Protection Program
Shipping Protection
Tracking, coverage levels, and who files a claim
The short version
Carrier liability, carrier declared value, and third-party shipping insurance are not the same thing. We show the protection included with each eligible shipping option, its limit, the important exclusions, and who is responsible for filing a claim.
Coverage levels
- Standard orders: valid tracking, our address, basic carrier liability, packaging requirements, seller keeps the shipment receipt.
- Elevated-value orders: our label or an approved label, full-value coverage, signature confirmation, no unattended delivery, restricted rerouting, extra fraud review.
- High-value orders: full-value coverage, adult or restricted signature where appropriate, authentication routing, tamper-evident packaging, serial-number and photo documentation, manual review before shipment, extended payout hold.
Who pays
- The seller is responsible for delivering the item in the accepted condition.
- The seller selects an eligible shipping option; that cost may be included in the shipping price shown to the buyer.
- We may require and include shipping protection on elevated-value orders.
- Buyers see the shipping and protection cost before accepting an offer.
Who files a claim
When we supply the label or the third-party protection, we may file and manage the claim, and both parties must cooperate. When the seller supplies the label, the seller is usually the carrier's claimant, must file promptly, and must share claim status with us. Claim proceeds are allocated to the actual loss, and we prevent the same loss being recovered twice.
Common shipping exclusions
- Insufficient packaging, prohibited contents, or restricted commodities
- Perishables, ordinary wear, or concealed damage without evidence
- Incorrect addresses, unattended deliveries, or unexplained disappearance after confirmed delivery
- Fraud, counterfeit goods, or misstated value
- Sentimental or speculative value
- Certain jewelry, cash, precious metals, artwork, antiques, collectibles, and fragile items
- Shipments outside supported locations, or excluded carrier service levels
- Late claims, missing proof of value, missing photographs, or unauthorized rerouting
Plain terminology
We will not describe carrier declared value as comprehensive insurance. Checkout and shipping screens link to the actual coverage terms, which control.
This page is a plain-language summary. The complete published Protection Program terms control, and nothing here is insurance, legal, or tax advice.