Framed art, prints, posters
V-board corners, glass tape across the face, flat-pack inside a mirror carton.
Specialty · Fragile
Glass, Ceramic,
Frames, Electronics.
Double-boxing, corner protection, foam-in-place, glass tape, and custom interior dunnage — the difference between an item that survives and one that doesn't is in the pack, not the carrier. We pack to ISTA standards so insurance claims actually pay.
At a glance
- What it is
- Specialty packing for breakable / high-value items
- Best for
- Glass, ceramics, framed art, electronics, antiques
- Method
- Double-box, foam-in-place, corner protection
- Standard
- ISTA-compliant pack with photo documentation
- Starting price
- $65 per item + materials + postage
- Insurance
- Declared-value available up to $50,000
How fragile handling works
1. Photo & Dimensions
Send a photo and rough dimensions. We confirm the right carton, padding, and pack method.
2. Pack On-Site
Item wrapped, padded, suspended in inner carton, suspended again in outer carton — true double-box.
3. Photo Documentation
Photos before sealing: item, inner pack, outer pack. Filed with the receipt for insurance support.
4. Ship with Insurance
Declared-value coverage applied at carrier. Claims paid much faster with our pack documentation on file.
Why double-box matters (and why most people skip it)
UPS and FedEx will tell you the same thing if you read the fine print: insurance claims on fragile items only pay out if the item was packed to their standards, which means double-box construction with at least 2 inches of cushioning on all six sides between the inner and outer carton. ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) testing protocols add specific drop and vibration thresholds — protocols ISTA-1A through ISTA-3A — and packs that meet these standards survive the brutal sorting belts at carrier hubs that send unprotected items home in pieces. Most consumer-packed fragile items use a single box with bubble wrap; that's why they break, and that's why the claim gets denied. We carry double-walled outer cartons in 20+ sizes, foam-in-place expanding kits for irregularly shaped items, glass tape (a tensioned mesh that holds shattered glass in place if the worst happens), V-board corner protectors for framed art, and anti-static foam for electronics. Before sealing, we photograph the item, the inner pack, and the outer pack — three photos that turn a contested insurance claim into a paid one.
What we handle most
Ceramics & pottery
Each piece individually wrapped, inner carton filled with foam peanuts, double-boxed.
TVs and large electronics
Original carton if available; otherwise corner-padded and double-boxed with anti-static wrap.
Wine glasses & stemware
Cell-divider dish-pack carton, each glass wrapped, double-boxed.
Vintage cameras & lenses
Foam-in-place molds, anti-static wrap, declared-value insurance.
Holiday ornaments & collectibles
Each piece in its own micro-bubble bag, nested in foam, double-boxed.
Request a home pickup
Upload a photo. Get a price.
Snap or upload a quick photo, tell us the basics, and get an AI estimate in seconds. Continue to the full quote form to lock in pickup time and contact details.
Photos (optional but recommended)
Drop photos here
or click — up to 6 images
Photos help us quote accurately. Your final quote form lets you add up to 10.
What do you need shipped or picked up? *
Pickup ZIP or address
Urgency
Carrier
AI Instant Estimate
Ballpark in seconds. Final quote within 30 minutes after you submit the full form.
Pricing
From $65
per item
Materials + labor priced per item. Most single fragile items pack out at $65–$150 depending on dimensions. Carrier postage and declared-value insurance billed separately at cost.
What's included
- Inner and outer cartons (double-wall outer)
- Bubble wrap, foam-in-place, packing peanuts as needed
- V-board corner protectors for art and frames
- Glass tape for glassed pieces
- Photo documentation (3 photos: item, inner, outer)
- Carrier drop-off and receipt
- Insurance-claim support if the worst happens
Not included
- Custom wood crating (available add-on for items >$5K or oversized)
- Declared-value insurance fees (passed through at carrier rate)
- Hazardous shipping (no aerosols, lithium loose, liquids over 32oz)
Frequently asked
Do you actually use the double-box method UPS/FedEx require?
Yes — always for items over $100 in value or anything glass, ceramic, electronic, or framed. The item goes in a snug inner carton with 2+ inches of cushioning, and that whole inner carton goes inside a larger outer carton with another 2+ inches of cushioning. This is the only way insurance claims reliably pay.
What's ISTA and why does it matter?
International Safe Transit Association — they publish drop/vibration testing protocols that carriers use to decide if a pack was 'adequate.' We pack to ISTA-1A or ISTA-3A depending on value and route distance. It's the standard that makes claims winnable.
Can you ship framed art with real glass?
Yes. We tape the face of the glass with tension-mesh glass tape (so if it cracks, fragments stay in place and don't damage the art), V-board the corners, sandwich the frame between layers of cardboard, and pack flat in a mirror carton.
How much insurance can you add?
UPS and FedEx allow declared-value coverage up to $50,000 per package on standard services. Higher coverage we route through a specialty insurer. Cost is roughly $1 per $100 of declared value.
What if it breaks anyway?
We help you file the claim with our pack photos as evidence. With proper pack documentation, claims on glass and ceramics pay out reliably. Without it, they almost never do — which is the whole reason this service exists.
Can you handle truly irreplaceable items?
For irreplaceable pieces (heirloom, museum, gallery sale), we recommend white-glove shipping with a custom crate and chain-of-custody. See our White-Glove service.
Fragile Handling
Ready to book fragile handling?
Upload photos, get a flat quote, and we'll come to your door anywhere in Orange County.