FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Orders
Image (photo, left): Drawing by Kinngait Artist Papiara Tukiki
Q. How do I place an online order?
A. Our online web store is open 24/7 for your purchasing convenience. All available inventory is not posted online; if you are seeking work by a specific Artist and don't see inventory, please contact us. We offer Canadian fine art, including Kinngait (Cape Dorset ) / Inuit work (prints, drawings, sculpture) from the north. Most non-Kinngait fine art is available offline only.
Please note, there are variations in the types/capabilities of computers/monitors and the colours you see on your own electronic device may or may not reflect the actual colour(s) of the artwork.
Your online payment (PayPal or Credit Card, etc.) is processed via PayPal/your bank (we do not receive nor store your credit card number), only a transaction confirmation number from payment processor once the transaction is accepted. You do not require a PayPal account to transact using a credit card on our website store (click through / past the online PayPal links to arrive at 'pay with credit card' at online checkout).
Q. Do you ship to Post Office (P.O.) Boxes?
A. Yes, we do ship to post office boxes however if a P.O. Box is used as your delivery address (not only your billing address) however then we are limited in our choice of transport to you (because many of the major couriers do not deliver to P.O. Boxes). Canada Post ships to P.O. Boxes, for example. If we have any concerns with mode of transport to ensure safe, timely delivery of your acquisition, we will contact you in advance of shipment.
Q. If I see an archived artwork that I like but it says 'out of stock', 'reserved' or 'sold'. What should I do?
A. If the artwork is out-of-stock or sold, contact us with the details and we may be able to help or refer you to someone else. In some cases, we may have offline inventory available now (or in the future); in other cases there may be only one available (anywhere) and a stock-out of one-of-a-kind means just that (a permanent stock out / archived). Sometimes the specific work may be temporarily on exhibit (and may become available again at a later date). We do not post all available inventory online (please contact us if seeking specific art).
Q. Is the Kinngait art sold framed or unframed?
A. The original limited edition Kinngait (Cape Dorset) prints and drawings are typically sold unframed, unless specified otherwise. When you arrange framing for your work, choose archival-quality materials to protect your work.
Q. How do I cancel or change my order?
A. Contact us as soon as possible, since we often (if the item is available for immediate shipment) process orders immediately and ship 1-3 business days post order confirmation. If the order has already been processed, committed to (with our vendor(s)), and/or shipped, the order will be classified as a return and follow that process. We typically do what we can to make cancel / change process as easy for our Clients as possible.
Q. How do I check the status of my order?
A. It is a good idea to check with us at info@postmafineart.com prior to ordering online, to confirm the product is available (our online store will not allow new orders nor backorders for marked out-of-stock items, but it is possible, but not probable, that we may be finalizing an offline order by telephone or in person, at the exact same time as another Customer orders online). Or we may have made the inventory available online (committed to someone else) and they haven't immediately processed the transaction (which can happen, and a second order comes in online at the same time - we usually mark these to avoid this from occurring). Since we deal with limited edition and one-of-a-kind unique items, we would unable to fulfil two orders for the same unique artwork. Typically we send an email written confirmation when your order is received, confirmed available, and later, shipped, so you can be sure of the status of your order at any given time.
Q. If an artwork is posted online, does that mean it is always available?
A. Online appearance of a particular item does not always guarantee availability. If we are unable to fulfil your request for any reason, your payment will be refunded in full if a valid transaction and not fraudulent. An order may be in progress for the same (one-of-a-kind) in-stock item; the item may be a special-order item (i.e. inventory secured only at time of order confirmation); we may have received artwork that is damaged (and would not want to release it through sales), etc.).
Q. If I ordered artwork online - can I pick it up?
A. Online orders are typically sent by courier or post to your home or business for your convenience, with some exceptions. During the Covid pandemic, most of the couriers are using 'touchless service' where they will leave the parcel at the door, back away and look to make sure someone is home (who acknowledge them through the door or window), in lieu of signature. In most cases, no signature is necessary for lower-valued items (i.e. calendars, not art). If it appears no one is available / at home to receive the parcel and receipt acknowledgement is required via signature, the courier may either sign on your behalf once they know you are home and you have acknowledged them from inside, or, remove it and attempt delivery on another date (or leave it at the nearest courier depot for your pick up convenience).
Q. If I visit you at a special exhibition or international art fair, can I purchase the artwork there and take it with me?
A. It depends on the event; sometimes we courier the artwork post-event (so the artwork can remain on display for the duration of the art fair or event for others to view until the end of the event); other times we have additional inventory on hand and sometimes, yes, you can purchase from us and take the artwork with you. If a concern, contact us prior to the event and we will advise you of particular circumstances for the event. Of note: Typically courier costs after the event are at our expense to most destinations in Canada and the U.S.A. to make it as convenient as possible for you when visiting an art fair or exhibition (no need to carry it with you at the exhibition and enjoy paid outbound postage to your business or residence, and, no extra expense on your part if we choose to keep the work on exhibition for the duration of the event).
