Seller's Guide
How to ship valuable items safely
Most seller losses aren't theft — they're damage in transit and disputes nobody can prove either way. Packing and documentation fix both.
Shipping checklist
- Photos of the item, serial, accessories, packed box and sealed box
- Double-boxed with no movement inside
- Plain outer packaging with no brand names
- Signature on delivery selected
- Declared value set with the carrier, limits checked
- Tracking number entered on the order the same day
- Drop-off receipt and acceptance scan saved
1. Photograph everything before it's sealed
Shoot the item from every side, the serial or style code, the accessories, then the item inside the packed box, then the sealed box with the label attached. Time-stamped photos are the single most useful piece of evidence if a buyer later says the box was empty or the item was different.
2. Double-box anything fragile or valuable
Put the item in its own protective box or case, surround it with at least two inches of padding, then place that inside a second sturdy outer box. Nothing should shift when you shake it. For watches, remove the watch from a display box if the box itself could crush.
3. Make the parcel boring from the outside
Never write the brand on the outside of the box, and avoid branded tape or original manufacturer packaging as the outer layer. A plain box attracts far less attention in transit.
4. Require a signature on delivery
Signature confirmation is the difference between 'it says delivered' and proof a human accepted it. On high-value orders it's mandatory, and it strongly protects you in a not-received claim.
5. Declare the real value with the carrier
Carrier declared value is a carrier service with its own limits and exclusions — it is not insurance and it is not the marketplace protection program. Read the carrier's limits for your category before you ship; some carriers cap or exclude watches and jewelry entirely.
6. Ship on time and upload tracking immediately
Enter the tracking number on the order as soon as you have it. A shipment that goes up late — or that never gets tracking entered — can be cancelled and refunded, and repeated late shipping affects your standing.
7. Keep the receipt and the drop-off scan
Hand the parcel to a clerk and keep the receipt rather than leaving it in a drop box. The acceptance scan ties your package to a place and time, which matters in a lost-package or chargeback claim.
Seller protection on
Accurate descriptions, on-time shipping with tracking and signature delivery are what the program looks at when a buyer files a claim. Do those three things and most cases resolve in your favour.
Read seller protection