Shipping Policy
Every order placed at RarePokémonCards.shop contains fragile, high-value collectibles that deserve more than a standard envelope and a prayer. Whether you are buying raw vintage holos or PSA-graded slabs, every package leaves our vault sealed with archival-grade materials, fully insured, and tracked from our hands to yours. This page explains exactly how we handle, pack, and ship every order so you can buy rare Pokémon cards online with complete peace of mind.
1. Handling & Processing Time
| Detail | Policy |
|---|---|
| Processing window | 1–2 business days after payment confirmation |
| Order cut-off time | 12:00 PM (noon) local time. Orders placed after cut-off are processed the following business day. |
| Weekend & public holiday orders | Orders are not processed or shipped on Saturdays, Sundays, or any nationally observed public holidays. Processing resumes the next available business day. |
| High-volume periods | During major set releases or promotional events, processing may extend to 3 business days. Any active delay will be posted as a banner notice on our homepage. |
Note: Processing time is separate from and in addition to your chosen shipping transit time.
2. Domestic Shipping Rates
All domestic rates apply to shipments within the United States.
| Service | Est. Transit Time | Flat Rate | Insurance Included | Signature Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Insured Shipping | 3–5 business days | $4.99 | ✅ Up to $100 | ❌ |
| Tracked Priority Shipping | 2–3 business days | $9.99 | ✅ Up to $300 | ❌ |
| Expedited Express Shipping | 1–2 business days | $19.99 | ✅ Up to $500 | ✅ |
| High-Value Declared Shipment | 2–3 business days | $29.99 | ✅ Up to $2,500 | ✅ |
Free Standard Shipping is automatically applied to all domestic orders over $75.
3. International Shipping Rates
International delivery windows are estimates and exclude customs clearance time, which varies by destination country.
| Service | Est. Transit Time | Flat Rate | Insurance Included | Signature Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Standard | 7–14 business days | $14.99 | ✅ Up to $100 | ❌ |
| International Priority | 5–10 business days | $24.99 | ✅ Up to $300 | ✅ |
| International Express | 3–5 business days | $39.99 | ✅ Up to $750 | ✅ |
| International High-Value | 5–7 business days | $59.99 | ✅ Up to $2,500 | ✅ |
Important: The customer is solely responsible for any import duties, VAT, customs fees, or brokerage charges levied by the destination country. RarePokémonCards.shop does not pre-collect these fees and cannot predict their amount. Please check your local customs regulations before ordering.
4. Secure Packing Standards
We treat every order as if it were our own personal collection. Our packing protocol is non-negotiable and applied to 100% of outgoing shipments.
Raw Singles & Ungraded Cards
- Card is placed face-first into a soft penny sleeve to protect the surface from micro-scratches.
- The sleeved card is inserted into a rigid 35pt or 130pt top-loader appropriate to the card’s thickness.
- The top-loader opening is sealed with a small piece of painter’s tape to prevent the card from sliding out in transit.
- The top-loader is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and placed inside a reinforced cardboard mailer with no bend zones.
- High-value raw cards ($50+) are additionally bubble-wrapped and shipped inside a rigid box, not a mailer.
Graded Slabs (PSA, BGS, CGC)
- Each slab is individually wrapped in two full layers of bubble wrap.
- The wrapped slab is placed inside a crush-proof, double-walled corrugated box sized specifically to prevent any movement.
- Void fill foam is added on all six sides to absorb any impact during carrier handling.
- The outer box is sealed with reinforced security tape and clearly labelled FRAGILE — COLLECTIBLE — DO NOT BEND.
Multi-Card & Bulk Orders
- Each card is individually sleeved and top-loaded before being grouped.
- Groups are separated by foam dividers inside a single rigid box.
- The box is dimensioned so cards cannot shift laterally during transport.
5. Tracking & Insurance
✅ Every single shipment from RarePokémonCards.shop includes a tracking number and declared-value insurance. No exceptions.
- Tracking numbers are generated at the point of label creation and emailed to you automatically. Allow up to 24 hours after your shipping confirmation email for tracking to activate within the carrier’s system.
- Insurance is included on all orders at the declared sale value. For orders exceeding standard carrier coverage limits, we purchase third-party collectibles insurance at no additional cost to you on orders under $500.
- Signature on delivery is mandatory for all orders valued at $150 or more. This protects both parties and is required by our insurance provider.
- If you are unavailable for delivery, the carrier will leave a collection notice. RarePokémonCards.shop is not liable for packages returned to sender due to repeated failed delivery attempts where signature was required.
6. Damaged or Missing Shipments
⚠️ Received a damaged package or card? Do not discard anything.
Your ability to file a successful insurance claim depends entirely on retaining all original packaging materials, inner packing, and the damaged item itself. Discarding any of these materials may void your claim.
If Your Item Arrives Damaged
- Photograph everything immediately — the outer box, inner packing, the card or slab, and any visible damage. Take photos before removing the item fully from its packaging.
- Do not dispose of any packaging — retain the outer mailer or box, all bubble wrap, top-loaders, and any void fill material.
- Contact us within 48 hours of the delivery scan by emailing sales@rarepokemoncards.shop with your order number and all photos attached.
- We will open an insurance claim on your behalf with the carrier within 1 business day of receiving your report.
- Resolution options include a full replacement (subject to stock availability), a store credit, or a full refund — your choice, processed within 5–7 business days of claim approval.
If Your Package Is Lost in Transit
- A shipment is considered lost if there has been no carrier scan for 7 consecutive business days (domestic) or 21 consecutive business days (international) after the last recorded tracking event.
- Contact us at sales@rarepokemoncards.shop with your order number and we will initiate a carrier trace and insurance claim immediately.
- Do not contact the carrier directly — as the shipper of record, only RarePokémonCards.shop can file the official claim on your behalf.
Our commitment: We have never left a customer without resolution on a lost or damaged shipment. Every order is insured precisely so that neither you nor we have to absorb that loss. We will see every claim through to completion.
7. Additional Shipping Notes
- Address accuracy: Please double-check your shipping address at checkout. RarePokémonCards.shop cannot be held responsible for non-delivery due to an incorrectly entered address. Address change requests must be submitted within 2 hours of order placement.
- P.O. Boxes: Standard and Priority shipments can be delivered to P.O. Boxes. Expedited Express and High-Value orders requiring signature cannot be delivered to P.O. Boxes and require a physical street address.
- Carrier selection: We reserve the right to select the most appropriate carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL) based on destination, order value, and service availability. The selected service tier and insurance coverage will always match or exceed what you paid for.
- Shipping restrictions: We currently do not ship to countries under active trade sanctions or OFAC restrictions. A full list is available upon request.
Last updated: June 2025. Policy subject to change without prior notice. The most current version of this policy is always available at rarepokemoncards.shop/shipping-policy.
For all shipping enquiries: sales@rarepokemoncards.shop