neglus
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posted on May 31, 2003 06:19:14 AM new
and you don't offer insurance? I know that this will be the one item/thousand that will be lost in the mail if I don't insure it and yet DAMMIT!! my s/h fee does not cover the headaches of obtaining insurance and of course they just send the $1.30....
If truth be told, I have always reimbursed the buyers less s/h (and sometimes that too) for the few postcards that have been "lost" in the mail (most have eventually turned up and buyers have paid me again)...but i don't want to ADVERTISE this for fear I will get a rash of "lost" cards!
If people send the $1.30 they want to see the USPS "insured" stamp on the package yet all they really are insuring is the $1.50 s/h fee and a big headache if they (or I guess it would be ME) try to file a claim!
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baylor45
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posted on May 31, 2003 06:45:58 AM new
I don't offer insurance but if they ask for it I will do it. I have a stack of the green forms and fill it out, attach enough postage and my mailman takes care of it. Leaves the green receipt in my box the next day. Now, if you want to self-insure you can do or you can go with U-pic (or is it I-pic?)
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neglus
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posted on May 31, 2003 07:05:41 AM new
The point is, I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH INSURANCE AT ALL! It isn't offered in my auctions...doesn't make sense for low ticket postcards! I sometimes will insure some of my cards that fetch great prices (i pay for the insurance) but otherwise NO!! Why insure a $5 postcard???
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sanmar
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posted on May 31, 2003 12:45:56 PM new
IMHO, the buyer paid for insurance; therefore they are entitled to it. I don't see why this is a big problem. Almost every thing I sell goes out insured, either by USPS or FedEx Ground. I almost always insist on insurance.
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neglus
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posted on May 31, 2003 01:02:14 PM new
It's a hassle for me because i have my postcard mailers just sized so I can ship for .37 cents...my PO insists I can't insure items shipped in this mailer and must have them be 3/4" thick...which means i have to buy a new mailer, bubble wrap, pay more postage, stand in line.....sorry but the profit i make in a $5 postcard just aint worth this !!
I still have to do battle with our postmaster (everyone here says my PO is wrong about requiring the 3/4" thick) but to date I haven't had the time or inclination but just yesterday received TWO checks with insurance included! UGH!!
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max40
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posted on May 31, 2003 01:07:41 PM new
Spend the $1.30 on a rubber stamp that says Insured. As long as you reimburse the customer if it's lost or damaged, who's to know the difference?
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
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baylor45
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posted on May 31, 2003 01:13:31 PM new
Have you printed out the postal page (on the usps web site) on insured first class and shown it to you postman/postal person? This is ludicrous. Not only that but USPS regs state that you can give your insured mail to your carrier. I agree that insuring these small sales is kind of silly. I get them too..I think the buyer does it as kind of a "good luck" charm. If I insure it then for sure it won't get lost...or buyer won't just pretend to mail it. I guess you could print a bunch of "$1.30 coupon on your next purchase" and enclose it with a note thanking them for the overpayment but you just can't accept their money so please accept this credit on their next purchase. Print in out on the back of the page that has your Ebay TOS.
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neglus
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posted on May 31, 2003 02:14:03 PM new
i like the way you think Max! and Baylor too! 
I will SOMEDAY do battle with the postmaster about this insurance issue..now the NICE clerk is telling me it has to be 3/4" thick and postmaster not there on Saturday! I can only imagine what a headache making a claim (it is my understanding that the seller is the one who has to make the claim since i am the one holding the papers) would be!!
I am thinking that for now I will send a check for $1.30 with the postcard refunding them the $..if the postcard is lost, then they won't know it wasn't insured- I will just send them their refund. I am "out" my postage and materials and the 20 cent difference between my s/h charge and insurance and I have saved myself hours of aggravation!
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ohmslucy
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posted on May 31, 2003 02:17:19 PM new
Hi Neglus,
Maybe if you put in your auctions something to the effect that you aren't in a position to offer USPS insurance that would help.
Not sure just how to word it...
I've had people want very small $ items insured and I do it because it's not a huge nuisance but that doesn't mean others should.
Insurance is important on breakables - glass, dishes, etc., for coverage in case of damage but I can't see it on postcards.
