“I learned the most wonderful term from a friend who is a museum curator,” Angie said. “De-acquisitioning. I’m not down-sizing, I’m not getting rid of all of my things, I’m just de-acquisitioning.” Over the past two years, Angie has been selling some of the objects she’s spent a lifetime collecting on eBay. She’s sold artwork, including sculptures and paintings, as well as lots and lots of books. “Making money doing this helps me blur the line between chore and delight.” Angie plans to use the money she’s raised to pay for a trip to her childhood home in Montana.
Angie’s not alone. Seniors are among the fastest growing demographic among eBay and online auction sellers. To be successful at this endeavor, it’s essential that the high-value items you send to your buyers arrive intact and in one piece. Finding a Boston shipping service that you trust is a great start.
Shipping artwork is a particular challenge. Paintings and sculptures each require specialized packing materials. Custom crating is the construction of specially sized cardboard boxes or wooden crates to contain fragile items. Choosing the right size crate prevents damage.
Just ask your Boston shipping store. They’ll tell you that one of the most common reasons items break during shipping is the use of the wrong sized boxes or crates. When boxes and crates are too large, your item can slide around and shift during transit. Choosing custom crating means no sliding or shifting – and that means no damage!
“One thing I really appreciate,” Angie said, “Is that my Boston shipping service will actually package the artwork for me. Many of these items are heavy. And honestly, my hands get tired and sore easily. I could just imagine how they’d feel after folding and filling and taping all of these boxes – and there’s no way I’m going to build a wooden shipping crate myself!”