Introduction: The Boom in Online Gold Buying
The online gold buying market has exploded in Europe and around the world. Driven by record-high gold prices in 2025 (+46% in 2025) and a start to 2026 that once again broke all records, thousands of transactions are now completed remotely every month: family heirlooms sent by mail, scrap gold dropped off at a national counter, and gold bars shipped from individuals to professionals.
This market faces a specific risk that differs from that of sculptures or high-tech products. The risk here isn’t breakage: gold doesn’t break. The risk lies in loss and substitution: a package arriving “empty” or containing items of a different value than those shipped. These incidents are rare, but tracking them is nearly impossible without a rigorous protocol.
This guide details the complete protocol for shipping precious metals and jewelry with maximum security, the legal pitfalls posed by carriers, and the insurance solution tailored for gold buyers who ship large volumes on a regular basis.
Hidden Exclusions by Carriers: The Trap in the Terms and Conditions
Before shipping any precious metals, be sure to read your Carrier terms and conditions. You might be surprised by what you find there.
La Poste: The declared value and Colissimo Business Insurance are capped at €5,000 per shipment, and unprocessed precious metals (ingots, gold scrap, coins with face value) are explicitly excluded from coverage in certain plans. For gold buyback shipments exceeding this threshold, there is no postal coverage.
Express carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) : Their terms and conditions generally exclude "precious stones, precious metals, and jewelry" from standard coverage. They do offer special Art & Valuables plans, but at rates close to 1.5%, with cumbersome reporting procedures and compensation processing times of 60 to 90 days.
Contractual Gap: A shipment of gold sent without a specific declaration of value or ad valorem insurance is covered up to... €26/kg (CMR Convention). For €25,000 worth of gold scrap weighing 200 grams, the compensation would be €5.20 ( at the February 2026 rate).
So the primary protection isn't the packaging; it's the insurance policy you sign before handing the package over to Carrier.
The Psychology of Packaging: The Principle of Anonymity
In the transportation of precious metals, packaging serves a purpose that other product categories do not: invisibility.
A package that stands out is a package at risk. Targeted thefts at sorting centers or during handling almost always involve packages that can be identified by their potential contents. The rule of thumb is simple and absolute.
Never use on the packaging:
- Adhesive tape or boxes labeled "Jewelry," "Gold Counter," "Gold & Silver," or any other label identifying the sector
- Packaging in a distinctive color that matches your brand
- Your full business name as the sender if it includes the words "gold," "jewelry," "precious," or "buyback"
Best practices for packaging:
- Use initials or a generic name as the sender (e.g., "E. Martin" instead of "Martin Gold & Silver Store")
- Choose standard boxes and envelopes without any exterior customization
- Never disclose the nature or value of the contents to outsiders—this requirement is also specified in Claisy’s terms and conditions to maintain coverage
This principle of anonymity is the first line of defense against targeted theft. While it does not protect against all risks, it eliminates the risk of opportunistic theft, which accounts for the majority of thefts in transit.
Secure Enveloping Protocol: VOID Bag Technique
The main problem with shipping precious metals isn't external theft of the package. It's internal tampering: someone opens the package, removes some or all of the contents, and reseals it. Without evidence that the package was opened, Dispute impossible to resolve Dispute .
The solution to this risk isthe security-sealed envelope, known as a "VOID bag" or Securipak.
How the VOID Seal Works
These envelopes or pouches are made with a special adhesive closure that leaves a visible, irreversible mark ("OPENED" or "VOID") on the protective film as soon as anyone attempts to open or peel them open. Any attempt to open them is permanent and cannot be erased.
Implications for insurance: If your package arrives with a VOID seal activated, you have tangible proof of tampering. At Claisy, this evidence can be used directly in the claims investigation process and significantly speeds up the decision-making process.
Practical Recommendations for Shipping Valuable Goods
- Choose envelopes with unique serial numbers: write down the number before mailing and provide it to the recipient. Any discrepancy in the number upon receipt constitutes a reportable anomaly
- For high-value shipments (> €2,000), use a double VOID envelope: an inner envelope to hold the jewelry and an outer envelope to contain the entire package. Opening either one leaves a mark
- Take a photo of the seal before closing: ensure the number is legible and the protective film is intact
Claisy: The Alternative to Your Carriers' Ad Valorem System
A more transparent and simpler fixed rate
Traditional shipping insurance offered by express carriers generally operates in tiers or brackets: €0 to €1,000 (fixed rate), €1,000 to €5,000 (tier 2), and so on. For a gold buyer who ships varying volumes each week, this system results in either costly over-insurance or dangerous under-insurance.
Claisy uses a flat ad valorem rate of 0.60% Excluding VAT a rate reserved for jewelers, gold buyers, and gold dealers) regardless of the value of the shipment (up to €100,000). It is proportional, predictable, and competitive.
Claisy operates as a specialized Insurtech company, which allows it to spread risk across a broad portfolio of e-commerce and high-value shipping professionals. It is this model that justifies a rate of 0.60%, whereas traditional insurers start at 1%–1.5% for precious metals.
Cost savings vs. DHL insurance: €40 per shipment. For a business sending 3 shipments per week—or about 150 shipments per year— this amounts to €6,000 in annual savings with equivalent coverage, and a claims settlement time reduced by a factor of 20.
Information regarding carriers' terms and conditions and coverage limits is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change. Please verify the terms and conditions in effect at the time of your shipment. ⚠️: For unprocessed precious metals, contact Claisy directly to verify the coverage applicable to your situation.