Q. I would like to place an order online and ship the artwork to multiple, different locations. Is this possible?
A. No, each order must have one shipping address when you order online.
Q, I would like to order artwork online, and pay for it - but ship it to another address. Is this possible?
A. Yes, simply fill out the 'billing address' as yours, and the 'shipping address' as an alternate address. It would be a good idea to advise the recipient at the alternate destination of the incoming package (in advance) to avoid any concerns on their part of an unexpected package showing up suddenly and they may be unaware leading to a return (i.e. not aware it was a gift) or advise us in advance to enclose a card on your behalf.
Q. Can I request a personalized message to be added to the card you send with my artwork (to a third-party)?
A. Certainly, subject to review.
Q. If I thought the price on your web site was wrong - does that mean I can order it at that price?
A. At time of online order confirmation, we will review all particulars including size and price and shipping, and if any we note any discrepancy inform you at that time (and ensure that you and we want to continue with the order, or, the order will be cancelled / refunded if a problem by one or both parties).
Q. Are prices on your website 'subject to change'?
A. Yes, occasionally (i.e. fluctuating exchange rates can impact prices for some work that is sourced from outside of Canada, etc.). We will confirm any changes at time of order confirmation, if applicable, giving you the option to cancel the order if you are not satisfied with the confirmed price.
Q. Do you accept fine art appraisal orders / requests from the public?
A. No, not at this time.
Q. Can I access the 'Private Viewing' webpage?
A. Access to the 'Private Viewing' webpage is by invitation only (and requires a password).
Q. How do I get notified as soon as new Kinngait (Cape Dorset) art is posted to your website?
A. Contact us at info@postmafineart.com to request joining our email list (and specify what type of communication you request - i.e. Artist, etc.). You may unsubscribe at any time. We may from time to time update our mailing lists if no contact, to avoid spam (to rejoin, simply send a request to info@postmafineart.com for consideration).
Q. Is there a special process when purchasing the annual Autumn Kinngait Collection?
A. Yes, there is. We usually post the autumn collection online sometime between mid August and early September if we offer it. The annual collection is typically approximately 30 new prints, usually limited editions of 50. If you are interested in purchasing 1 complete set (1 print each of the 30 new available, with all the same edition number), contact us as early as possible - we may only have limited quantities available for acquisition. As soon as the pre-release reservations commence the full set(s) all same edition number are no longer available (because the individual works in the sets get promised to individual parties and one complete set of all the same edition number is no longer available for acquisition).
We start taking pre-release reservations well before the official opening date (which is usually a Saturday, mid-October). Contact us to place your pre-release reservations prior to the opening date (we will let you know at time of reservation how likely or unlikely we will have your preferred print available on opening day). We only confirm the sale officially on opening day (part of the reasoning for that is the work arrives in Calgary after the pre-reservations are accepted, and we need to carefully inspect the work when it arrives to ensure it is in excellent condition before we sell it). One other reason is the release every year is coordinated to open internationally on a certain day, and we have to respect those dates and release conditions.
On opening day in October, we will confirm if the work you selected is available and if yes, you may complete your acquisition online and purchase the work. It's important to note that sales are processed only on opening day, not before that. Pre-release confirmed reservations are processed first, and any remaining images available will be posted online and are available to the general public at 12:01 am on opening day (if the work is marked 'reserved' it can only be purchased online by the person who received a confirmation that the available inventory we have is available exclusively to them).
Shipping starts the following week for all confirmed orders. If we are unable to fulfil your order on opening day we will ask you if you wish to be added to our contact list should additional work become available (likely late December / early January); however, if the edition of 50 is sold out, and typically this is the case for some work every year, we will not be able to fill the order unless another work becomes available on the secondary (resale market) should you be interested sometime in the future. Typically some editions sell out (are considered 'sold out' meaning we will likely not have additional work available for sale of that particular image after our inventory is fully placed); however sometimes between December and the following March additional work will become available (and if so, will be offered first to anyone on the wait list, and then posted online for the general public to acquire).
If you have any questions about the detailed process we have to follow each year, please contact us at info@postmafineart.com.
Payments Accepted
Q. What methods of payment do you accept?
A. Online, we accept most major credit cards, PayPal, or business or certified cheques or money orders (via regular post) for confirmed orders (do not send us cash via regular post). We do not retain nor see your personal credit card number (we see a completed transaction number from the payment processor when payment has been received successfully). You do not need a PayPal account to purchase online from us (look for the link 'pay with credit card'). If you have a gift certificate issued from us, please mention it prior to ordering online so we might modify the online price to apply the gift certificate amount. If you have an authorized gift or other coupon code enter it at checkout to see that the coupon has been accepted as you expected.
