What is your process for grading expensive cards?

[ullmandds]

I either overnight them or next day them with the USPS...never...ever say whats really in the parcel...never had a problem.

[irv]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I either overnight them or next day them with the USPS...never...ever say what's really in the parcel...never had a problem.

Although I believe it is the law, this is why I hate purchasing expensive cards, especially Stateside.
Most big sellers, as far as I know, have to put the value and description on the outside of the envelope, which, imo, is just a precursor for more theft.

[sonnyu2]

Unless you have private insurance, USPS Registered Mail is the safest and most reliable way to ship cards for grading. And you can insure the package up to $50,000 for a reasonable fee. Many will recommend other shipping methods, but know the insurance limits / risks involved before you use other methods.

And remember, there are countless millions of dollars in cards being mailed every day to and from the grading companies. A package worth $10k and up is a pretty normal shipment these days being sent to and from the grading companies. It can be daunting when you haven't done it before, but the vast majority of the time - the packages and contents are delivered without problem.

Don't know which company you are sending to, but PSA provides detailed instructions on how to package cards for shipping. Follow those instructions, and ship via USPS Registered, and you'll be fine.

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by sonnyu2

Unless you have private insurance, USPS Registered Mail is the safest and most reliable way to ship cards for grading. And you can insure the package up to $50,000 for a reasonable fee. Many will recommend other shipping methods, but know the insurance limits / risks involved before you use other methods.

And remember, there are countless millions of dollars in cards being mailed every day to and from the grading companies. A package worth $10k and up is a pretty normal shipment these days being sent to and from the grading companies. It can be daunting when you haven't done it before, but the vast majority of the time - the packages and contents are delivered without problem.

Don't know which company you are sending to, but PSA provides detailed instructions on how to package cards for shipping. Follow those instructions, and ship via USPS Registered, and you'll be fine.

I fully agree with registered mail being the only service I would use for expensive cards. Package has to be signed for at each stage of the shipping proceess by a postal employee. It is virtually impossible to get lost. If I had $100,000 to ship, I would do 2 submissions in separate packages so full insurance is covered since $50K is the limit on any one package.

[ahmanfan]

Originally Posted by rand1com

I fully agree with registered mail being the only service I would use for expensive cards. Package has to be signed for at each stage of the shipping proceess by a postal employee. It is virtually impossible to get lost. If I had $100,000 to ship, I would do 2 submissions in separate packages so full insurance is covered since $50K is the limit on any one package.

Registered is the best answer. Or fly them to SGC if needed.

[Jobu]

1. Get pissed about how much the grading fees are. 2. Cross my fingers for the grades.

Seriously though, overnight/priority shipping with USPS or FedEx AND insurance.

There are a few important things with the insurance - get private insurance before you mail the package. USPS and FedEx will sell you as much insurance as you want to pay for, but I have read multiple times on Net54 that they won't honor it.

For independent insurance, many here, including myself, use Collectables Insurance Services (https://collectinsure.com/). They have shipping rules you have to follow based on the amount of the package. And if the total is more than the blanket policy will cover during shipping, you can buy separate, additional insurance (up to very large amounts of coverage) through them that covers things during the single shipping period.

Also, assuming they are insured, make sure you have good scans of everything you mail before you send them otherwise you are going to be in trouble if there is a challenge to your claim.

[icurnmedic]

No way anything very expensive would be shipped other than registered. Anyone saying otherwise has been very lucky. Let yourself lose $10k worth of cards and you change your ways real fast. Ask me how I know, smh😒