Insurance claim

[jandl63]

Has anyone been denied a USPS priority mail ins. Claim because the buyer didn’t take the broken item and packaging to their post office and have a form filled out? I sent pictures of box, packaging and broken item, yet was denied because of the form. What did you do?

[natoman777]

In 2020 the USPS changed their requirements for insurance.  This has pretty much ruined it.  The buyer has to take the item to the post office.  When they don't,  you don't get your money.  If they do, you MIGHT get your money.  They went from taking ownership of their mistakes and always reimbursing, to now almost never.  I have lost money several times since 2020... UPS and FedEx are better but the process to input a claim is time consuming.

[lakefor94]

Hope you did not actually pay for insurance above the $100 they offer as part of a priority shipment. That is a waste of money and getting the buyer to go to the post office is generally hoping, at best.

I would not not do it. If the item arrives broke, the seller can pay to have it sent back to them before refunding the transaction. 

[12345jamesstamps]

Insurance is usually for a lost package. Broken item in package usually means it wasn't packaged very good from a point of view of the USPS. Even though you packaged it very carefully...I am sure it was packaged very carefully. The USPS doesn't see it that way though. Not much one can do.

[klhmdg]

@jandl63  The USPS insurance is basically useless.

USPS used to pay with photos - Since Covid and the changes or having the package taken to the PO, they will 90% deny.

If the buyer doesnt take it to the PO - its denied. Why should the buyer go out of their way for the seller to get a refund? The seller has to refund the buyer anyway.

Also the USPS denies and says packing issue.

USPS will only take ownership and pay if the package is lost or the PO has noted the damaged box.

I pack everything as well as I can and then IF something gets broken I apologize to the buyer, and either have them return for refund OR I refund them.

Then I go on to the next sale.

[retrorooster]

No,  I never pay over the $100 with priority.  I have been selling for many, many years with only 3 broken items out of 4000- 5000 sold items.  This burns me up.  The tracking said it was damaged during transit and they still denied it.  I feel this is being dishonest by selling insurance and then denying a claim.  I had one item lost and they found it so why ship priority to just get worthless ins.

thanks for your comments.  Why would you pay to have it shipped back at more expense if it is damaged? I had pictures.