Shipping Insurance Claim

USPS: wait 15 days after the mailing date for Priority Mail / Priority Mail Express, or 7 days for Priority Mail Express — after that the package is officially presumed lost. File at usps.com/help/claims or on PS Form 1000. Deadline: within 60 days of the mailing date for Priority Mail and 60 days for Ground Advantage. UPS: file any time after the scheduled delivery date passes, but within 60 days of the scheduled delivery. FedEx: file within 60 days of the ship date for domestic, 21 days for international. The earlier you file inside the window, the better — carrier investigation quality degrades over time.

Photographs are the single biggest determinant. Before you unpack further, shoot: (1) the outer shipping box showing damage + label, (2) packing materials (bubble wrap, cardboard sandwiches), (3) the card inside its inner protection still in the damaged state, (4) the card out of the holder showing specific damage (corners, edges, surface), (5) a side-by-side photo with the seller listing photo. Plus: your original purchase receipt or eBay/COMC order detail, the tracking number printout, and any signed delivery confirmation. USPS requires these uploaded via PS Form 1000; UPS accepts upload; FedEx wants them emailed to the claim case number.

USPS Ground Advantage includes $100 of insurance free; Priority Mail includes $100 (non-Amazon) or $50 (commercial). Priority Mail Express includes $100. Additional insurance is sold in $100 tiers — max $5,000 via post office counter and $10,000 via usps.com. UPS includes $100 of Declared Value free and adds coverage at ~$1.10 per $100 of value above $100 (max $50,000 for ground, $100,000 for air). FedEx includes $100 of Declared Value and adds coverage at $3.90 minimum or ~$1.25 per $100 (max $50,000 for Home Delivery and $1,000 for Express Saver with a signature). Your claim payout cannot exceed the declared value you paid for — if you shipped a $2,000 card with only $100 declared, you collect $100.

Carriers pay the LESSER of: (a) declared value, (b) actual documented purchase price (receipt/invoice), or (c) fair market value at the time of loss (for high-value items, they may require an appraisal or recent comparable sales). For graded cards, include the PSA/CGC/SGC cert photo + a recent comparable sale from 130point.com, eBay sold listings, or Card Ladder. For raw cards, include the seller's listing, your payment receipt, and a recent comparable sold listing. Sentimental value, projected appreciation, and future grading potential are NOT covered.

The SHIPPER files with the carrier — they are the contract-holder with the carrier and have the mailing receipt. But: eBay/COMC/Whatnot require the BUYER to open the platform dispute separately. Best practice: buyer opens the marketplace dispute and notifies the seller; seller files the carrier claim and forwards the case number to the buyer. Seller refunds the buyer once the carrier pays out, or (on eBay) the seller refunds first and then collects from the carrier — eBay Money Back Guarantee makes the seller responsible regardless of the carrier outcome.

PWE shipments are almost always uninsured and have no tracking, which makes them ineligible for a formal carrier claim. Options: (1) if the buyer paid via credit card or PayPal, file an "item not received" dispute — the seller is responsible unless they can prove delivery, (2) file an eBay / Marketplace claim — the seller is on the hook under buyer-protection rules, (3) direct negotiation with the seller. Lesson for the future: any card over $20 should ship tracked with at least $100 insurance (included with USPS Ground Advantage).

Yes, but high-value cards (commonly $5,000+) trigger extra scrutiny: USPS may require appraisal documentation with the claim, UPS may require a Registered Letter of Authenticity, and FedEx may request a recent comparable sale within 90 days. For very-high-value cards ($10K+), carriers may ask to inspect the remains in person at a distribution center before paying. For shipments over $5,000: use USPS Registered Mail (max insurance $50,000, chain-of-custody signature at every handoff — slow but the safest), or a private collectibles insurer (Hugh Wood, Distinguished, Collectibles Insurance Services) that covers in-transit value up to six-figures on a standalone policy.

A well-written letter with a complete evidence package dramatically improves your chances but does not guarantee payout. Carriers approve roughly 70-80% of properly-documented lost / damaged claims on the first pass. Denials usually cite: (a) insufficient packaging per carrier packaging standards, (b) declared value exceeds documented purchase price, (c) signature of receipt without noting damage at delivery, or (d) concealment or reshipment after damage was noticed. If your first-pass claim is denied, you have the right to appeal — cite the exact policy clause the denial references, add any missing evidence, and re-submit within the appeal window (USPS 30 days, UPS 90 days, FedEx 90 days).