Guide
Mail-in insurance checklist
Declared value vs carrier limits — read this before you ship a $2k lot.
Insurance on a mailed card lot is only as good as the documentation behind it. Filing a claim without proper records almost always results in a denial or a payout well below actual value.
Declared value vs actual insurance
These are not the same thing. "Declared value" tells the carrier what you say the package is worth. "Insurance" is a purchased policy that pays out on a claim. On USPS Priority Mail, the included coverage is $100 — not the declared value you wrote on the form. To cover a $500 lot, you need to purchase $500 in additional insurance.
Carrier-specific notes: - **USPS:** Priority Mail includes $100 coverage. Additional insurance is cheap and scales with declared value. For slabs or high-value singles, use Registered Mail or purchase separate collectibles insurance. - **UPS and FedEx:** Declared value and insurance are more directly linked, but both cap coverage on "collectibles" without additional riders. - **Third-party insurance (Collectibles Insurance Services, etc.):** Often the best option for high-value lots. Lower cost per dollar of coverage, fewer exclusions.
What to photograph before sealing
1. **Cards you're shipping.** Individual slabs (front and back label), toploaders with visible card names, stacks fanned to show approximate count. 2. **Packing sequence.** The bundled team bags, the padding in the box, the box before sealing. 3. **Sealed box with label.** The addressed, sealed box with visible tracking label.
Keep these photos in a folder labeled with the tracking number.
The paper trail for a claim
A successful insurance claim needs:
- Proof of the item's pre-ship value (recent sold comps, a written quote from a buyer, a dealer invoice) - Proof of the shipment (tracking number, receipt) - Proof of the damage (carrier damage report, photos of the received item) - Your packing documentation (photos showing adequate packing)
Without packing photos, "insufficient packaging" is the most common grounds for denial, even when the carrier clearly damaged the item.
Signature confirmation
Get it. Signature confirmation costs $3–$4 and prevents "delivered but not received" disputes. It also creates a formal record of receipt in the tracking system. For anything over $100, it's not optional.
The conversation before you ship
You should have, in writing, from the buyer before you seal the box:
- Agreed shipping method and carrier - Agreed insurance amount - Agreed declared value - Confirmation that the buyer will receive the package at the listed address
We send this confirmation as a standard part of our quote thread before anything ships.
What to send us
Use the quote form to start. We confirm shipping logistics in writing in the same thread where we discuss the range — you'll have the insurance amount and method confirmed before you print a label.