Alicia,
Is this price including the price of boxing the art for you? Because if you buy your own packaging system, if ought to reduce your sticker shock.
I've used a box from this co:
http://www.airfloatsys.com/shop/index.php
and have used just one box - over and over - for shipping (I reinforced it with packaging tape to help it last longer).
Hope this helps.
Also, here's some links from this web site on the subject:
http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...light=shipping
http://www.portraitartist.com/resources/shipping.htm