Insurance and declared value for trading cards
Two words that sound similar can behave very differently: declared value and insurance. Understanding the difference can save you a lot of pain if a package is delayed, lost, or arrives damaged.
Declared value vs insurance (plain language)
Declared value is often used for carrier liability and handling. It may affect how a shipment is processed, but it doesn’t always mean you’re fully insured.
Insurance is the thing that actually pays out (in theory) when something goes wrong. The catch is that insurance policies and carrier terms can have exclusions for collectibles, insufficient packaging, or missing documentation.
What commonly causes claim denials
- Insufficient packaging: flexible mailers, no padding, items rattling inside a box.
- No proof of condition: no before photos, no documentation of existing damage.
- No proof of value: missing invoices, comps, or transaction records.
- Missing acceptance scan: the carrier never officially “took possession.”
- Collectible exclusions: some services exclude trading cards unless you use a specific program.
A practical approach for collectors
- Ship in a box with no internal movement.
- Use tracking and keep the receipt.
- Photograph the packed shipment and the label.
- Keep records that justify the value (invoice, comps, screenshots, etc.).
- Choose signature confirmation for higher values.
- Assuming “declared value” automatically means “fully insured.”
- Shipping in a mailer when the contents can bend.
- Shipping without an acceptance scan at drop-off.
- Throwing away receipts or shipment photos.
How much should you declare?
Declare a value that you can defend. For raw cards, that might be what you paid or a reasonable market comp. For graded cards, it’s typically easier to document value, but still keep purchase records or comps. If you’re unsure, pick a value that is conservative and supported by evidence.
If you’re shipping to a studio
Ask whether they recommend a particular service level, whether they can accept signature-required deliveries, and what address format to use. (Some carriers can be picky with unit numbers / business names.)