Question Restoration Charges

[5th corner]

Hi All,

Get restorations from time to time.

Just wondering if someone (maybe privately) could tell me how much to mark up the service?

That being one thing then does one give a discount if they choose to use you to do the framing job.

And how do they pay? $20 up front non refundable for postage etc in case they don't go through with it. Then half deposit to confirm and comence the restoration. Balance on return?

 

[wpfay]

I don't mark up the charges for restoration. I charge a flat rate for the service plus labor (crating) plus expenses (freighting). I have the customer pay me for the up front charges and 50% of the estimated conservation services which get forwarded. The balance on the service and any additional fees are collected when the job is completed and returned to the customer. Any framing related charges are additional.
If the customer decides to not have the treatment done, they are still obliged to pay me for my services and usually a fee to the conservator for the estimate ($35-50.00).

 

[artfolio]

I have a deal with my conservator whereby she quotes her normal retail price for the client but when I pay her she gives me a 20% discount. There is no charge for quotes as her studio is not far from where I live. Benefits of this method are that whether the customer finds her directly or comes through me the price will be the same. Usually, I will also get the framing at my normal retail price.

If you have to do work like packing and posting the items by all means add a fair charge for your time and get a deposit if you feel the need to.

 

[RParrish]

I normally will not act as a middle man between a client and a restorer. To many details can get lost in translation of the condition and facts of an object. I only know this because I worked at a gallery where friends of the owner had work done to a Whistler etching, the restoration process happen to remove the plate marks of the etching. The client a Whistler expert was not happy. From that day forward we always referred clients to restorers and let them hammer out the details and liabilities.

 

[Ylva]

I do the same as Randy.
I am more than happy to point them to the AIC website and how to find a preservator. At least they have some phone numbers, which is a good start. But they have to deal directly with the preservator. It's not my area of expertise.

 

[wpfay]

Why is it Whistler etchings get mistreated? I had one I sent for treatment along with the original mat. The print was restored beautifully, but the mat was discarded. The mat had notations in Whistler's handwriting about changes he wanted to do on the plate....ARGH!

I do agree about having the customer deal directly with the conservator, but the paper restoration expert I use (not the one that worked on the Whistler...that was someone I used at the customer's insistence) doesn't deal directly with the public. She works with museums and archives mostly, but will do work for galleries and framers too.

 

[HB]

Just frwrd them to the conservator - too risky otherwise

 

[5th corner]

Most people want the print removed from the framing package and the conservator would charge for this to be done if they did it I am sure. Also the postage is a lot more scary if item is sent in the frame. Damage waiting to happen glass breaking and weight and other damage etc.

Removing an item from the package can be tricky and I have watched customers damage things in front of me in the past.

Then one needs to put between something paper and MDF to make safe for postage (MDF if expensive from hardware and large sheets) often not available.

I know of framers that double the price. Seems like to much for not doing too much??.

 

[RParrish]

Well certainly removing art from the frame and packaging is a whole different story than, marking up fees (cleaning, repairing tears) a restorer would charge for thier services, un fitting aside

 

[5th corner]

Sounds like the consensis is don't charge extra for the service but cover costs of shipping and handling?

 

[danny boy]

 

[nikfrz]

I have two restorers that I work with. One does oils, the other does textiles. They are both local. I arrange the meeting time between the client and the restorer at my shop. I get 30% commission on the job. Easy Peasy!

Any other restoration, I do like Ylva does, refer them to the ASID website. I wont handle shipment. Dont wont that potential liability.