Shipping large value cards.

sushihotwings

A question for anyone shipping large value (i.e. $10,000+) items sold on EBay. What shipping service USPS, UPS, or FedEx do you folks find most reliable and economical? Do you alway buy insurance and is one service known to have the best pricing for large value items. I thought I read USPS insures maximum $5000. Thoughts on good or bad experiences much appreciated.

grote15

USPS insurance maximum is 5K for priority or express. Registered mail, which is the safest, if not the quickest method of shipping, provides insurance coverage of up to 50K, I believe.

wilkiebaby11

USPS Registered Mail is very slow, but it's the absolute safest, and it's actually rather cheap vs other insured shipping methods. $10k should cost about $40 or so.

thunderdan

USPS Registered. Slow, but very secure.

sushihotwings

Thanks guys. Great info.

cardcountry

Fed ex express. My insurance (collectibles) covers it if shipped that way

Jeff

jay0791

There are a few thieves at the usps. Most employees are fantastic.

Registered mail must be signed (traceable) by everyone that touches the package.

They all know nobody messes with registered. It is by far the safest way.

Very slow.

There are packaging requirements that are different than priority and 1st class.

All seems must be covered with brown shipping tape.

RipublicaninMass

I think they 86'd that brown tape, but I could be wrong. It's really a pain, but I understand why they required it.

MULLINS5

When you guys say "very slow" how slow is it compared to Priority 1-3 Day Mail?

jay0791

I waited 5 days in one location for a registered package.

apparently nobody had signed it to move on

minimum of one week if that all ok and often more

jay0791

I waited 5 days in one location for a registered package.

apparently nobody had signed it to move on

minimum of one week if that all ok and often more

shagrotn77

I concur that Registered Mail is the safest way to go. It is a little slower than First Class and Priority, but only by a few days.

thebaseballcardkid

Its so slow due to the mood of the carrier if they want to sign for it that day and continue the delivery process. If they don't feel like signing for it they leave it for another day. IMO its the only safe way with them. So many stories of "lost" items. Ive had registered items sitting for over 2 weeks but usually its an extra week but safer.

sushihotwings

Thanks guys. Everyone here has been very helpful. The forum is a great resource. I have been out of the hobby for few years but jumping in with both feet again the past few weeks and enjoying every minute. I look forward to contributing some of my knowledge when appropriate.

John Gibbons

Curious to this as well.



What carrier did you end up using?



How did it go?



And without revealing too much info, other than $10K+, how did you insure?



I've been told once you hit the $25K+ threshold that the insurance w/ carriers is quite extensive and to use an outside insurance company for pricing sake.



Thoughts?

Spahnfan

I checked one time as to why it takes so long for registered and I got this explanation. All packages go by ground. If it has to go any distance that takes a while with everyone needing to sign along the way. They do not send it by air because the pilots won't sign for the packages because they can't see where it goes if they sign for it.

John Gibbons

Yikes how many hands and transfers do you think we are talking?



From previous experience, I am a strong proponent of the less number of hands on a package, the better.



I know Four Sharp Corners switches from USPS to UPS/FEDEX on orders exceeding $1,000.

sushihotwings

So I ended up using FedEx for a PSA 9 O Pee Chee Gretzky rookie I sold on Ebay. The card sold for $23,200 so I obviously wanted the card delivered in the most secure fashion. I was shocked to learn that you can only buy up to $1000 in insurance with FedEx, but that was the buyers preferred method. You can fall back on a collectible insurance policy if you have one. I sent it Priority overnight (fastest). Took it to Fedex at 7:30 pm knowing they had an 8pm pickup and buyer had it in hand at noon the next day. Fewer hands the better and nobody had time to sit around looking at the package wondering what was inside. Went smooth. I would use it again and Ebay offers a nice discount if you print the label at home through Ebay account. I am going to sell a PSA 9 Topps Gretzky rookie on Ebay soon and will likely do the same method.

John Gibbons

"I was shocked to learn that you can only buy up to $1000 in insurance with FedEx, but that was the buyers preferred method."



Too funny. I know exactly who bought it...71c10! And FedEx is surely his go to. Nice card!