What is the purpose of post office insurance?

[DawnM]

I had to mail off some packages today.

When asked if I wanted insurance I said, "Yes, $100 worth."

The postal lady then proceeded to say the following:

"Now, just so you know, IF anything were to happen to this box or it's contents, you would need to PROVE with a receipt that the contents of the box is worth $100 AND you would need to PROVE that we actually damaged it or lost it."

HUH? So if the postal service loses it in transit 2,000 miles away I have to prove that they lost it? And if it is damaged I need to fly out there and prove that they are indeed the cause of the damage AND I have to provide a receipt proving that the item was X amount?

Dawn

 

[daughtersrus]

FYI~ when I was sending some gifts (including gift cards) to my friend in CA last year, I was told by a postal worker that gift cards are not covered by insurance.

 

[richmond282]

I would think a tracking ticket would take care of the "losing it" thing. I have never had a postal worker tell me all of that before. Just "How much is the item worth?" I usually only insure stuff I have sold on ebay, so I could easily print out the information about the sale transaction complete with delivery address to prove it's worth.

 

[Green Tea]

A dress I had to return was lost. Thankfully I had purchased the insurance. I had to jump thru hoops, then jump thru hoops a second time, and then yet a third time send the exact same documentation I had sent the first 2 times after going to the local post office to speak with someone about the matter. But, they did eventually pay. Oddly they did not refund the postage for the lost package though. I went to the local post office and the postmaster gave it back.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I had to mail off some packages today.

When asked if I wanted insurance I said, "Yes, $100 worth."

The postal lady then proceeded to say the following:

"Now, just so you know, IF anything were to happen to this box or it's contents, you would need to PROVE with a receipt that the contents of the box is worth $100 AND you would need to PROVE that we actually damaged it or lost it."

HUH? So if the postal service loses it in transit 2,000 miles away I have to prove that they lost it? And if it is damaged I need to fly out there and prove that they are indeed the cause of the damage AND I have to provide a receipt proving that the item was X amount?

Dawn

pretty much!
Only insure if you have PROOF of the current value and the receipt/s for such and a picture of the item (that usually helps). They really do not lose that much typically, with all the items they deliver, but IF you want to be certain to get your $$ back its an option.
You can pay by credit card and then youd be covered under that (at least my card covers if I did not get the service I paid for)
If you just want to see that your pkg got there, you can opt for delivery confirmation.
I prefer to do most of my shipping thru USPS and buy it all online, and print out labels, easy peasy!

 

[Diegosmom]

A few years back we sent to big boxes of stuff to Mexico. It was mostly used clothes, a dvd player and some pictures and stuff from our weeding (DHs parents did not come to wedding so we were sending them some stuff). A month later 1 back came back to my house. We waited but never saw the other one. I went to PO cause I had $100 of insurance and was told I needed receipts...ummm that box has all used clothes...so I didnt have receipts. It was def. over $100 value though cause it was name brand clothes. So I didnt do anything figured I lost out on the $100 shipping and didnt get my stuff back. Well it did turn up at our house over a year later lol. But I was at a different post office and was telling the story and they told me I could have brought in any receipts for clothes and that I also could have brought in a slaes flier with similar items...But it does seem like you have to jump thru hoops.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would think a tracking ticket would take care of the "losing it" thing. I have never had a postal worker tell me all of that before. Just "How much is the item worth?" I usually only insure stuff I have sold on ebay, so I could easily print out the information about the sale transaction complete with delivery address to prove it's worth.

Ummmmm no.....the USPS tracking system is terrible. They regularly skip scanning packages so you have NO idea where they are, it's really not a good system at all. I know, we have a client who wants to ship USPS all the time and he's always asking US why his packages don't have reliable tracking....

 

[starry_solo]

pretty much!
Only insure if you have PROOF of the current value and the receipt/s for such and a picture of the item (that usually helps). They really do not lose that much typically, with all the items they deliver, but IF you want to be certain to get your $$ back its an option.
You can pay by credit card and then youd be covered under that (at least my card covers if I did not get the service I paid for)
If you just want to see that your pkg got there, you can opt for delivery confirmation.
I prefer to do most of my shipping thru USPS and buy it all online, and print out labels, easy peasy!

