posted on February 24, 2002 11:20:46 PM new
I have been selling magazines, and magazine ads on ebay for a while now. After having the post office lose one of my packages I am sure to include a statement on my listings about the seller not being responsible for the item once it has been shipped, and if the buyer wants to insure the package they can add $1.10 to their payment. I have had several people buy insurance (which I actually don't like doing, because then I have to go to the post office, and wait in line).
This Saturday I had an interesting experience at the post office. I tell the clerk that I want $20 insurance on my well wrapped (with a cardboard insert) item. She looks at me and rolls her eyes and tells me that I cannot insure a piece of paper. I tell her that it is an advertisement - more like a collectible and that someone has paid a good price for it, and they would like to have it insured. She says even if the post office does insure it, that if something did happen - it is a piece of paper, so I would not be able to claim anything.
So there I am, in the post office where I have insured dozens of "pieces of paper" over the past several months and I am wondering... what is the deal here? Is this lady right, that I am fooling myself and my buyers thinking that buying insurance on this package is protecting the buyer? Or is she giving me bad info?
I have asked the post office online, and they say someone should get back to me tomorrow... but I am just wondering if other sellers have been able to use the auction value of an item from ebay as the item value? Do a lot of folks use the online insurance options - UPIC? I would love to use fed-x or UPS but it is just not cost effective when your package weighs less than 4 oz (unless I am missing something).
Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom you can give me on this problem. I will update this thread with the post office reply.
posted on February 24, 2002 11:59:28 PM new
I can't imagine why they wouldn't allow you to insure "a piece of paper." After all, a $100 bill is just "a piece of paper," right, so who says a piece of paper ain't worth anything??
I hope you get an answer soon from the P.O. Or. . . next time, tell them it's a picture of GW Bush? What if it were an autograph? Just a piece of paper???? Duhhhhhhhh.
posted on February 25, 2002 12:18:02 AM new
Yeah.. the funny thing was(in retrospect), the guy before me insured a book... a bunch of "pieces of paper." She didn't seem to have a problem with that.
posted on February 25, 2002 01:26:29 AM new
If I were you, I'd talk to the postmaster at your local office. The rep obviously doesn't know what they were talking about.
The postal services makes big money on insurance... why do you think they try and push all the options on you?
posted on February 25, 2002 04:21:25 AM new
I have a friend who has an original handbill from a Joe Lewis fight. If I end up selling this item for him, I am sure the buyer would like to have this "piece of paper" insured! Give me a break!
posted on February 25, 2002 06:12:20 AM new
Another example of why the postal service is losing money hand over fist. Employees like this really need to be educated.
OTOH, if you did have a claim, there could be a problem for you in establishing the value of the collectible ad. I understand that the post office is unlikely to accept the ebay ad as proof of actual value. In other threads, it has been reported that the post office wants verification of the price to be from elsewhere.
Acceptable sources include things ike a WalMart ad or mail order catalog. And you know how difficult that would be.
Frankly, I rarely offer insurance and if I do only for items over $50. I do use delivery confirmation as my defense against the 2-3% of unscrupulous buyers who claim "non delivery" when they have actually received the item. Funny how these "missing" items always show up within 24 hours of their receiving the DC tracking details.
[ edited by litlux on Feb 25, 2002 06:20 AM ]
posted on February 25, 2002 07:51:57 AM new
I also magazine ads and never insure. If lost, I just give the seller his money back. If the ad costs $10 and insurance is $1.10, the p.o. would have to lose one out of every 10 packages for you to come out ahead.
posted on February 25, 2002 11:20:21 AM new
The more I look at the options, I think I would be better off just insuring these low priced items myself. It sounds like even if the item is lost or damaged, the post office will give me grief.
If I go through an independant company I would probably have the same kind of hastle to establish a value.
Hopefully I will get an answer back from the post office soon on this question, and I will post it to this thread.
posted on February 25, 2002 11:58:58 AM new
There are a lot of problems within the Postal Service due to lack of training or updates on training, and attitude problems. Each PO seems to operate on their own rules with no system-wide standard.
Regarding a collectible advertisement [paper], well, the Bill of Rights is a piece of paper and it certainlly would have value! It's just silly to think that paper does not qualify for insurance. You should have no harder time showing proof of value than a piece of glass or pottery. Don't let the PO bully you. Good luck.
[ edited by morgantown on Feb 25, 2002 12:00 PM ]
posted on February 27, 2002 12:17:58 AM new
Wow - the post office customer service sends out an email saying that you should hear from them in under 24 hours.. it is already over 48.. hmmmm. Should be interesting to hear what they have to say.
posted on February 27, 2002 12:47:55 AM new
Yes the USPS does pay the auction price for a piece that is lost. I had a childrens book that I insured for $80.00. That is what the buyer paid for it. I sent it Priority with insurance and it was never delievered, well it was but was left on a doorstep and the box disappeared. I filed for insurance where I gave them the EOA notice along with a copy of the insurance form. The buyer had to submit a copy of the cancelled check and in 6 weeks they paid the $80.00 plus the insurance and shipping charges.
