Never ship your cards with Bartolini (BRT) — not even insured

by Riccardo Emanuele Eustor·Riftbound Zone

If you buy or sell collectible cards — Pokémon, Magic, Riftbound — there's one thing to know before you drop a parcel at a shipping point: BRT (Bartolini), one of Italy's main couriers, treats collectible cards as goods that are not acceptable for transport and not insurable. And here's the part that catches people out: even if you pay for insurance, you are not covered. In case of damage or loss no refund is granted. So the advice is blunt: never ship your cards with Bartolini.

What BRT saysCollectible cards: not accepted and not insurable

According to the courier's service notice, collectible items and documents — the category that includes trading cards — are excluded from transport because their insurable value cannot be objectively determined. The practical consequence is clear on three fronts:

• these shipments cannot be accepted for transport;
• insurance coverage cannot be activated on their contents;
• in case of damage or loss, no refund will be granted.

This isn't a penalty aimed at you: it's the courier declining all liability for this type of goods. Shipping anyway means travelling fully uncovered.

The key point"But I'll insure it!" — No, insurance doesn't cover you

It's the most common and most expensive mistake. You think: "I'll ship with declared value, so I'm safe." With collectible cards it doesn't work that way. If the courier classes the goods as not insurable, the cover on the contents never kicks in: even paying the surcharge, a claim for damage or loss is rejected because it's excluded merchandise. In other words, you pay for insurance that is worthless. "I'll just insure it" is not a safety net: with Bartolini and cards, the insurance is void.

What it means for the communityMarketplace, trades and player-to-player sales

The most exposed activity is player-to-player trading: every time a seller ships a card to a buyer, there's a shipment involved. If it travels with a courier that doesn't cover cards, the first problem raises the question "who eats the loss?" — and with no valid cover the answer is almost always a dispute. So when you use the community Marketplace, agree in advance on how to ship and who carries the risk, especially for the higher-value cards you can track in the Card Prices section.

How to handle itHow to ship cards (or not) safely

The golden rule isn't "just pick another courier at random": many operators have similar clauses and treat collectibles as excluded or non-refundable goods. So before the courier's name, what matters is the method. Here's how to cut the risk:

• Always read the transport terms of the service you choose: if "collectibles" are excluded, you're travelling without coverage, whatever "insured" label you paid for.
• Prefer services with real declared-value cover that genuinely accept and insure the contents, and declare them correctly under their rules.
• Pack carefully: sleeve + toploader or rigid cardboard, a team bag against moisture, and a padded envelope or sturdy box. Never a plain paper envelope.
• Always use tracking and keep the shipping receipt.
• Photograph the cards and packaging before sealing the parcel: if there's a dispute, evidence helps.
• For premium pieces or high amounts, consider hand delivery: at events and community tournaments you meet other players in person and remove the shipping risk entirely.

Frequently askedFAQ: shipping cards with Bartolini

Source: BRT S.p.A. service notice on the shipping of collectible cards. Summary and tips by the Riftbound Zone editorial team; this article is for information only and does not replace the courier's general terms of carriage.