One of the few missteps with the first Battlestar Galactica auction concerned post auction shipping costs and fulfillment (see Propworx/Battlestar Galactica: Post Auction Event Update). With this second event just days away, PropWorx CEO Alec Peters has published the details concerning shipping and fulfillment for this next event, so all interested bidders are armed with very clear and detailed information.
Per the message, PropWorx will be handling nearly all of the fulfillment, apart from some special items as identified, and are charging a reasonable handling fee plus exact UPS costs. I feel this is a great service, as it is much preferable to have people handling and packing the pieces that understand them and will do so with great care.
Kudos to PropWorx for putting together a clear guide for collectors to help them factor in shipping costs when considering how much to bid on an item.
What follows is the PropWorx message on shipping and fulfillment:
Propworx has been working since the last auction to find the right fulfillment solution for its live auction bidders. Live auction fulfillment is never inexpensive. Auction houses almost always farm this out to fulfillment houses that are independent businesses. Two major fulfillment houses who deal with the top auction houses both quoted us $ 195 to ship a single costume from L.A. to N.Y. The smallest item that Christie’s service ships costs about $140 to ship. Why is this so expensive? Well, their entire business is shipping and so they need to make a profit. You are paying for all their overhead and expenses. While I have paid these shipping fees in live auctions I have won items in, and expected to do so, many bidders in our first auction were used to eBay and not familiar with the cost of live auction fulfillment.
We don’t want to have our customer pay that much for shipping, even though the easiest solution for us is to have everything trucked over to a fulfillment provider after the auction. So to reduce the cost to winners and still make it worthwhile for Propworx , we have decided to do the fulfillment at a reasonable rate that compensates us for our time and effort, yet is significantly less than what independent fulfillment houses would charge.
Many users who have been receiving packages from us with their eBay winnings have been asking us to do the fulfillment because of the quality of our packaging and the way we care for the items. So we think winners will be very happy with the quality of the service we provide.
Please contact Curtis at 714-850-1207, or email him at [email protected] if you have any questions. Please note that Curtis will not be in the office from Tuesday – Friday of this week.
AFTER THE AUCTION
For all paid invoices, when your order is ready to ship you will be contacted by Curtis Short, Propworx Shipping Manager, with a total and method of shipping. He will give you an itemized list of costs. Once you pay the PayPal Money request, your item will be shipped. We expect to have all items shipped in 4-6 weeks.
PICKING UP YOUR ITEM
You may pick up your item at the auction starting Sunday at 3:00pm, or at our warehouse or Orange Courier (where the bigger items are stored). Please note, we will not charge a packaging / handling fee for pick-up items unless you want the item packaged/boxed or help loading your truck. Also, if you are picking up a large item from Orange Courier, you may incur a handling fee if they have to do any work to help you load the item.
SHIPPING COSTS
All props, costumes and set decoration (with the exception of most chairs) will be shipped by Propworx. For each item Propworx charges a packaging and handling fee as well as exact shipping. The packaging charge covers the box, packing supplies, labor and everything it takes to ensure your item is securely handled and delivered intact. For larger pieces, a crating charge may be required as well for safe shipping. All items are sent insured. Propworx prides itself on the best packaging in the business.
If you win multiple items, you will be charged the handling fee listed for each item as well as the exact shipping for the entire order.
All shipping is done by UPS. We have some of the lowest rates around as Curtis Short worked for UPS for 8 years and knows UPS inside and out.
Please note that you are responsible for local customs, taxes and brokerage fees. Canadian customers, who have to deal with UPS brokerage fees, may want to have their items shipped to a friend in the US who will then send the item to you via USPS. We cannot ship USPS as they do not insure items over $ 500.
PACKAGING / HANDLING FEES
Each item has a specific packaging / handling fee as noted in the list on the following page. They are generally as follows:
• Small props/set decoration, plus all costumes
$50 per item plus exact shipping• Medium props/set decoration
$75 per item plus exact shipping• Large set decoration/set pieces
$100 per item plus exact shippingCRATING FEES
Many larger items need to be crated. In addition to the packaging and handling fees, you will be charged for the crate needed to ship your item. You are only charged the exact amount we are charged for the building of the crate.
CHAIRS
Craters and Freighters will be shipping all chairs just as they have been doing for our eBay auctions. Each chair will be packaged in a custom computer designed box. Winners pay for packaging (approximately $100-$150) plus shipping.