JMHO
Lucy
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pointy
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posted on May 31, 2003 02:25:05 PM new
Just ship it normally. Tell the buyer they have a choice. You will keep their $1.30 and self-insure, or you will refund the $1.30. Period!!If they ask for a refund then get 13 .10 cent stamps and send that. That would serve the buyer right for being presumptious AND asking for money back.
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tonimar1
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posted on May 31, 2003 05:32:26 PM new
If it will cost you more money to ship just because they want insurance then you may need to state that in your auction........
Maybe you can state:......"Insurance is not being offered on this auction item". no exceptions!!!!!!!
Insurance can be put on any item weather its being sent first class or other and size of package does not matter.
When it comes to tracking on an item a postal clerk told me that a first class envelope needs to be at least 1" thick for me to be able to put delivery confirmation so he would not except confirmation.
Now when I got another postal clerk they didnt care about the thinkness of the envelope and they did the delivery conformation for me...........the point here is that all the clerks have a misconception as to what can be and what can't be.
But, you as a Seller can state what you want as your shipping terms and if you would rather not accept insurance then just state that in your auction.
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lindajean
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posted on May 31, 2003 07:22:12 PM new
I insured two postcards today. The postman asked me what was in the mailer because I had "Do not Bend - Photo enclosed" stamped on the envelope. I told him it was a collectible postcard and he insured it with no questions. One was $30 and one was $35.
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Libra63
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posted on May 31, 2003 07:59:04 PM new
the 3/4 inch rule pertains to eDC on first class mail. Nothing to do with insurance at all. I think all those postal employees need an inservice on how to run a post office.
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Twelvepole
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posted on May 31, 2003 08:17:16 PM new
Max has the best idea, rubber stamp it yourself and pocket the $1.30, after all you already stated that you make good on "lost" items and the in a sense is self insrance.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
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sparkz
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posted on May 31, 2003 08:28:41 PM new
Continue your business the way you have always done it. Each time you receive a $1.30 payment for insurance, put it in a cup. Each Saturday, empty the cup and take the proceeds and buy beer with it.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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mcjane
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posted on May 31, 2003 11:20:07 PM new
Twelvepole & Max:
I didn't know you could stamp an envelope or a package "insured" with your own stamp. I thought it had to be a PO stamp.
I self insure for nothing, meaning I always replace lost items. I sell rubber stamps & use 6 x 3 coin envelopes & larger 6 x 9 brown envelopes for larger orders.
Most sales are under 10.00 & many under 5.00 & I have often wanted to offer insurance for 30 cents. I think many bidders would go for 30 cents, but not 1.30
Problem was I couldn't put insured on the envelope. So, is it true that I can buy a stamp & stamp it myself....cause if that's true, I'm going to do it. I don't lose many packages & I do have several of each of the stamps I sell so I can easily replace. I think 30 cents for insurance is a bargain for both the seller & me, it evens out the responsibility which always falls on me.
Jane
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Twelvepole
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posted on June 1, 2003 07:48:26 AM new
2.6
Private insurance endorsements or markings may not appear on the address side
of mail but may appear elsewhere, if they do not resemble official postal
endorsements and are not confused with postal endorsements.
Here you go mcjane, right from the USPS site...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
[ edited by Twelvepole on Jun 1, 2003 07:49 AM ]
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capotasto
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posted on June 1, 2003 11:43:06 AM new
"my PO insists I can't insure items shipped in this mailer and must have them be 3/4" thick..."
3/4" is for delivery confirmation of first class. Not insurance.
Like most postal clerks everywhere, yours are ignorant too. Why don't they train them, or hire ones who can read the manual?
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neglus
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posted on June 1, 2003 01:20:35 PM new
Thanks all for the suggestions! I kinda like the beer on saturday idea from sparz! Looks like I will do battle with the post office very soon since everyone is in agreement that the 3/4" thick regulation is a crock of caca!! I don't know WHY they are such ignoramuses (or is that ignoramae?) only a quase government agency could get away with such poor customer service and blatant discrepancy in policy!
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mcjane
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posted on June 1, 2003 06:49:44 PM new
Twelvepole
Thank you so much. I will have a stamp made.
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davebraun
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posted on June 1, 2003 08:19:10 PM new
If they request insurance I insure it through the Post Office (about 10% of the parcels I ship), although I realize in the event of a claim the PO is not reliable it keeps the customer happy and that is what it's all about. The majority of my sales are repeats. Most other parcels are sent with eDC unless the contents are minimus.
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