The auction has ended, and you’ve won a piece that needs to be shipped. Typically, the auction house provides the names of two or three shipping companies to contact. Of course, you know nothing about the quality of these shippers, how busy they are, or how they treat antiques. You pick one more or less blindly, give them permission to contact the auction house, let the auction house know who will be handling your shipment—and then you wait. And I have my complaints.
The selection process is done in the dark. I have never comparison shopped based on price, speed, or care. By not doing so, I do not know how long each will take to pack and send the item. I do not know how carefully they handle fragile materials. I do not even know if they specialize in antiques. And there’s no meaningful incentive for the auction house to push them to move faster or do better.
I’ve found the shipping charges high—significantly higher than what a dealer would charge for sending me a comparable piece. But what can I do? I’ve already bought the item. Unless I can pick it up myself, I’m at the mercy of the system.
Worse, the timing of delivery feels almost random. Sometimes the item arrives in a few days. Other times? It drags on. I recently waited a full month for two small pieces that were easy to pack and ship. The UPS Store handling it was overwhelmed with orders from the auction house. I had to email them twice before I got a tracking number. Had I not followed up, I suspect I’d still be waiting.
There must be a better way. Should I offer the shipper an incentive (need I say bribe) to move my item to the front of the line? Should auction houses rethink how they vet or recommend shippers? Probably. But for now, we collectors have little say in the process.
To help navigate this mess, in the future I will now ask shippers a few questions before giving the go-ahead:
- What’s your estimated timeline for packing and delivery?
- Do you offer insurance, and at what cost?
- How do you pack fragile or high-value antiques?
- Can you provide photos or references from past jobs (for very pricy and important pieces)?
Doing so looks better than crossing my fingers.
If the auction house allows, a collector could also consider using an independent art or antiques shipper with a strong reputation. Scott Cousins is wonderful if you need furniture shipped. I have had nothing but good experiences with him. A friend of mine once used a small independent shipper who not only confirmed the pickup, but sent photos of the piece carefully wrapped, boxed, and labeled. It was expensive, but worth every dollar for peace of mind.
On the flip side, another friend waited six weeks for a painted blanket chest to arrive—shoved in a recycled Home Depot box with one layer of bubble wrap. The corner was crushed. The shipper blamed the carrier, the carrier blamed the packer, and no one took responsibility. That story, unfortunately, is not uncommon.
Between the buyer’s premium, the fees charged by major online platforms, and the unpredictability (and cost) of shipping, buying at auction online is getting more expensive—and according to most online forums I follow, prices are still going up. Mostly because they can.
If anyone out there has found a shipping service that’s fast, careful, affordable—and miracle of miracles, communicative—please let me know. The collecting world would be grateful.
If you have other ideas or thoughts, please let me know. Thanks.
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