PIP Insurance

Protect your shipments with optional coverage up to $50 per envelope.

What is PIP insurance?

PIP stands for Parcel Insurance Plan. It is an optional shipment insurance service integrated directly into TCGTracking that covers your envelopes against loss or damage in transit.

PIP insurance is one of the lowest-cost shipment insurance options available to non-marketplace sellers, and it is built directly into your workflow with no separate account or third-party service needed.

Tip

PIP insurance is completely optional. You are only charged when you choose to add it to a shipment. There are no monthly fees or minimums.

Pricing

PIP insurance rates depend on your account tier:

Free plan — $0.17 min

or 0.85% of declared value, whichever is greater.

Beta Supporter — $0.13 min

or 0.70% of declared value, whichever is greater.

Caution

Upgrading to the Beta Supporter plan at $9.99/month can pay for itself quickly if you insure a high volume of shipments.

Coverage limits

• Maximum coverage per shipment: $50
• Coverage includes loss and damage in transit
• You set the declared value when adding insurance to a shipment

Trackable envelopes only

PIP insurance does not currently apply to carrier labels — even for $50 shipments. TCGTracking will ignore insurance added to a carrier-label order (and in v2, it won’t let you select insurance on one). For higher-value carrier-label shipments, use the carrier’s own insurance through EasyPost instead.

How to use PIP insurance

Adding PIP insurance to a shipment takes just one extra step during the printing process.

1. Import your orders as normal using Quick Create

2. When reviewing your orders before printing, find the Insurance column

3. Enter the declared value of the shipment

4. PIP insurance will be automatically added to that shipment

5. The insurance cost will be charged to your account when you print

Declare the accurate value

Make sure the declared value accurately reflects the value of the cards inside the envelope. Overstating the value may result in a denied claim.

Filing a claim

If a package is lost or damaged in transit, you can file a PIP insurance claim directly through your TCGTracking dashboard.

What is eligible for PIP insurance?

• Lost package — if your package has not been delivered and tracking shows no movement for an extended period.
• Damaged package — if the recipient reports receiving a damaged shipment.
• Shortage — if the package arrived but some of the items inside are missing.

When can I file a claim?

A claim may be filed 30 days after the first scan of a mailpiece. If a mailpiece is never scanned, you can manually attest that you have mailed the package, and must wait 30 days from the date of attestation.

Don't file too early

Wait the full 30 days before filing. PIP doesn’t care when the buyer reports non-receipt — only that you file the claim after the 30-day mark. Filing before 30 days tends to cause problems with the claim (even though, ultimately, proof of the refund you issued ends up being accepted). When in doubt, wait until day 30.

How to file a claim

File directly on PIP

You can skip navigating the dashboard and go straight to the PIP claim form: pip-claim.com claim form. You’ll still want your policy number and tracking number from your TCGTracking dashboard (steps below) to fill it out.

1. Go to your TCGTracking dashboard and find the order

   In the Shipments tab.

2. Search for the order

   Via tracking, order #, zip, or recipient name.

3. Click into the order to bring up details

4. Click the Insurance tab

5. Take note of the Policy Number and your tracking number

   Policy Number 18035 — you will need these to file.

6. Click File Claim

   Use the policy number and provide a screenshot of the invoice and notification of non-delivery.

7. Fill in the claim details

Tip

Use the radio buttons at the top of the shipment box — you can filter these later to find orders that need claims sent in. TCGTracking’s built-in tracking data is automatically included with your claim, which speeds up the process significantly.

Filling out the claim form

Skip the typing — autofill it

The TCGTracking Utilities Chrome extension has a PIP Claim Autofill feature that fills these fields in for you automatically — a big time-saver if you file claims regularly. Install it from the Chrome Web Store.

A few fields on the PIP form trip people up. Here’s what goes where:

• Insured’s Name and address — these must match exactly the name and address in your TCGTracking profile under Personal Information (Profile → Personal information). This is you, the seller being paid.
• Send claim check to the attention of — your full name (the person being paid and filling out the claim).
• Upload a copy of your original invoice to the consignee — anything from the marketplace showing the order amount and details (an order confirmation works fine).
• Upload a copy of the correspondence from the consignee advising you of the loss — a message from the buyer, or the case they opened on the marketplace.
• Invoice Number — not required. If you do fill it in, it’s your order number.

What's the claim reference number?

TCGTracking has a field for a “claim reference number,” but PIP doesn’t actually issue one. Just use your tracking number. (If you filled in the optional Invoice Number field on the PIP form, it’s unclear whether that changes anything — but the tracking number is the safe answer.)

Common questions

Does PIP insurance cover all my shipments automatically?

No. PIP insurance is opt-in per shipment. You choose which orders to insure and enter the declared value manually during the printing process.

Can I insure shipments over $50?

No. The maximum coverage per shipment is $50. For higher-value shipments, consider using a carrier label with built-in insurance through EasyPost instead.

Does PIP cover carrier labels?

No — PIP applies to trackable envelopes only, not carrier labels, even at $50. TCGTracking will ignore insurance added to a carrier-label order. For carrier-label shipments, use the carrier’s own insurance through EasyPost.

How long does it take to process a claim?

Claim processing times vary, but having your tracking data automatically included typically speeds things up. You will be notified via email when your claim is processed.

Is PIP insurance available on the free plan?

Yes. PIP insurance is available on both the free plan and the Beta Supporter plan. Beta Supporters get lower rates per shipment.