Shipping Policy

The 2-business-day ship-by deadline

When a trade locks — both parties accept a swap, or payment clears on a straight sale — the ship-by clock starts. Each shipping party has 2 business days (Monday–Friday) to hand the card to the carrier. The exact date is shown on the transaction screen the moment the trade confirms and is repeated in the confirmation email or text.

One extension. If you need more time, you can take a single one-business-day extension per trade from the transaction screen. You give a short reason; approval is automatic; the other party sees the new date and the reason. A second delay is not self-serve — message the other party, or contact support.

Missing the deadline. If nothing has shipped by the deadline and you have not communicated, the other party may open a non-delivery claim. SwapSlabs checks tracking and messages; if the evidence shows a clear default, the guarantee process charges the defaulting party's card on file (see the 100% Guarantee).

Tier 1 drop-off flow

When a sale or swap is confirmed, the member who ships completes these steps:

• •Buy card-safe packaging through SwapSlabs (the packaging fee) sized to the card count
• •Pack the card and confirm the shipment details — carrier, service level, and declared value
• •SwapSlabs generates a QR code that encodes the shipment data and is tied to SwapSlabs's carrier account
• •Take the packaged card to a participating UPS Store, FedEx Store, or partner drop-off location
• •Staff scan the QR code; the label prints in-store and is applied on the spot — no home printer needed
• •Tracking then updates automatically on the transaction until delivery

Packaging standards

Cards must be shipped in the card-safe packaging bought through SwapSlabs: the card in a penny sleeve and a semi-rigid or top-loader (a graded slab in a slab-fit sleeve), immobilized against a rigid backing, then a bubble mailer or small box. Do not ship a raw card loose in an envelope. Under-packing that leads to damage can shift responsibility to the sender under the Guarantee.

Fees

You pay a packaging fee for the card-safe materials and a shipping fee equal to the carrier rate SwapSlabs is billed plus a small markup. Insurance is added automatically above a declared-value threshold. Shipments above $1,000 declared value add a signature fee. Exact amounts are shown before you confirm. See the Fee Schedule for how these fit with commission and processing.

Local pickup alternative

Instead of shipping, both parties may agree to a local hand-off. Choose local pickup on the transaction. You still confirm receipt on SwapSlabs so the transaction completes and ratings unlock. Local pickup is not available when a signature is required (declared value above $1,000).

Signature requirement above $1,000

For any shipment with a declared value above $1,000, the label is signature-required and a signature fee applies. This protects both sides on high-value cards and is not optional for those shipments.

Risk of loss

Risk of loss passes to the recipient on delivery to the recipient's address. Between correct drop-off and delivery, a lost or carrier-damaged package is handled through the shipping insurance on the label and the 100% Guarantee — provided you used the SwapSlabs-generated label and tracking and declared value accurately.

If you ship outside SwapSlabs's system, do not use the generated label, or mismark the declared value, you may lose insurance and Guarantee protection and may become responsible for a loss.

Lost or damaged: how a claim works

If tracking stalls with no movement for several days, or a package is marked delivered but not received, or a card arrives damaged, contact the other member and then open a dispute on the transaction. Keep the box, the packaging, and the damaged card, and take dated photos before and after opening.

SwapSlabs files the carrier insurance claim on shipments sent with its label, follows up with the carrier, and uses the Guarantee to make the wronged member whole in the meantime where the evidence supports it. Carrier claims can take a few weeks to pay out; the Guarantee is not delayed waiting on the carrier.

Where SwapSlabs ships

SwapSlabs shipping supports domestic US addresses at launch. International shipping, customs handling, and cross-border insurance are not yet supported; an international buyer and seller may agree to local pickup where practical. [PLACEHOLDER — confirm the launch shipping footprint and any international rollout with operations.]

Delays and problems

Carrier delays happen and are outside SwapSlabs's control. If tracking stalls or a package is marked delivered but not received, contact the other member, then open a dispute promptly so SwapSlabs can review under the Guarantee.