Shipping Insurance and Coverage with GorillaShip 

 

 

When it comes to international shipping, understanding what is and isn’t covered is just as important as knowing how much your shipment will cost. At GorillaShip, we’ve built our reputation on protecting collectibles, sports cards, Pokémon items, comics, and other valuable memorabilia as they travel across borders. But no matter how carefully we prepare and consolidate packages, once they leave our facility and enter the global courier network, there are risks outside of our direct control.

That’s why we provide clear, transparent coverage options to give our customers peace of mind. This page explains how our insurance system works, what’s included automatically with your subscription at GShipUS.com, and how you can purchase additional protection through our trusted partner, ShipSmart.

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Understanding Base Rate Shipping vs. Insured Shipments

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It’s important for every customer to know the distinction between a package shipped at the base rate and one that is insured through GShipUS.com or ShipSmart.

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• Base Rate (Uninsured): If you choose not to add coverage, your package ships at the carrier’s standard liability level, which is typically minimal or nonexistent. This means that if your package is lost, stolen, or damaged in transit, the only value recognized is the courier’s base rate — which may be as low as $0.00 compensation.

• Insured Shipments: By insuring your package with GorillaShip or ShipSmart, you are safeguarding its declared replacement value against loss or damage during transit. This is the only way to ensure your collectibles are financially protected.

At GorillaShip, we want to be clear: if you do not insure your shipment, you are only entitled to the base rate compensation offered by the courier, and in most cases, this does not cover your item’s actual value.

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Complimentary Coverage from GorillaShip

 

As part of your subscription benefits, every GorillaShip customer receives $50.00 USD in complimentary coverage on every shipment that departs from our facility. This built-in protection offers a safety net against loss or damage during transit.

• No additional forms are required.

• No extra fees are charged for this coverage.

• Every package automatically receives this $50.00 safeguard.

While this complimentary coverage provides peace of mind for smaller shipments, we understand that many of our customers are shipping valuable collectibles, sealed card boxes, or graded items that far exceed $50 in value. For that reason, we’ve partnered with ShipSmart, our preferred Third-Party Insurance Provider.

ShipSmart Insurance Options

 

ShipSmart x GShipUS.com allows customers to purchase extended coverage of up to $2,500.00 per consignment, providing flexible protection that matches the true value of your shipment.

One of the unique advantages of using ShipSmart with GShipUS.com is that your insured value and your customs declaration value can differ. This gives you flexibility to protect your package for what it’s truly worth while still declaring an appropriate customs value for international clearance.

Coverage Premiums (Per Declared Value)

 

Declared Replacement Value                 Premium

$100.00                                                               $5.00

$200.00                                                               $8.00

$400.00                                                               $10.00

$600.00                                                               $12.00

$800.00                                                               $16.00

$1,000.00                                                           $25.00

$2,000.00                                                           $45.00

$2,500.00 (Maximum)                                 $60.00

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By offering tiered pricing, ShipSmart makes it easy to select the right protection level for your shipment without overpaying.

How to Add ShipSmart Coverage

 

Adding insurance to your shipment is simple. When you fill out the shipment request form on GorillaShip, you’ll be able to select ShipSmart coverage as part of the process.

Because GorillaShip works directly with Ship Smart’s local team, your claim process is streamlined, and your coverage is recognized from the moment your package leaves our facility.

Claims Process and Requirements

 

If you ever need to make a claim, we’ve designed the process to be as quick and customer friendly as possible:

• Claims must be submitted within 5 business days of confirmed delivery by the courier.

• All claims are filed directly with GorillaShip representatives — you won’t be bounced between multiple companies.

• Unlike many shipping insurers, proof of purchase or receipts are not required when shipping directly with GorillaShip.

• All claims are subject to an investigation period of no longer than 60 business days.

• The maximum value of cover we provide per consignment is $2,500.00.

Special Coverage for Personal Shipments

 

ShipSmart also provides coverage for personal shipments outside of standard GorillaShip consolidations. For these, additional details may be required:

• Clear photographs of the shipment prior to departure.

• Photographs of the shipping label.

• In certain cases, additional documentation confirming the value of the items.

These requirements are in place to ensure that if something does happen, your claim is processed quickly and without dispute.

Why Coverage Matters for Collectors

 

For hobbyists and collectors, packages often hold far more than monetary value. A single PSA-graded sports card, Pokémon booster box, or signed memorabilia item could represent years of collecting, personal passion, and community investment. Shipping without insurance places all of that at risk.

At GorillaShip, we encourage every customer to view insurance as a protection plan, not just a cost. For a modest premium, you can shield your collection from the unpredictable — whether it’s a courier mishandling a box or an unexpected transit loss.

Key Takeaways

• Uninsured packages only receive the courier’s base rate liability — often little to no compensation.

• GShipUS.com provides $50.00 complimentary coverage on every shipment for subscribed customers.

• ShipSmart Insurance offers up to $2,500.00 coverage, with affordable premium tiers.

• Claims are filed directly with GorillaShip’s team and resolved within 60 business days.

• Coverage for personal shipments is also available with additional documentation.

With over 15 years of logistics expertise in the collectibles community, GorillaShip and GShipUS.com remain committed to making international shipping transparent, reliable, and safe for every collector. Whether you’re shipping one trading card or consolidating dozens of packages, we make sure you have the protection you need.