USPS Insurance...How do they get away with this??? (2 Viewers)

[mikemiller1955]

somebody explain this to me...

United States Postal Service...USPS...

why do I have to buy insurance to make sure you do your job right?

I can understand buying insurance to ship International...once it leaves the US...other delivery agencies are involved...USPS has lost solitary control of delivering and protecting my parcel...

but I can't comprehend why I would have to buy insurance for Domestic...

I paid the required postage...why do I have to pay extra to ensure you don't damage or lose my parcel...

how would you feel if you called Papa John's Pizza and ordered a pizza to be delivered and put it on your credit card...and after you did ...the employee asked if you wanted to buy insurance to make sure it got to your house?

how would you feel if you went to Home Depot and bought a new band saw in a new unopened box...and the cashier asked if you would like to buy insurance to make sure it worked when you took it out of the box?

what if the plumber that made a service call to your house to unclog your toilet quoted you a price for the job...and then asked you if you would like to buy insurance to make sure he could fix it once he started working on it?

I just can't get it in my head why I am asked to spend additional monies to ensure you do the job you're hired to do...and I have to pay extra to reimburse me...if God forbid you damage or lose my parcel...

if it's a Domestic delivery...then you and your employees are the only ones handling my package...you should be responsible to make sure it's delivered...I shouldn't have to pay you extra to guarantee you do your job correctly...

am I wrong...does anyone else feel this way?

 

[mikemiller1955]

and if you're wondering why I'm on a rant...

I sent a package from Texas to California 11 days ago...

and the tracking says it's 30 miles from my house...

and ends there...

with no explanation from my Postmaster except......

Did you buy insurance?

^&confuse^&grin

 

[Al Fisher]

Welcome to the crowd! I suggest you write your Congressmen.

Bosun Al

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

somebody explain this to me...

United States Postal Service...USPS...

why do I have to buy insurance to make sure you do your job right?

I can understand buying insurance to ship International...once it leaves the US...other delivery agencies are involved...USPS has lost solitary control of delivering and protecting my parcel...

but I can't comprehend why I would have to buy insurance for Domestic...

I paid the required postage...why do I have to pay extra to ensure you don't damage or lose my parcel...

how would you feel if you called Papa John's Pizza and ordered a pizza to be delivered and put it on your credit card...and after you did ...the employee asked if you wanted to buy insurance to make sure it got to your house?

how would you feel if you went to Home Depot and bought a new band saw in a new unopened box...and the cashier asked if you would like to buy insurance to make sure it worked when you took it out of the box?

what if the plumber that made a service call to your house to unclog your toilet quoted you a price for the job...and then asked you if you would like to buy insurance to make sure he could fix it once he started working on it?

I just can't get it in my head why I am asked to spend additional monies to ensure you do the job you're hired to do...and I have to pay extra to reimburse me...if God forbid you damage or lose my parcel...

if it's a Domestic delivery...then you and your employees are the only ones handling my package...you should be responsible to make sure it's delivered...I shouldn't have to pay you extra to guarantee you do your job correctly...

am I wrong...does anyone else feel this way?

You do get up to 50.00 free insurance with USPS Priority Mail, but you will need health insurance if you are eating Papa Johns pizza.

 

[jazzeum]

Slow night, eh?

It's a cost of doing business. Would it make any difference if they contracted with a third party to provide the insurance? It sounds like it would to you but in reality it's a distinction without a difference.

 

[4th Hussar]

If you want to get really torked try filing a claim. First you must have the sender provide you with the original insurance paper ( PO claims they can't access their own record )Then you have to fill out a claim form which asks you how the item got damaged-duh ...........I was not in thed truck with my package.Neithger the clerk at the window or the never seen " Supervisor" in the back room is authorized to approve your calim so they dump everything in a bag and send it off to the "Service Center" for evaluation. 3 weeks latter you get a check.

My favorite part of the experience was the clerk suggesting I buy my toys locally because things get broken in the mail.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Slow night, eh?

It's a cost of doing business. Would it make any difference if they contracted with a third party to provide the insurance? It sounds like it would to you but in reality it's a distinction without a difference.

I don't understand that comment...but to answer your question...

no................it would not make it any easier to swallow if a third party provided insurance...

