Arts & Antiques Shipping Solutions

Art & Antiques Packaging, Crating & Shipping Solutions

Craters & Freighters of Southern Chicago has been packaging and shipping art since the very first day we opened 13 years ago.  We have shipped everything from a Ming Dynasty vase to sentimental artwork made by children.  Each piece that we pick up is treated like it is our own.  It is easy to see the value of a Renoir, but that sentimental piece is also irreplaceable.

We offer full service from door to door.  We pick up from your home, wrap your item and protect it in our truck for the trip back to our facility.  It is then placed in our “safe room” until it is ready to be prepped for packaging.

• We have many types of packaging material available so we make certain that we use the appropriate padding for the piece that we are packing.  We use glassine on oil paintings.  We use bubble and various foams for art and antiques.  We also have EPE rollstock foam to protect the finish of antiques.  As you may know, as furniture ages, the finish may get soft and need extra protection while in transit.  Each item is protected before we build a custom container for that item.

After prepping, we make a specific crate or corrugated container to fit the item that we are shipping.   Our attitude here is that proper packaging is the best defense against damage in transit.  We are proud of our extremely low claims ratio of less than 1/4% of shipments.  On the rare occasion that something is damaged, we have an outstanding insurance department that will take the headache out of the claim.

Once your antique or artwork is packaged, it is inspected by a supervisor.  We select a freight company who has experience handling fragile items.  Again, the quality of the freight carrier is important in making certain that your item arrives in perfect condition.

We offer several levels of service for the delivery end of the process.

Curbside delivery = A semi truck arrives at your home with a liftgate  attachment.  The single driver lowers your freight down to the ground.

Inside delivery = the semi arrives with a liftgate and pallet jack and the driver places the freight through the first available door.  That should be the garage, since you do not want scratches on your floor from skids.

White glove service = Your freight is delivered to a Craters & Freighters near you.  They unpack, inspect, and deliver the item to you.  They will place the item wherever you wish to have it in your home.  This service is especially useful for larger, heavier items.

Tracking = We watch your item throughout this entire process, so you have no worries.

Craters & Freighters does have expertise that delivers.