Sales Tax
Q. Do you charge sales tax?
A. Yes, we are obligated, by law, to charge tax where we are registered to do so, according to rules set by the Canada Revenue Agency of Canada. Canadian Customers can expect us to apply sales tax to their orders, dependent on the type of product ordered and where it is shipped to (destination), and where we are registered to collect sales tax (and at what rate). Most orders shipped to the USA are not charged Canadian sales tax nor export charges (original fine art). All prices listed are in Canadian dollars.
International customers are not typically charged tax when purchasing online from us and if they take delivery of the goods and services outside of Canada (however duty and or taxes may be charged for some international orders at / after delivery - check before you order).
Taxes, duty, etc. if known are applied at time of shipment or after shipping / receipt (after passing through Customs) and are either billed to us or directly to the customer, depending on the purchase agreement, and the country shipped to. Either we pay these additional costs, or, they are passed on to the Customer, depending on the shipping agreement prior to shipment. For international customers (outside of Canada / USA), please contact us for a shipping quote prior to ordering art online.
Shipping
Q. Is outbound shipping complimentary?
A. Outbound shipping for most instock/available work shipped from/to Canadian locations is complimentary (unless specified otherwise). A few remote locations with carrier/other delivery restrictions may incur additional freight charges (even for items marked 'complimentary shipping'). Special orders and high-value work may also incur freight charges even if shipped in Canada. If any of these apply, you will be notified prior to shipping (if any discrepancy between online/offline details, offline information will prevail).
Contact us for orders/shipping rates to international locations (USA/international). Full cost of shipping and import (duty/tax/other) fees, etc. are billed to the client (usually invoiced separately). The cost to ship internationally can vary, therefore if you are interested in an artwork we recommend contacting us at info@postmafineart.com before you purchase any art online (we can give you an estimate of shipping cost prior to placing your order).
Q. What couriers do you use for shipments?
A. It depends on the logistics required to safely deliver the package and what type of package it is (small or large, for example), as well as other considerations. Canada Post, major international couriers, etc. are common, as well as other local private specialty couriers for delivery in the Calgary and Bow Valley areas.
Q. Where do you ship the orders from?
A. Typically directly from our office in Calgary, or directly from the Artists' studios or from their representatives' offices. We can (for some work, depending on availability) arrange for shipment either out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada or Alberta, Canada (regardless, we often ship with overnight air service (to major cities), prepaid by us and complimentary to the customer, as soon as your order is ready (typically 1-3 business days after the order is confirmed).
Q. After you ship my artwork, how do I track it?
A. At time of shipment or prior to, most of the time (unless for example, it is a special courier without real-time tracking), we will send you a tracking number so you can track the whereabouts of the courier while your artwork is in transit. We also will track your package along the way as an additional customer service to make sure it arrives safely and on time.
Q. How long after you confirm my order do you ship?
A. It depends on the order request (i.e. a large public art sculpture would likely have different logistics than a smaller work, for example), the availability of the courier, route/destination, etc. Typically, we process orders and they are enroute /shipped within 1 to 3 business days after order confirmation, and will communicate our plans at time of order confirmation for your review and acceptance. We are flexible to ship on a specific date if you are travelling or would like the artwork to arrive within a specific timeframe (i.e. holidays, etc.) - just let us know your requirements - we would be pleased to assist.
Q. Does international Customs inspect the packages you send out of Canada?
A. Yes they can, and do, inspect (including opening some packages) while in transit from Canada to you. If the package has been opened and not properly re-sealed by Customs, please let us know upon receipt. If Customs decides to hold the parcel or delay it for any reason, which seldom but could occur, we cannot expedite the shipment nor can the courier (will be released when Customs has completed their inspection).
In some cases, some work may require special permits to export out of Canada (due to materials used, age, cultural significance, value, etc.). Where applicable, we will note it on the online listing to make you aware of potential special requirements or restrictions (i.e. for sale in Canada only) prior to acquisition.
Returns, Exchanges, and Credits
Q. If i receive artwork and it is damaged, what do I do?
A. If by remote chance you receive artwork that is damaged due to transit reasons, refuse to accept the parcel from the courier or make note of it when accepting the parcel by way of writing on the bill of lading / packing slip, that it was received damaged, and if convenient, photograph the damaged package prior to and after opening it. This will assist us with the claim to the courier for damage in transit. Contact us by email or by phone and we will provide you with instructions how to proceed depending on the circumstance.
