Shipping high value items safely

Hi all,

How do you folks go about shipping high value items with piece of mind? Knowing that declared value is not insurance, and that any insurer is likely going to try every angle in the book to prevent paying out in the event disaster strikes (and this from the UPS guy!!) , Im at a loss.

What is the best way to protect myself and make the sale?

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on December 9, 2019 at 4:28pm

Our thinking is definitely a bi-product of our experiences, Joe! With more recent and more costly experiences having the most influence. My two claims with USPS have definitely tainted my thought process. The six month delay was in the last year or so and they kept saying our tracking shows it is still at this processing site. I was shocked when it actually arrived.

Damage claims are an entirely different matter. I just make sure to pack very very carefully, double boxing when necessary and using packing materials to prevent any movement.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Morris on December 9, 2019 at 4:27pm

FedEx or DHL for me. I've shipped a lot of stuff from New Zealand where I'm based to Europe and America and elsewhere. I've had a few items damaged and both DHL and FedEx were easy to deal with on insurance and claims and all other items arrived without an issue.

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Permalink Reply by just some dude on December 9, 2019 at 4:29pm

This all good stuff - many thanks to you all for sharing your methods and helping me figure this out. AL rules, yet again!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Morris on December 9, 2019 at 4:36pm

I used to under-declare but would advise not to bother as it ended up only costing me a few hundred dollars when an item got damaged. When an item declared at $1200 went missing then turned up seriously damaged I got offered $250 by the buyer to keep it and FedEx paid me the other $950 a week or so later so cannot say bad things about them but others may differ

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Permalink Reply by just some dude on December 9, 2019 at 5:05pm

Was there a “prove it” process Fed Ex put you through to process your claim? As the value of autographs can be quite subjective and hard to prove, yes? I know I have some items I dont even remember where I got or how much I paid.

I also worry about an inside job - doesnt that commercial invoice for customs make your package conceivably quite attractive to a less than honest employee?

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Permalink Reply by Dan Morris on December 9, 2019 at 5:48pm

I did have to show that I had sold the items for the value declared which I sent them a copy of the sale details and order and filled out their form and that was all.

I also must say that FedEx also helped save me a bundle when a very unscrupulous eBay buyer a few years ago decided to say the item arrived damaged and made an eBay claim. FedEx had an image and details of the parcel and were able to prove there was zero damage when delivered and the claim was denied so i cannot speak anymore highly of them and only wish we had them in New Zealand as our courier compensation processes are much tougher and take a long time

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on December 9, 2019 at 5:05pm

Agree with your experiences and position, Dan.

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Permalink Reply by Gratefulphish on December 9, 2019 at 8:11pm

I sell a lot on ebay and ship everything via USPS. I will buy USPS insurance under $200, and then my collectibles insurance policy covers the rest of the value in transit. I have had the USPS completely lose one poster, and crush another, and in both cases, with a little effort, both claims were paid. I cannot afford to take a hit for a lost or destroyed item, so I always insure. Since it's primarily not USPS insurance, I don't have to worry about the amount declared for customs purposes.