Insurance On Item As A Buyer

[passiton3]

I have purchased items which the Seller has shipped (with tracking). However, if the item has 'Free Shipping', or not USPS Priority Mail, it is not insured. 

I have had several situations where tracking shows 'Delivered', but I didn't receive the package, and left with no recourse.  Can a Buyer request , and pay for, insurance on an item from the Seller?

[1tuna]

insurance is not going to help the buyer if the tracking shows delivery

missing contents are covered but you need to have an empty box

porch theft is not covered by insurance

[powell-memorabilia]

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@passiton3 wrote:

I have purchased items which the Seller has shipped (with tracking). However, if the item has 'Free Shipping', or not USPS Priority Mail, it is not insured. 

I have had several situations where tracking shows 'Delivered', but I didn't receive the package, and left with no recourse.  Can a Buyer request , and pay for, insurance on an item from the Seller?

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Free shipping does not indicate that a package is not insured.  The seller might be using Priority Mail, and that comes with a certain level of insurance.

Insurance isn't for you - it is for the seller.  If something happens in transit, that is on the seller, and up to him to file a claim, after he refunds your money or has you return the item to him.  

Regardless, the only insurance that might cover a delivered item that is stolen from your residence would be homeowner's insurance.  

[titipeo]

USPS has become a bit of a pain when it comes to insurance. As indicated above, if item is delivered, but you can't locate, is most likely a porch theft, in this case is best to track with USPS on where it was delivered, and verify the GPS location (if available). Maybe it was sent to wrong house, or stolen. In this case, you should use your homeowners policy. 

If item arrived broken, USPS tends to be picky in paying, usually indicating poor packaging on shipper side. The only time USPS insurance is helpful is on lost/non delivered packages, and still you need to wait for that.  Keep in mind that priority mail comes with up to $50 insurance already included in its service, anything above that amount has to be purchased. 

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

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@passiton3 wrote:

I have had several situations where tracking shows 'Delivered', but I didn't receive the package, and left with no recourse. 

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As others said, shipping insurance will do nothing to aid your situation.

Contact your post office with the tracking numbers and ask them to check the GPS coordinates on the delivery scan so you can verify packages weren't delivered to another address by mistake.

Speak with your carrier when a package goes missing to see if they remember delivering it and where they left it.

In the event of theft, report that to your local police.

To ensure future packages aren't stolen you have a few options including getting a PO box, getting a secure/locked package box for your porch, working out an alternate delivery location with your mail carrier if they're amenable (by the garage or back door), or shipping to a friend/family/neighbor if you won't be home to receive packages.

[passiton3]

Thanks.  Had no idea that you can request GPS coordinates for a delivery.  Secured/Locked package box is also a good idea.  I already have a P.O. Box, and will start having items delivered there.

[itsjustasprain]

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@passiton3 wrote:

I already have a P.O. Box, and will start having items delivered there.

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That is the best way to go. The package stays safe and dry until you come to collect it. If it wont physically fit in your PO box then they will leave a pickup slip in the box that you bring up to the front desk to collect.

[readabouthorses]

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@itsjustasprain wrote:

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@passiton3 wrote:

I already have a P.O. Box, and will start having items delivered there.

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That is the best way to go. The package stays safe and dry until you come to collect it. If it wont physically fit in your PO box then they will leave a pickup slip in the box that you bring up to the front desk to collect.

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And if your Post Office has those lockers you don't even get a pickup slip ... you get a key to the locker where your package is waiting for you. As long as they don't put the key in the wrong PO Box.