Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Alot of us have participated in the White Elephant at the RMNP shindig, but I've seen a print exchange idea on another forum that I found very interesting and I'd like to see if the folks here would be interested in trying it.
The way this exchange works is that pools of people are picked at random from the participants. If your pool consists of 6 photographers, you make 5 prints and send them to the collector. You'll also send money for return shipping. In exchange, you'll get 1 print from each of the pool members.
Generally the print size has to be fairly limited to make it easy to ship flat, so 11X14 is probably a good upper limit. But we could allow for a larger print if roll tubes are acceptable.
I'd certainly be interested in this. I'm assuming you pick your own photo and mail them out all at the same time?
Cool idea Mel.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 12, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Yes. You choose a photo on your own and send a package with the specified number of prints to the coordinator. You could choose a number of different prints as an alternative and let the coordinator assign the prints to the various pool members.
Once all the prints and shipping fees have been received by the coordinator for a pool, then the pool is shipped out.
Posted by Bert Fukuda on February 13, 2009 at 12:36 AM
I'd be game. I'm really impressed by the quality of images produced by the folks in this forum. Great idea Mel.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 13, 2009 at 1:16 AM
I'd give it a try, but 11x14 is rather dinky. How about 12x16 as a minimum ?
Are you thinking of having these sent matted ?
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 13, 2009 at 12:55 PM
That's where some discussion is needed to revolve how we would want this to work. The cost of mailing large flat items increases quickly with the size of the package. Mailing a flat 30X40 would be REALLY expensive even if it only weighed a few ounces. When I've shipped 24X36 prints flat by ground, it still costs $25 just for the shipping, but a box is also needed. 16X20 prints (or 11X14 in 16X20 mats) are about $10 for the shipping. Rolls are pretty static and can support a good sized print, but don't work when prints are matted or mounted. They also risk damaging the print(s) within. And you would need to de-roll them on the other end. On the other hand, they typically run $10 to ship and can support 24" or 36" by whatever prints.
Posted by Erik Aagaard on February 13, 2009 at 2:02 PM
FWIW - I've been shocked at how inexpensive it was to ship really big boxes of multiple mounted prints via Fedex ground. This was a couple of years ago - I wonder if anyone has recent experience, and if that might be a consideration here?
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 13, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Mel,
I took a 12x16 print, matted to 16x20 on foamboard, to both UPS and FedEx and checked current shipping prices. The single mounted print weight = 0.6 lbs.
UPS did not seem to have appropriate boxes available, so their final shipping weight for 5 packaged prints was probably high at ~10 lbs. But they claimed the cost would only be a few dollars less, if the final weight was less.
........Ground shipping - $20 (to Durango)
........Box - $14
........Packaging and service charge $7
........Total $34 - if you did your own packing !!!
FedEx had more appropriate boxes
........Ground shipping - $11.87 (to Durango)
........Box & packaging - $9.99
........Total $22.86 including packing
Of course, for the return shipment the packaging could be reused.
So, I would vote for rolled prints in a larger diameter tube, and let everyone do their own matting, if desired.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 16, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Bill,
Your numbers are similar to those I've experienced in shipping my prints and framed art. Rolled keeps the cost around $10.
Discussion
8 repliesThe way this exchange works is that pools of people are picked at random from the participants. If your pool consists of 6 photographers, you make 5 prints and send them to the collector. You'll also send money for return shipping. In exchange, you'll get 1 print from each of the pool members.
Generally the print size has to be fairly limited to make it easy to ship flat, so 11X14 is probably a good upper limit. But we could allow for a larger print if roll tubes are acceptable.
Cool idea Mel.
Once all the prints and shipping fees have been received by the coordinator for a pool, then the pool is shipped out.
Are you thinking of having these sent matted ?
I took a 12x16 print, matted to 16x20 on foamboard, to both UPS and FedEx and checked current shipping prices. The single mounted print weight = 0.6 lbs.
UPS did not seem to have appropriate boxes available, so their final shipping weight for 5 packaged prints was probably high at ~10 lbs. But they claimed the cost would only be a few dollars less, if the final weight was less.
........Ground shipping - $20 (to Durango)
........Box - $14
........Packaging and service charge $7
........Total $34 - if you did your own packing !!!
FedEx had more appropriate boxes
........Ground shipping - $11.87 (to Durango)
........Box & packaging - $9.99
........Total $22.86 including packing
Of course, for the return shipment the packaging could be reused.
So, I would vote for rolled prints in a larger diameter tube, and let everyone do their own matting, if desired.
Your numbers are similar to those I've experienced in shipping my prints and framed art. Rolled keeps the cost around $10.