Is a return receipt/delivery confirmation cheap insurance?

airplanenut

This came up in another post- if your package is tracked, or it has to be signed with a return receipt, are you really just buying cheaper insurance? So long as the package is properly packaged and labelled fragile so a slab doesn't go through a machine, won't it be "insured" to the extent that the package should arrive?

Obviously, if you are shipping glass, then it could easily break and you need real insurance- but if you are just shipping a coin, maybe a slab, wouldn't these be options cheaper than full-blown insurance?

Jeremy, going nite nite

Placid

I don't think if it gets lost that receipt/delivery confirmation will allow you to make a monetary claim. I might be wrong thou.

coinguy1

Jeremy, I think that only does you good IF the package is delivered, in which case you have proof of that delivery. But, if the package is lost, there is no delivery or proof thereof and if you didn't insure it, you're out of luck. It might be a good addition to insurance but not a substitute.

stman

It's still not worth cutting corners on insurance. And marking fragile on a package doesn't mean a thing.

Example, I sent a valuable package and fully insured it. I marked fragile on it, the clerk put a sticker saying fragile and I left. I came back to ask a question and my package was flying across the room.

I told the guy hey thats my package you just marked fragile on. His answer was oh yea. Maybe this will give you something to think about. BTW, the package really wasn't fragile, and they usually don't consider it to be either.

SilverEagleDave

About 10 years ago, I worked for UPS on the loading docks. We would take packages off a conveyor belt and route them to the back of different semi trucks. I can honestly say that after seeing hundreds and hundreds of packages every night, I didn't even see what was written on them! Somone could of wrote FREE MONEY in here and I wouldn't of saw it. LOL.

BSqr

delivery confirmation is a waste as far as I am concerned. the recipient doesn't have to sign for the package or otherwise formally accept. the postman can leave the package at the front door where someone can snag it. you, the sender, will get a delivery confirmation but the recipient didn’t necessarily receive it.

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Privatize the US Postal Service!

sinin1

Also delivery confirmation only works if the end postal employee does their job -> if they forget to scan the package and deliver the package what happens then? A person could have recieved the package checks the computer and sees the post office screwed up again and tells you they did not recieve the package. Then your stuck with a couple months trying to get money back for your overpriced insurance for their "non-delivery" (value of package not including postal shipping fees) - what a JOKE

gemseeker

Delivery confirmation is essentially worthless IMHO. It doesn't guarantee that the package will be delivered to its intended destination. If it is lost in transit, there is no reimbursement of any kind. In fact, I am puzzled why people send their tax returns by certified mail. Even though you have a receipt that you mailed something, what happens if it is never received? Why should they take your word that you mailed a tax return? It could have been a blank envelope.