Overstating Postal Insurance

CreeperKat

Sometimes I have mail out several packages from eBay sales. Does anyone know if it is a problem if I insure all the packages for $35 even if some only have a value of $10? I know that if I file a claim, I will have to show proof of the value of the item. Sometimes I forget my notes to tell the Post Office what to insure it for.

denwd1

if they are lost or stolen they will cover what they are worth,so any item from $5.00 to $50.00 is the same amt. of ins. $1.30. so, as long as you don't claim a $5.00 item is worth $50.00 there's no problem

JW

I don't think it matters at all, but they will only reimburse you for the actual value of the item lost. My local post office won't let me insure an item for $35, they always bump it up to $50. I hope this helps.

sagard

Insurance is a complete scam. USPS will (if you are very lucky) reimburse you for what they think the item is worth. Has little to do with the amount of the sale or the amount of insurance you purchased. If you do a large volume of shipping using priority and registered mail are the best bets.

notowellint

What happens if the package is damaged or lost under registered mail? Are you protected in any way or does registered mail just reduce the chances of anything bad happening?

jrdolan

Shipping in a Priority box (I like the small one designed for VHS tapes) is a pretty much bulletproof method. Just pack around the card(s) so they don't bounce around. You can also fit quite a few graded cards in there. And the box itself is free.

Thing is, the postage is $3.85 ($4.30 with delivery confirmation), so you either have to pass that on to the buyer or eat the difference. Doesn't seem to make sense for really cheap cards; for those I use a bubble mailer with cardboard stiffeners, and ask the clerk to stamp FRAGILE on it so it doesn't go through the USPS Official Crushing Machine.