Choose Smart or Manual Shipping depending on the order
The method changes how the label and tracking are handled, not the seller's essential responsibility.
Smart Shipping integrates a prepaid label and tracking when available. Manual Shipping leaves the seller to book the transport and communicate the code. In both cases you must choose a traceable service and comply with the carrier's size, weight, packaging and other requirements.
Do not decide on price alone. For a fragile or valuable object, geographic coverage, handling, liability limits, collection, tracking and the possibility of insuring all matter. If a category or destination is not compatible with Smart Shipping, Manual Shipping should not be presented as an inferior option: it simply requires more self-management.
Integrated label, automatic tracking and insurance options when available.
You book the service, enter valid tracking and deal with the carrier directly.
Handover to the carrier within 3 working days
Generating a label is not the same as having shipped.
The current help page requires that, with Smart Shipping, the parcel is actually handed over to the carrier within three working days. The same expectation of fast shipping structures the general flow after payment. If there is a valid reason —special preparation, cleaning, specialised packaging or a scheduled collection— use the shipping date extension feature.
Do not mark the item as shipped early to “gain days”. That creates inconsistent tracking and can harm the buyer, support and the payout. The date that counts is the actual scan/acceptance by the carrier.
Pack for the worst reasonable handling, not for a nice photo
Insurance does not replace proper preparation.
Assess the weight, centre of gravity, fragile surfaces, moving parts and sensitivity to moisture or pressure. Immobilise the object inside the box, protect the corners and separate elements that could knock against each other. For collectable pieces, consider a layer that does not react chemically with the material.
Photograph the object immediately before closing, the internal protection, the closed box and the label. These images can help in a loss or damage claim. Do not use the packaging to hide a pre-existing condition; photograph the prior condition in sufficient detail.
For objects with several pieces, make a simple inventory before closing the box and photograph the set. If the lot includes a case, certificate, charger, stand, accessories or documentation, that list helps prove completeness and prevents a small item from getting lost in the protective material. For pieces with serial numbers, record the identifier privately and share only what is necessary for the transaction.
Packaging should also take the unboxing experience into account. Tape running across delicate surfaces, foam that sheds particles or plastics that react with old materials can cause damage even if the box arrives intact. For high-value collectables, a professional packaging solution can be a reasonable part of the real cost and should be budgeted for before the sale.
Do not reuse a worn box just because the dimensions fit. Compression, moisture and previous knocks reduce its strength. If you reuse material, inspect it and make sure it still does its job. Sustainability does not require accepting insufficient protection for a fragile object.
Valid tracking links delivery, protection and payout
An incorrect code breaks the system's automatic signals.
Catawiki uses tracking to show progress, confirm delivery and trigger the payout logic. The help page warns that an invalid code can prevent the automatic payment three days after the delivery event. With Manual Shipping, check the carrier, format and code before saving.
If the carrier replaces the label or number, update the order. Do not reuse a tracking number for several shipments outside the designated tools. If delivery shows as completed but Catawiki does not detect it, provide proof of delivery and ask the buyer to confirm from the order where appropriate.
Smart Shipping insurance: understand what it covers and when it starts
The current cover uses XCover and is limited to transit.
Catawiki has partnered with XCover for the optional Smart Shipping insurance. The cover described protects the final bid or «Comprar ya» (Buy now) amount against loss, theft or damage from the moment the carrier scans and accepts the parcel until it marks it as delivered.
If the price exceeds 10.000 €, the stated cover is limited to 10.000 €. It does not cover the shipping cost or taxes or duties on a return or a new delivery attempt. The current premium is documented as 1,91% of the object's price, but it must be revalidated because it is dynamic data.
XCover time limits do not run on the same clock as Buyer Protection
The seller's insurance and the buyer's claim can coexist.
The insurance page recommends claiming as soon as possible and lists priority/specific windows for loss, apparent delivery without receipt and damage. For example, damage during shipping must be reported no later than 14 days after delivery according to the current help page; other situations have different limits.
