Selling to USA and Canada

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Hi. I was wondering how people getting on with selling to N America. I asked my insurance what I needed to do, and how much extra it would be to cover . I was basically told don’t. The agent said that many underwriters are reluctant to cover artwork being sent to n America, and it would be very expensive. What is your experience?

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I sell my art to the US and Canada all the time. Not had any real issues. To be honest the US is my bread and butter, will really miss them if anything happens to that market. If it’s original art, that is currently exempt from US tariffs under the constitution.

Canada have been having postal strikes regularly for a few years, just make your buyers aware of possible delays. This does however, tend to be more around Christmas.

Royal Mail will insure parcels of smaller value (like most of mine) but you can purchase additional insurance if needed, but you will need to keep proof of mailing and photos. Try these guys: https://www.secursus.com/en-gb/

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Thanks. My artist insurance specifies that I don’t send to the USA or Canada, so if I did, it might affect my policy. It’s a bit confusing, but I think it’s for the public liability part, not just posting.

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I’m insured through Ian Wallace. They do cover me for USA and Canada, but I had to ask them to add it. I believe some insurers choose not to insure for USA because of the higher levels of litigation arising there compared to the rest of the world.
I actually stopped posting to USA when tariffs came in, but I will have a look at it again, as I have historically made a few sales to USA.

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Chris, if you sell originals, there are no tariffs to the USA. Art is exempt under the constitution…at least it is today, tomorrow? who knows!

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Hi Pamela, I’m with craft cover and have to request US shipping, I have to estimate the value of US sales each year with them, I think it costs a little extra. A lot of insurances don’t automatically cover for the US and some will not cover it at all so you need to request it from your provider, I was told the US are notorious for putting claims in although to be fair I have never had any issues with customers.

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