Ship-It Sim · 9,800+ Cards · 6 Carriers · Realistic Loss Math
Card Shipping Simulator
You sold a card. Now you have to ship it. Pick your packaging, carrier, and insurance — then let the simulator run. Every choice changes your protection score and your odds of a clean delivery vs. damage, loss, or porch piracy.
Step 1 · You Sold a Card
Pick the card you just sold, or use a preset sale price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ship a sports card safely?
Base layer: penny sleeve, then top loader or card saver, then a team bag to seal. Sandwich that between two cardboard pieces inside a bubble mailer (for cards under $100) or a small rigid box (for $500+ cards). Use tracked shipping, add insurance for anything over $50, require signature for anything over $250. Never ship in a plain envelope — carriers run cards through letter sorters that will bend or destroy them.
When should I use insurance vs. just carrier tracking?
Under $50: tracking alone is fine. $50-$250: add carrier insurance (USPS Priority includes $100, additional is ~$1.70 per $100 of coverage). $250+: use private insurance through Shipsurance or U-PIC (typically 0.55-1% of declared value with higher payout caps and faster claim turnaround than USPS). $5,000+: consider registered mail or a dedicated courier for high-value slabs.
Do I really need signature confirmation?
Signature confirmation costs $3-$6 and eliminates the #1 seller-loss vector: the "delivered but not received" dispute. Porch piracy is real, and without a signature the carrier has done its job once tracking shows delivered — you eat the loss. Any card over $250 should require signature. For $1,000+ cards, use adult signature required to prevent a minor or neighbor accepting.
What is the safest carrier for cards?
For most cards, USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail are the standard — cheap, reliable, with decent tracking. Priority Express includes $100 insurance automatically and is fastest. For $1,000+ slabs, consider UPS 2-Day with signature because UPS has better claim resolution and fewer sort-line incidents than USPS. FedEx is a third option but their handling of small padded mailers is notably rougher than UPS.
What happens if the card gets damaged in shipping?
If you packed it well and bought insurance, you file a claim with photos of the packaging, the damage, and the original listing price. Carrier claims (USPS) typically take 30-60 days and require the recipient to hold the package for inspection. Private insurance (Shipsurance) pays faster (7-14 days). If you did not buy insurance, the loss is on you — most buyers will open a dispute and you will likely refund the full sale price. Pack well, always insure.