Craters & Freighters of Southern California
22755-D Savi Ranch Parkway
Yorba Linda, CA 92887Phone: 714-279-1555
Toll Free: 800-836-9947
Fax: 714-279-1558Email: [email protected]
PACKAGING / HANDLING COSTS BY LOT
The below list notes the exact packaging & handling fees for every lot. As noted above, each lot will also be charged exact shipping.
Notes on crating:
Note that if the item says “crated” then the crating fee is already included and there are no additional crating fees. If the item notes “Crating by Orange Courier”, there are additional crating fees in order for the item to be safely shipped. These items are sometimes already in skeleton crates, but may need to be enclosed for shipping. Typically, crated items will be shipped by UPS Freight.
Lot 001-247
$50.00
UPSLot 248-250
TBD
Shipping by Propworx via FreightLot 251-253
$50.00
UPSLot 254-258
$100.00
UPSLot 259-260
$200.00
Crated. Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 261-310
$50.00
UPSLot 311
$100.00
UPSLot 312-336
$50.00
UPSLot 337
$100.00
UPSLot 338
$50.00
UPSLot 339
$100.00
UPSLot 340-369
$50.00
UPSLot 370
$100.00
UPSLot 371-383
$50.00
UPSLot 384-385
$75.00
UPSLot 386-484
$50.00
UPSLot 485
$75.00
UPSLot 486-497
$50.00
UPSLot 498
$100.00
UPSLot 499-669
$50.00
UPSLot 670
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 671
$50.00
UPSLot 672
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 673
$50.00
UPSLot 674-680
$50.00
UPSLot 681
$100.00
UPSLot 682-686
$50.00
UPSLot 687
$75.00
UPSLot 688-690
$50.00
UPSLot 691
$125.00
UPSLot 692-693
$75.00
UPSLot 694
$100.00
UPSLot 695-697
$75.00
UPSLot 698-701
$50.00
UPSLot 702-707
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 708-711
$50.00
UPSLot 712
$100.00
UPSLot 713-714
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 715
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 716
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 717
$100.00
UPSLot 718-720
$75.00
UPSLot 721-727
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 729
Craters & FreightersLot 728
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 730
Craters & FreightersLot 731
$75.00
UPSLot 732
$100.00
UPSLot 733
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 734
$100.00
UPSLot 735
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 736-737
Craters & FreightersLot 738-746
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 747
$100.00
UPSLot 748
$75.00
UPSLot 749-750
$100.00
UPSLot 751
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 752-771
$100.00
UPSLot 772-811
$50.00
UPSLot 812-817
$75.00
UPSLot 818-820
$50.00
UPSLot 821-829
$75.00
UPSLot 830
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 831-859
$50.00
UPSLot 860
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 861
$100.00
UPSLot 862-863
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 864-869
$50.00
UPSLot 870-871
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 872
$100.00
UPSLot 873-874
$50.00
UPSLot 873-874
$50.00
UPSLot 875
$75.00
UPSLot 876
$50.00
UPSLot 877
$100.00
UPSLot 878
$50.00
UPSLot 879
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 880
$75.00
UPSLot 881
$100.00
UPSLot 882
$75.00
UPSLot 883
$50.00
UPSLot 884
$75.00
UPSLot 885-886
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 887
$75.00
UPSLot 888
100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 889-901
$50.00
UPSLot 902
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 903
$50.00
UPSLot 904-906
$100.00
UPSLot 907
$50.00
UPSLot 908-909
$100.00
UPSLot 910
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 911-914
$75.00
UPSLot 915-916
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 917
$75.00
UPSLot 918-920
$100.00
UPSLot 921-929
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 930-932
$100.00
UPSLot 933-950
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSLot 951-952
$100.00
UPSLot 953-960
$100.00
Crating by Orange Courier, Shipping by Propworx via UPSThanks for all your support!
Alec Peters
CEO
Propworx
The event is scheduled for this week, with the live event held at the Pasadena Convention Center, May 8th-10th.
The print edition can be purchased for $35 here: LINK
For more details, go to BattleStarProps.com.
Collectors can register to bid as well as watch the event live online at Auction Network.com.
Related articles can be found at Auction Event: Propworx (Battlestar Galactica).
Jason De Bord