Q. How often does artwork you ship get lost or damaged in transit?
A. The risk is very low - after many years of business we have never had art damaged in transit (we take care to pack it well to reduce the risk of damage). However, typical to the industry and using third-party international couriers, we have seen occasional instances of some international packages opened and then not being resealed well (border inspection); and sometimes delays by couriers (typically weather, pandemic-related, capacity issues, short-term misplaced package in transit, etc.). If we note anything material (that may impact timing and/or safe delivery of your order) while your package is in transit, you will be notified by us. If your package is time-sensitive, please leave enough time from order to shipment to allow for potential unforeseen contingencies.
Q. If I ordered item X and you sent me, in error, item Y. What would I do?
A. Contact us by email or phone as soon as possible upon inspecting your order with your concern. We will review the order details and if we are in error, will provide return postage of the artwork and also cover the outbound postage for the replacement artwork. If it was a Customer error, the Customer is responsible for the return postage and depending on the purchase circumstances, a refund will most likely be issued when the artwork is returned and received to us in the same condition as sent. Special conditions would apply to some orders however. Always contact us prior to returning goods so we might guide you through the process and make it as easy as possible for you.
Q. How long do I have after order receipt do I have to file any concerns or complaints about my order from you?
A. Please file any concerns, complaints, return or refund requests within seven (7) calendar days after receipt from courier, otherwise the order is assumed to be received in good order and closed.
Q. If I returned an item - when would I see a credit?
A. We process credits as quickly as possible, depending on the circumstance; returns typically when the merchandise return is received or before that time. Please note, beyond the time it takes us to process the credit, it may take a few days for it to show up on your credit card / other statements (bank processing time). For international purchasers, refund is made at exchange rate on refund date (not purchase date) and there may be a minor exchange rate variation either slightly higher or lower than your original purchase price.
Artist or Vendor Submissions and Other Miscellaneous Enquiries
Q. I am an Artist and would like to send you artwork for sale at Postma Fine Art - how do I apply?
A. We are not accepting unsolicited art submissions at this time, and do not typically respond to unsolicited enquiries, however, if that changes in the future, please visit our website and apply at that time. We also do not accept nor return unsolicited portfolios sent via email or regular post. Thank you for your interest.
Q. I am a Charity and would like you to donate a work of art to my event. Do you accept unsolicited requests?
A. We, like many businesses, receive legitimate and spam requests, and if the requests seem like spam or bulk generic email solicitation, the requests will likely be unanswered and/or be caught and be unread/deleted by our anti-spam lines of defence and/or reported to the authorities for investigation if possibly fraudulent. If you are a legitimate charity we are happy to entertain your request however, only charities we are able to confirm as legitimate, and we wish to support will likely receive a formal response.
Q. Are you a Canadian-owned business?
A. Yes, we are a 100% Canadian-owned and operated business.
Q. Did you/your staff study about art prior to opening a business or are you retailers/appaisers with no art experience?
A. Staff have a variety of experience, formal university education plus professional designations to draw from in the areas of art history, business, procurement, logistics, and personal property appraisal (our area of specialty is Canadian fine art). We do not accept fine art appraisal requests from the general public nor do we provide formal written fine art appraisals for any work we have/had a financial interest in (to avoid any potential conflict of interest (these roles of appraising and selling must be kept separate).
Q. Do you sell your Subscriber or Customer Lists?
A. No, we value and respect your privacy and never sell your personal information. We share your name and mailing address, for example, only with our trusted partners to complete your requested transaction (i.e. courier, credit card processors, bank, etc.), or as required by law. If you have any special requirements regarding handling of your personal information, please contact us in advance of placing your online order.
Q. Do you send a lot of email if I subscribe to your email list?
A. No, we value your time and space and send very infrequent email - usually at time of special releases (once quarterly or less, depending on your interest). Typically updates are posted on our website (on the 'news' page) vs direct emails so you might access them at your leisure. Should you have special communication needs and would like to hear from us more frequently and/or regarding specific Artist news / artwork availability, travel schedule, etc., please let us know. We'll make a note of it and communicate with you if the news is especially valuable to you (more tailored specifically to your wishes). If you haven't heard from us lately, please resubscribe (we may have removed your email from our contact list to be sure not to send unwanted email).
Q. Do you work with other art dealers who may wish to purchase work from you?
A. Yes, we do work collegially with other fine art dealers and welcome their enquiries should we have work they wish to acquire from us.
Q. Do you travel to view special consignments or for special projects?
A. Yes, we are available for travel (availability will vary during the pandemic since we place the health, wellness and safety of our staff and those we interact with first and foremost). When travelling, from Eastern Canada we work out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as our base (our main office is in western Canada in Calgary, Canada).
We are always pleased to answer your questions without obligation:
contact us at info@postmafineart.com if we can provide assistance.