One rule covers most of it: the item must not be able to move inside the parcel, bend, or get wet.
By item type
- Raw cards — penny sleeve, then a top loader or semi-rigid. High value: a card saver inside a rigid mailer. Never loose in a padded bag
- Graded slabs — bubble wrap, then a box the slab cannot slide around in. Fill gaps with crumpled paper. A padded envelope alone is not enough for a slab
- Coins — wrap each one in acid-free paper or a 2×2 flip, separate with foam, use a rigid box. Coins rattling against each other cause edge dings
- Banknotes — rigid currency sleeve or mylar holder, cardboard stiffener on both sides, rigid mailer. Never fold or roll a note
- Stamps — glassine envelopes, cardboard stiffeners, rigid mailer
- Anything above ₹5,000 — double-box with cushioning between the two boxes, insured shipping, keep the receipt
Monsoon and long routes
Add a sealed plastic layer inside the parcel between June and September, and on any long route. A soggy outer box is survivable. A soggy banknote is not.
Send exactly the item in the listing photos. Swapping in "an equivalent one" is treated as not as described, however similar you think it is.
Bad packing does not just risk the item. It leads to claims, held payouts, and reviews that cost you future sales.