Totemo Artist Shipping Guide

Shipping Responsibilities

Totemo is a marketplace that connects artists with collectors around the world.

Shipping responsibilities depend on the type of item being sold.

Print-on-Demand merchandise

Items such as T-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, and other merchandise are produced and shipped automatically by Totemo's manufacturing partners.

Artists do not need to handle shipping for these items.

Original artwork and artist-fulfilled items

For original artwork or other items you ship yourself, the artist is responsible for:

  • Packaging the item securely
  • Shipping the item to the buyer
  • Completing any required customs forms
  • Providing tracking when available

When an item sells, Totemo will notify you so you can ship it.

Artists should normally ship orders within 7 days of sale.

Estimating Shipping Costs

When submitting original artwork or other artist-fulfilled items, you will be asked to estimate shipping costs for several regions.

To estimate shipping, you need:

  • Package dimensions (length × width × height)
  • Package weight
  • Destination country

The easiest way to estimate shipping is to use a global shipping calculator.

Recommended shipping calculator

Easyship Shipping Rate Calculator
https://www.easyship.com/shipping-rate-calculator

This tool compares shipping prices from major carriers such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS.

Estimating Shipping by Region

When entering shipping estimates in the Totemo submission form, calculate shipping to a representative destination within each region.

Example destinations:

Region Example destination
North America United States (Los Angeles 90001)
European Union Germany (Berlin 10115)
Asia Singapore (018989)
Rest of World Australia (Sydney 2000)

Example:
If you are shipping from Japan and estimating the North America field, calculate the cost of shipping from Japan → United States.

Using consistent destinations helps create more reliable shipping estimates across the platform.

Tips for Accurate Shipping Estimates

Before using a shipping calculator:

  • Measure the fully packaged artwork (box or tube included)
  • Weigh the complete package, including packing materials
  • Remember that many carriers use dimensional weight, meaning large packages may cost more even if they are light
  • Consider adding insurance for high-value original artworks
  • Include the cost of packaging materials in your estimate

Adding a small buffer to your estimate can help avoid undercharging for shipping.

Customs and Import Duties

For international shipments:

  • Buyers may be required to pay import taxes or duties depending on their country
  • These charges are not included in Totemo pricing
  • The shipping carrier typically collects these fees from the buyer

Artists must complete customs forms accurately when shipping internationally.

Use a clear description such as:

  • "Original artwork"
  • "Art print"

Packaging Tips

Proper packaging helps ensure artwork arrives safely.

Best practices include:

  • Use strong boxes or rigid poster tubes
  • Protect artwork with bubble wrap, padding, or corner protectors
  • Seal packages securely with strong packing tape

For framed works, additional protection may be required to protect glass and frames.

Carrier Calculators

If you prefer to estimate shipping directly with carriers, use these shipping calculators:

Questions

If you have questions about shipping or listing artwork, contact the Totemo team: contact@totemo.art