posted on March 12, 2004 06:35:42 AM new
I just sold a stand that is made from two plates attached to a wooden stand (kind of like a large tidbit tray but is actually a stand) and it sold for $35. So naturally, when I ship it FedEx I would insure it for $35. However, the buyer has insisted that I insure it for $100 in case it breaks during shipping. Do I see a damage claim coming? Perhaps! He claims that the plates would be difficult to replace for that amount of money. Makes me think I should charge him $100 because the stand is now worth that much to him! But my instincts tell me to be honest and insure it for only $35. But if he does put in a claim, he must have to produce an invoice for his item - right? I use Vendio Packing Slips/Invoices for my mailing label. I enclose the packing slip/invoice in a clear plastic envelope and stick it to the box. So if he needs proof of the value, he would have to get proof from me with the $35 invoice. The shipping cost is the same if I insure it for $35 or $100. How would you handle this? Insure for $100 and wash your hands of him and not get involved with a claim if there is one, or tell him "No" and just include the $35 invoice as always?
posted on March 12, 2004 06:49:30 AM new
Hi cta ... for example, if I found a Picasso on ebay and the seller didn't know what they had and advertised it as "weird picture 14 in. x 21 in." and i won it for $20, I would ask the seller to insure it for a lot more than $20 ... it is my understanding that if a claim needs to be made, the claimant can gather whatever information/proof they have, of the item's value. ... and it wouldn't necessarily HAVE to be their 'receipt' of what they had paid for it. [not if they can come up with 'other' proof of higher value]
posted on March 12, 2004 08:34:06 AM new
if he files a claim,say for 100,the money would come to you first.
how can he be sure you would give him 100 or keep 65 and send him 35??
sounds like an amateur at work,i would just fill out 35 and ignore his request.
i used to get bidders from hk who asked me to insure the item for more,and i just ignored them.
usps places a limit on the max insurance on all certified mail going to hong kong,rather low ,so go figure why??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 12, 2004 08:44:43 AM new
Just tell him you don't alter shipping documents, period. Your instincts are probably right ... this is a classic example of someone who wants to get something for nothing. He won't be out any more than he paid for it if it's damaged in transit. He doesn't get to profit off of it.
That's no better (or worse, I guess), than overseas customers asking that customs documents be down-graded so they can void paying customs. We don't do that, either. There's this little issue of user agreements and signed statements that are a part of shipping documents that you shouldn't risk violating.
posted on March 12, 2004 08:48:20 AM new
I routinely declare $100.00 value on all FedEx Ground shipments. I was advised by a FedEx employee to do this some time ago. It makes no difference what you declare, it's the actual value of the missing or damaged item that will be claimed. The burden of proving value will be on the shipper(seller) who must file the claim. The receiver (buyer) does not file the claim. You can declare $1000 on an item, but if the value is only $10.00, that's all they will pay in addition to the shipping charges.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on March 12, 2004 08:56:40 AM new
I'm with Sparkz on this.
___________________________________
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about seeing UFOs like they used to?
posted on March 12, 2004 09:11:39 AM new
I don't ship Fed X but I do all my business with the USPS and you can insure for what ever they want BUT if or when it doesn't get to the buyer the USPS requires proof of actual payment of the merchandise. The Ebay EOA notice is what I give them and it has the actual buying price and that + postage is what they will get if the item is broken. Sometimes if an Item goes for $49.00 I will insure for $51.00 so that I can get delivery signature but the USPS will only pay $49.00. What I would do is insure it for the amount that your buyer wants and see where he is going. It would be interesting to see if he claims damage.
posted on March 12, 2004 09:49:59 AM new
I can see the buyer's point.
I once bought an expensive Royal Copenhagen cup and saucer set on eBay and got a tremendously good deal. It arrived broken. The seller refunded my money, but I felt cheated. It was his shoddy packaging that caused the breakage and I still think he should have made it up to me beyond just refunding my money.
Insurance was not offered.
The determining factor should not be how much was paid for the item, but how much it would cost to replace it.
posted on March 12, 2004 10:47:08 AM new
"The determining factor should not be how much was paid for the item, but how much it would cost to replace it."
That is exactly the angle I was getting at. ... what IF you only had to pay 9.99 for something you know is worth hundreds of dollars?
I contend if you are the claimant, and can 'document' with an appraiser's signed paperwork that the item was worth hundreds of dollars, that said item ought to be able to be insured for whatever amount the recipient wants.
Also, on USPS claim forms anyway, there is a part to 'check off' of whether the claim reimbursement should be given to the sender of the article, or rather to the addressee.
If the addressee bears the hassle and burden of proof of replacement value, then we ought to let them [insure it for however much they want]
[ edited by aintrichyet on Mar 12, 2004 10:55 AM ]
posted on March 12, 2004 11:04:13 AM new
I also wonder if a seller, who refuses to declare the value the buyer requests, would be liable for making up the difference between amount paid and replacement value, if the item were lost, damaged or stolen.
I think it's quite likely the money would come out of the seller's pocket.
cta, before you heap scorn on your buyer, consider that he may and almost certainly does know more about this object than you do. I think you're seeing fraud where none exists.
posted on March 12, 2004 07:06:28 PM new
I do not think this has been mentioned yet.
The person who ships is the one who is the insured party, not the receiver.
The insurance claim paperwork, might be partially handled on their end, should damage occur, but all paperwork is really through the shipper.
If they are looking for proof of value, they come to the shipper, not the receiver.
Payments for insured items go to the shipper. You choose how much to pass on to make up the loss to the receiver.
You should make it clear up front that you will only reimburse up to the amount the item sold for, should an insurance claim arise. It probably would not be wise to agree to a larger amount up front.
If you agree to the higher amount, you would be expected to file the pseudo wrong value of the item, for their benefit.
It does not sound like that is what you would feel comfortable doing, and rightly so.
But my instincts tell me to be honest and insure it for only $35. But if he does put in a claim, he must have to produce an invoice for his item - right? I use Vendio Packing Slips/Invoices for my mailing label. I enclose the packing slip/invoice in a clear plastic envelope and stick it to the box. So if he needs proof of the value, he would have to get proof from me with the $35 invoice. The shipping cost is the same if I insure it for $35 or $100. How would you handle this? Insure for $100 and wash your hands of him and not get involved with a claim if there is one, or tell him "No" and just include the $35 invoice as always?