The buyer, for their part, has an operational Catawiki window of three days after delivery to report problems. Do not wait to exhaust the insurance route if the order has an issue: also trigger the relevant platform flow.
Customs and import VAT can change cost and timing
An international auction does not end at the hammer price.
When the object crosses borders, the buyer may have to pay import VAT, duties or clearance charges depending on the origin, destination, value and nature of the goods. Some categories —art, antiques, protected species, alcohol or cultural objects— may have additional requirements.
Do not declare fictitious values to reduce taxes and do not misdescribe the contents. A customs problem can cause delays, return to sender or additional costs. Before selling internationally, check whether the piece can be legally exported/imported and what documentation it needs.
Correct shipping speeds up the payout, but does not make it instant
Confirmed delivery + no issue + configured frequency form the normal sequence.
If the tracking records delivery and no problem appears, the payment is usually ready three days later. Catawiki then processes it at the frequency configured by the seller. Incorrect tracking or an open issue interrupts that sequence.
That is why shipping and payout are related but are not the same function. The SELL guide explains the complete sequence; here the goal is for the logistics to produce clear signals and sufficient evidence.
Catawiki confirms funds.
The carrier accepts the parcel.
Transit is followed.
Delivered is recorded.
Ready after a window with no issue.
When something goes wrong, preserve the condition and coordinate roles
The seller deals with the carrier; Catawiki steps in on certain order problems.
If there is loss, damage or delay, contact the carrier with the correct number and keep all the documentation. Keep the buyer informed through the Message Centre. If the case requires a refund or affects the order, also use Catawiki support.
Do not promise an insurance outcome before XCover assesses the claim. Nor should you ask the buyer to close an issue before a real solution exists just to release the payment.
It may be early evidence of rough handling. Ask for photos before the packaging is thrown away. The mistake to avoid here is assuming the object is fine without inspecting it.
It may be a delay or a loss. Open an enquiry with the carrier and keep a record. The mistake to avoid here is creating a second shipment without coordinating the first.
It can increase returns. Check the order details and the carrier's restrictions. The mistake to avoid here is changing the address outside the flow without traceability.
It can hold up the parcel without it being lost. Provide the correct documentation and follow instructions. The mistake to avoid here is declaring false contents or value.
When a parcel goes back to the sender, also document the carrier's official reason. A return due to an incorrect address, refusal by the recipient, customs or oversized dimensions does not have the same origin or the same responsibility. That classification changes which cost can be recovered and what steps the next shipment should follow.
For collection points or lockers, check how long parcels are held. An uncollected parcel may be returned automatically and create a cycle of cost and delay. The buyer must receive clear tracking and any issue must be recorded within the order.
Checklist before handing over the parcel
A defensible shipment leaves few questions unanswered.
Catawiki's help pages and the specific transaction prevail over any editorial snapshot.
FAQ
How long do I have to ship?
In the normal flow, Catawiki requires the parcel to be handed over to the carrier within 3 working days after payment, unless there is a valid extension.
Does Smart Shipping remove my responsibility?
No. It makes the label and tracking easier, but the seller remains responsible for preparation, packaging and correct delivery.
What happens if I enter the tracking incorrectly?
It may prevent Catawiki from detecting delivery and delay the automatic payout.
Does the insurance cover everything?
No. Smart Shipping insurance covers the final price/«Comprar ya» (Buy now) during transit, up to 10.000 € under the cover described; it does not cover shipping, taxes or duties.
Who pays customs?
It depends on the route and regulations; the buyer may bear import VAT and duties. It must be checked before shipping.
Do I get paid immediately after delivery?
No. In the normal flow, if there is no issue, the payment is usually ready 3 days after delivery and then follows the payout frequency.
Operational information revalidated on 25/08/2026. Sources and licences are kept in the internal record for this checkpoint so as not to clutter the public interface.