it prepaid to the shipper. All
the show organizers need do is to repack it and have it picked up. That way
it is up to the artist and the shipper to handle the money part. If the
return parcel is not prepaid, the show doesn't have to accept it. End of
the problem for both show organizers and artists. If the piece is sold,
that's great! I add the cost of entry fees, packing and shipping onto the
price quoted for that show. Seems fair to all involved.
Invitational shows are another universe, and I think need be handled
differently. Commercial gallery shows that are juried are also a different
universe. I tried it, didn't like it, don't do it.
Humm, shorter than I though it would be!
Darrol in Elephant Butte, NM
DarrolS@Zianet.com
Please visit my web site at http://www.zianet.com/DarrolS
Marie Gibbons on sun 19 oct 97
I agree with Victor, I have in the past had to send a check for the same
amount of shipping that it cost to ship the piece, with a form stating the
type of shipment used. The coordinators of the show then keep all packing
material that my work was received in for return in the exact same manner,
sent by the exact same shipper. If your work sells then your check is
returned to you.
Marie Gibbons - Arvada CO
Dannon Rhudy on mon 20 oct 97
Prepaid return shipping is an option for only SOME shippers, and
even then it has certain drawbacks - They return by a shipping
number, and if in the meantime the shipper is gone to a differetn
addresss, or any number of other glitches, then (UPS) won't
return it. AND, they take a long time to do it, AND, most often,
the shipper forgets to request the return shipment. We can't
do it from our end, so delays are interminable. The gallery
has not storage space for 100 or so boxes...sigh. Complications.
----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
Could UPS or RPS or whatever method have a means of a prepayment
lable for return shipment? Or is this a service reserved only for
those
companies ship constantly? I know that the toner cartridges I use
have a
prepaid UPS return label if the recycleable used cartridge is
shipped in
the same packaging.
If they will do this for everyone (you could check it out) then
you could
require each entrant to enclose one for return shipment. They
would
then pay the correct return shipping price in advance and you
would'nt
have to worry about it. It may be worth checking out.
Your challenge may be to retain the shipping containers and
remember
which went in which package.
>>> Jean Lehman 10/17/97 07:21am
>>>
----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
I have been debating with myself on responding to this topic,
because it
brings out a few hostile feelings on all sides. But, as a show
organizer, I
can certainly see why some shows have added the $25 fee for
shipping
the
pieces back. I doubt it is to repay the WORK involved in the
return
shipping, although we would all agree it is a LOT of work.
The truly frustrating part from our last exhibit is that 10 people
did not
send ANY money for the return shipping, although they were
instructed
to
include it. Maybe they were sure their pieces would sell???
Maybe they didn't want the pieces back???
Out of our 95 pieces, we packed up 34 to return. Out of those, 20
did not
send enough money to cover the return shipping. If it was less
than a
dollar, we took the loss. If it was between one and three dollars,
I sent a
postcard. Ten pots were held *hostage* until we received their
money
(more
than $3.) All this took a LOT of extra time, bookkeeping and
trouble. Some
people were very apologetic and sincere, and that helped. But, in
fact,
one
person STILL has not sent any money. I have made two phone calls
to
leave
messages on his machine and sent one certified letter which was
not
delivered. So, his package still sits here six months later...
Why didn't people send enough money??
Maybe we packed it tighter than they did... we DO pack really
tight.
Maybe they sent it UPS BUSINESS rates instead of RESIDENTIAL???
The
new UPS
rules are very strict on the pricing. If the address is not an
obvious
store front, residential rates will apply. That is probably the
reason
people underpay -- people can send things to us at a business
address,
but
we must return pieces based on the residential rate. My own
address
(while
a business), is not a store front - so UPS would ship things to me
at a
residential rate. Not fair, but that is the way it is.
So, every year our committee talks about how much easier it would
be to
make a flat return shipping (or *handling*) fee -- like $25
perhaps!!! But
we look at the figures and 8 out of our 34 pieces cost less than
$5.00 to
ship this year; 11 were over $15.00; and four were over $25! The
rest
are
somewhere between $5 and $15. That range makes it hard to make a
fair price
to assess everyone. Most of us who might have a $5. shipping fee
do
not
want to subsidize the larger pieces.
So, what IS the answer? If you have good suggestions, we (and I
suspect
other exhibit organizers) would welcome them!
Jean
---------------------->
Jean Lehman, in Lancaster, PA
j_lehman@acad.FandM.EDU (that's an _underscore_ not a hyphen)
http://www.art-craftpa.com/lehman.html
Check out the 1997 Strictly Functional Pottery National at:
http://www.art-craftpa.com/art-craftpa.html
Carol Jackaway on tue 21 oct 97
Hi Jean,
A flat $25.00 fee for shipping is hard, since shipping rate range so
much. When making up your prospectus you could put in a check list including
the return shipping fee. Explain in the prospectus that all entries with out
fee checks will be held 10 or 30 days after the show and then become the
property of the gallery. Send one post card out right away if a entry does
not have a return fee check. After that it is the responsiblty of the
artist. Good Luck
Carol
CoilLady
Parkside Pa.
Sunny and 50 fall has finally come!!!!!!!!!!
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