Frequently Asked Questions

GrailGuard is a white-glove hand-carry courier service specialized in the secure, personal delivery of high-value items. Unlike traditional shipping services, our professional couriers physically carry your items by hand, never placing them on conveyor belts or in distribution centers. Every delivery is a direct, personally tracked handoff from pickup to final delivery, with declared-value coverage included. We're the trusted choice for sports cards, luxury watches, fine art, jewelry, and other valuable collectibles that demand the highest level of care.

GrailGuard handles a wide range of high-value items including: sports cards and trading cards, luxury watches (Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, etc.), fine art and paintings, fine jewelry and engagement rings, collectible memorabilia, vintage sneakers, cryptocurrency hardware wallets, documents and contracts, and other valuable collectibles. If you're unsure whether your item qualifies, please contact us and we'll let you know if we can accommodate it.

We serve the entire United States, plus international routes on our International and Premium tiers. Same-day and next-day options are available across all of our delivery tiers — Metro, Nationwide, International, and Premium — subject to courier availability and the specific route. Enter your pickup and delivery cities at checkout to see what's available for your route.

The key difference is personal hand-carry delivery. Traditional carriers place your items on conveyor belts, through sorting facilities, and into trucks with hundreds of other packages, creating risk of damage, loss, or theft. With GrailGuard, a dedicated professional courier carries your item by hand and delivers it directly to your recipient. Your items never touch a conveyor belt or spend time in a facility. Every delivery is tracked in real time via GPS and documented with photos at the chain-of-custody handoffs. Coverage is anchored to the value you declare accurately at booking — we publish coverage up to $500,000 declared value, and items above that are welcome with a quick reach-out for a custom quote. Our couriers are trained specifically in high-value item handling.

Pricing depends on the tier you choose and the specific route. Our published starting prices are: Metro from $599 (same-day, short-range, up to 200 miles), Nationwide from $2,499, International from $3,999, and Premium from $4,999 (custom). Metro pricing scales with distance — the first 50 miles are included in the base, and longer routes add a per-mile surcharge that's shown transparently in your instant quote. You'll always see a fixed quote in checkout before you confirm — no surprise charges. Insurance fees for higher declared values are added in checkout the same way.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, all through our secure Stripe payment processor. Payments are processed at the time of booking. For high-volume relationships, reach out via our support page to discuss.

There's no hard minimum item value, but our white-glove service is built for items where the cost of hand-carry is small relative to the value being protected. If you're moving something well below our published starting prices, standard insured shipping is usually a better fit. If you're unsure, reach out via our support page and we'll point you the right way.

Yes — we offer custom pricing for businesses, collectors, dealers, and anyone planning multiple deliveries. Volume discounts typically apply at 5+ deliveries per month. Reach out via our support page to discuss pricing tailored to your needs.

Yes — coverage is included with every delivery, and the maximum amount we can reimburse is anchored to the declared value you provide accurately at booking. Our published coverage scales up to $500,000 declared value per shipment, with the appropriate coverage bracket and a transparent insurance fee added in checkout for higher declared values. Items above $500,000 are welcome — just reach out via our support page with the details and we'll provide a custom quote. Coverage is active from the moment our courier takes possession until the item is delivered and signed for, and covers loss, theft, and damage in transit. Important: if you under-declare an item's value at booking, your maximum payout is capped at the value you declared — accurate declared value at booking is what protects you.

If damage occurs, file a claim through our claims page with photographic evidence of the item's condition. We investigate the claim and, if approved, reimburse you up to the declared value you provided accurately at booking. Reimbursement is anchored to that declared value — under-declaring caps your potential payout. Claims are subject to our Terms of Service . We work with you to resolve any situation quickly and fairly.

Our couriers capture timestamped condition photos at pickup and delivery as part of the chain-of-custody record. We retain that record internally as the evidence packet that supports any potential claim — it isn't auto-sent to you after each delivery (you have the item in hand at that point). If you ever need to reference it for a claim, we make it available as part of the claim review.

Chain of custody is the documented record of who has your item at every stage of the trip. When our courier takes possession at pickup, they log the handoff with timestamped photos and the sender's signature. During transit the courier maintains continuous custody. At delivery the recipient signs and the handoff is logged again. We retain these records internally as the evidence packet that supports any future claim — they're available to you as part of a claim review rather than auto-sent after each delivery.

Real-time tracking is available 24/7 at grailguard.io/track. Simply enter your tracking number or order ID to see your courier's live GPS location, estimated delivery time, and delivery status updates. You'll also receive SMS and email notifications at key stages: when the courier is en route, when they're nearby, and when the delivery is complete. The tracking page includes photos and courier information for added confidence.

We offer four delivery tiers — Metro, Nationwide, International, and Premium — and next-day delivery is available across all of them subject to courier availability on your specific route. Same-day is available on shorter Metro routes. You'll see the available delivery window at checkout before you confirm. Coverage is continuous from pickup to delivery regardless of route.

On International and longer Nationwide routes that involve air travel, courier flight delays can happen. If one does, you're notified via SMS and email and we coordinate with you in real time on next steps — rerouting through a different leg, adjusting the delivery window, or arranging interim secure storage if needed. Your coverage stays active continuously throughout any delay.

Yes — at delivery the recipient signs and provides a one-time verification code that we send to them by SMS or email. The signature plus code complete the chain-of-custody handoff and serve as proof of delivery. If the recipient won't be available, you can authorize a trusted third party in advance through your booking. We can also accommodate photo-confirmed handoff in specific situations — reach out via our support page to discuss.

Ready to earn? Apply to join our courier network at grailguard.io/deliver (or use the "Become a Courier" link in our navigation menu). The application process includes background check, driving record verification, and professional conduct screening. We accept applicants nationwide. Once approved and onboarded, you can start accepting deliveries through our courier app. New couriers receive training on item handling, photo documentation, and professional standards before their first delivery.

Couriers are W-2 employees paid an hourly base of $30/hr, with a guaranteed-hourly minimum per route — Metro $120 (4hr × $30), Nationwide $180 (6hr × $30), International $480 (16hr × $30). Routes that take longer simply earn more. A weekly bonus is announced before each Friday payroll run and added on top — it varies based on volume, route mix, and demand that week. On-duty time runs from pickup arrival to delivery completion; if you want to layover at the destination for personal time, pause the clock in the courier app and that time isn't billed (or paid). Each available delivery shows its hourly portion in the courier app before you accept; the bonus is communicated by Ops the same week. Payroll runs weekly through Gusto with next-business-day direct deposit; FICA, federal/state tax, and CA SDI are withheld automatically. You set your own schedule and choose which deliveries to accept — individual earnings still vary based on availability and which deliveries you take.

Reliable transportation is required for most routes. Your vehicle must be in good condition and carry current personal auto insurance. Personal cars, SUVs, and motorcycles all work — what matters is that you can move safely and present professionally at handoffs. You're responsible for your own vehicle maintenance and fuel; route specifics and per-trip pay are shown in the app before you accept.

All new couriers complete our GrailGuard Academy training program covering: proper item handling techniques (how to safely pack and transport high-value items), photo documentation standards (how to photograph items for insurance purposes), customer service excellence (professional communication and demeanor), GPS and app usage, chain of custody procedures, and insurance protocols. Training is completed online and is free for all approved couriers. We also provide ongoing support and coaching to help you succeed and maintain top-tier service standards.