1. Really? The post office lost a package I mailed in April (not sure if it was the USPS that lost it or Canada post, but the last tracking shows it cleared customs, so I am thinking Canada post lost it.
2. Do you think it's too late to get the $ back from the charge? I think I charged it to my Citi card or my Disney Visa (going to look now!)
3. No refund on the postage amount? I hope not; I want that back!

 

[richmond282]

Ummmmm no.....the USPS tracking system is terrible. They regularly skip scanning packages so you have NO idea where they are, it's really not a good system at all. I know, we have a client who wants to ship USPS all the time and he's always asking US why his packages don't have reliable tracking....

I simply meant that if the tracking system does not show the package was delivered, that would be proof that the package was not recieved. I didn't mean that the USPS doesn't lose packages or forget to scan things.

 

[furb & dez]

If you want your packages to get there, or be compensated if they dont... Don't Use the Postal Service.

Use UPS/Fedex. They are more expensive for a reason - they actually usually get your packages there, and most of the time undamaged. That's something the USPS has never mastered.

Also, UPS/Fedex actually tracks your packages, so they actually know where your package is at all times.
Also, Priority Mail just means that they are supposed to sort your package first. It does not mean it actually gets delivered any quicker.
Also, Express Mail is not guaranteed in any way, so... it might get there in two days, and it might not. They'll shrug at you if it doesn't.

But I'm not biased in any way, no sir.

 

[SandrA9810]

1. Really? The post office lost a package I mailed in April (not sure if it was the USPS that lost it or Canada post, but the last tracking shows it cleared customs, so I am thinking Canada post lost it.
2. Do you think it's too late to get the $ back from the charge? I think I charged it to my Citi card or my Disney Visa (going to look now!)
3. No refund on the postage amount? I hope not; I want that back!

Well apparently the Canadian Postal system has been on strike and lots and lots of packages are sitting in customs right now. As an ebay seller, it has been frustrating since the buyer keeps sending messages asking where their stuff is. Usually a call from USPS to customs seems to get things moving along a little bit faster. I think there's been 4 packages in the past few months stuck in customs for no reason.


Credit cards usually have a money back policy if you're not satisfied with your purchase. However I don't know how that comes into play with lost packages. Since it's not the shipper's fault.

As for insurance, for ebay sellers, a print out of the completed auction will suffice for value. But for regular joe smoe, a list of contents with print outs of current values. Like if you buy a camera at Walmart store, then ship it. Go to walmart.com and print out it's current price. Used stuff, try to find the replacement value. If it's something highly valuable, like a family heirloom, it might be a good idea to have it appraised for current value (also good for home owner policies too).

If it's damaged in transit, the recipient will take it to their local post office for inspection. Pictures are also helpful when submitting the forms. Forms have to be filled out by the sender. If they approve your claim, they will take the item to be destroyed (or possible resold if it's still usable). Or you can get an estimate for repair, keep the item, get a partial payment to cover the cost of the repair.

If you have something of high value, and want good tracking, pay for registered mail. It also requires signature upon delivery no matter what country it is going to. Often times, once it's passed from USPS hands into the other country's postal system, the insurance and tracking can stop. It'll just say it was passed off to customs. Registered also prevents packages from being opened and inspected at customs. Some countries are known for mail theft at customs locations (like South/Central America countries).

 

[n2mm]

I've tried to use the USPS insurance too and gave up. First off, it's never their fault and I sold a figurine that was broken in transit and they wanted me to prove it was not broken when I packaged it....wth. The transaction was a total loss for me. I've been using the insurance that ebay provides, but have not had to use it yet. I've read the terms and am hoping it's not as bad as the USPS insurance, but time will tell....bottom line, everyone loses. The buyer doesn't get the item and the seller loses their money and the item. I hate selling anything breakable.

 

[ellone]

Also, Express Mail is not guaranteed in any way, so... it might get there in two days, and it might not. They'll shrug at you if it doesn't.

But if it doesn't get there when it was supposed to, you do get a refund of the postage amount.

 

[torinsmom]

It sucks when they deliver to the wrong address. Their system will show the package was delivered, but it won't have made it to it's destination. I have had this happen with UPS, as well as USPS. As a matter of fact, UPS delivers things that aren't mine every few months. They leave it under the street number on my door, which is 2412, even though the package says 2512. The names are not even close. Luckily for those guys, I am very honest and take the packages down, then call UPS to report it. Doesn't seem to work with that one driver though.