Lost Knives in mail, USPS Denies Claim

[Will York]

View attachment 741397

https://about.usps.com/handbooks/sp1/sp1_c3_021.htm

ETA: now noticing your slip is black, not blue as stated in the circled area in the above screenshot makes me wonder if their policies got updated but this manual hasn't yet? ...I dunno.

Thanks, Jaxx. According to my local PO that was the old rule, and it has changed. I do not know, though, whether it's possible now to insure for over $500 without sig confirmation. (I'd typically require a sig anyway when getting into that price range myself.)

 

[Will York]

Thanks Jaxx.
Will York - I know my job. I have been a postal employee for 25+ years.

Could you cite the language in the current rule for us? I didn't say you don't know your job. I just asked for the source. I'd prefer something a little more definitive since there's an obvious conflict between your understanding and my recent experience as evidenced by the receipt shown above.

If you'd rather not run that down for me, no worries. I'm not relying on your advice, just raising a question based on my experience. Thx

 

[Monofletch]

It's been that way for a long, long time. But, I will find out for sure.

 

[Will York]

If you can do that, I would really appreciate it. If not, thanks for trying.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Could you cite the language in the current rule for us? I didn't say you don't know your job. I just asked for the source. I'd prefer something a little more definitive since there's an obvious conflict between your understanding and my recent experience as evidenced by the receipt shown above.

If you'd rather not run that down for me, no worries. I'm not relying on your advice, just raising a question based on my experience. Thx

Regulation quoted above. USPS Reg 342.32
"PS Form 3813-P, Insured Mail Receipt, is used for packages with insurance greater than $200. These packages require both a scan at delivery and a signature. The PS Form 3813-P is blue in color.

Carriers should use PS Form 3849 to leave notice if they cannot make delivery." [emphasis added]

Insurance is a contract. As an insured, you have no more rights than the contract provides. You expectations do not trump the contract. How many here bothered to read the "fine print" that you agreed to?"

 

[Will York]

Regulation quoted above. USPS Reg 342.32
"PS Form 3813-P, Insured Mail Receipt, is used for packages with insurance greater than $200. These packages require both a scan at delivery and a signature. The PS Form 3813-P is blue in color.

Carriers should use PS Form 3849 to leave notice if they cannot make delivery." [emphasis added]

Insurance is a contract. As an insured, you have no more rights than the contract provides. You expectations do not trump the contract. How many here bothered to read the "fine print" that you agreed to?"

Even though the current black Insured Mail Receipt is for $500 and under, not $200 and under (see above image) and postal clerks obviously accept payment and issue receipts for insurance without requiring signature confirmation on parcels insured for $500 or less. Interesting.

 

[AZTimT]

Sorry to read about how this all has gone so far.

The old black insurance forms said $200 & under, the new ones are now $500 & under. I just skip insurance and pay for signature confirmation if I feel the need. After enough transactions the sheer volume of money saved not purchasing the insurance adds up to enough to cover your own loss should the need arise. If you are really worried about it, there is the restricted delivery signature option for a bit more, or for even more, registered.

 

[Monofletch]

Even our clerks had to look it up. It is now < $500 for a signature. It hasn't been that way for very long.

 

[Will York]

Thanks for the correction.

Will

 

[resinguy]

I have always insured, and get Delivery Confirmation, but not pay extra for Signature Confirmation. (For really valuable stuff, I go Registered).

In light of this case, is there any consensus on the best choice for a seller/shipper?

Let me state that I agree with the BF ideal that it is the seller's knife until it in the hands of the buyer and that insurance protects the seller. My assumption was that reasonable documentation of the value of the shipment would be sufficient to make a claim. Why is this not so? What has changed?

How best should sellers protect themselves?

 

[Hard Knocks]

The old black insurance forms said $200 & under, the new ones are now $500 & under. I just skip insurance and pay for signature confirmation if I feel the need. After enough transactions the sheer volume of money saved not purchasing the insurance adds up to enough to cover your own loss should the need arise. If you are really worried about it, there is the restricted delivery signature option for a bit more, or for even more, registered.

This is exactly what I do. I'm certain I've saved enough to pay for a pretty significant loss, basically self-insuring.

Let me state that I agree with the BF ideal that it is the seller's knife until it in the hands of the buyer and that insurance protects the seller.

I agree as well, and I'm always amazed when someone posts a listing that states if the buyer wants insurance, then insurance will be extra. That shows that they don't understand their responsibility, and I'm just not going to pay extra for their protection whether they understand it or not. I pretty much just avoid those deals because you know it's going to be a hassle if something goes wrong.

 

[UffDa]

25 days ago I ordered a sheath from Extreme Edge Custom Kydex. It was shipped on 7/8 by 1st class mail. It left WA on the 9th and that's the last tracking info. I contacted USPS and requested that they search for it. I was told that I would hear back from them in 7 days. Yeah, right. That was 10 days ago. The company is making another sheath for me.