I think you're missing my point...

why do I need insurance for someone to do a competent job?

What other business does this besides USPS?

If you want to get really torked try filing a claim. First you must have the sender provide you with the original insurance paper ( PO claims they can't access their own record )Then you have to fill out a claim form which asks you how the item got damaged-duh ...........I was not in thed truck with my package.Neithger the clerk at the window or the never seen " Supervisor" in the back room is authorized to approve your calim so they dump everything in a bag and send it off to the "Service Center" for evaluation. 3 weeks latter you get a check.

My favorite part of the experience was the clerk suggesting I buy my toys locally because things get broken in the mail.

I have filed one claim on an item I sent to someone...I insured it because it was very fragile...when it arrived...the box was severely damaged...he sent me photos...I forwarded the photos via email with the original Ebay ad to the online claims department...I received a check for the full amount of the purchase and my cost of insurance in 3 days...I just don't understand why I have to purchase insurance on domestic deliveries when USPS is the only person handling my parcel...

You do get up to 50.00 free insurance with USPS Priority Mail, but you will need health insurance if you are eating Papa Johns pizza.

my point is...why do I need any insurance...I pay them to do a job...why do I have to pay extra to make sure they do it right?

 

[4th Hussar]

I have filed one claim on an item I sent to someone...I insured it because it was very fragile...when it arrived...the box was severely damaged...he sent me photos...I forwarded the photos via email with the original Ebay ad to the online claims department...I received a check for the full amount of the purchase and my cost of insurance in 3 days...I just don't understand why I have to purchase insurance on domestic deliveries when USPS is the only person handling my parcel...


You had a better experience than I did.

 

[mikemiller1955]

I have filed one claim on an item I sent to someone...I insured it because it was very fragile...when it arrived...the box was severely damaged...he sent me photos...I forwarded the photos via email with the original Ebay ad to the online claims department...I received a check for the full amount of the purchase and my cost of insurance in 3 days...I just don't understand why I have to purchase insurance on domestic deliveries when USPS is the only person handling my parcel...


You had a better experience than I did.

sorry you had a bad experience...and honestly...I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently my claim was handled and paid off...I think the big plus in my favor...was that the box was severely damaged...both crushed and with a hole it...it arrived to the buyer with several USPS stickers on it stating that it was damaged in transit...

I had a friend who's claim was denied by Fedex...because his delivered box showed no exterior damage...

 

[theBaron]

Insurance pays for unforeseen events. You may think that just because it's domestic post, nothing could go wrong, but the whole point of insurance is to pay restitution when something does go wrong. Just because it's the USPS, your local branch, and carrier, doesn't mean that nothing bad will happen. A third party could cause an accident and it blows up the delivery van. Your carrier could have a heart attack walking down the street and drop your package. Insurance is intended to cushion the loss.

For that matter, why pay for car insurance? Homeowner's insurance? Health insurance? They're all there, to help pay when the unexpected happens.

Prost!
Brad

 

[mikemiller1955]

Insurance pays for unforeseen events. You may think that just because it's domestic post, nothing could go wrong, but the whole point of insurance is to pay restitution when something does go wrong. Just because it's the USPS, your local branch, and carrier, doesn't mean that nothing bad will happen. A third party could cause an accident and it blows up the delivery van. Your carrier could have a heart attack walking down the street and drop your package. Insurance is intended to cushion the loss.

For that matter, why pay for car insurance? Homeowner's insurance? Health insurance? They're all there, to help pay when the unexpected happens.

Prost!
Brad

Brad...

car...home...health...

that's pretty different...

USPS is asking me to pay extra for somebody to do their job...

I would rather the rates be a little higher and have this protection instead of the slap in the face of me paying you extra to do your job...

 

[gk5717]

I,m 100% with Mike on this. There is a certain expectation when you pay for the shipping (postage) it should also cover the responsibility to deliver same in a responsible manner.
I went thru the insurance claim also. From now on if an item arrives damaged and I file a claim whether the exterior of the box is damaged or not, it WILL be damaged before I take it to the post office to file the claim.
Gary

 

[BLReed]

I would rather the rates be a little higher and have this protection .......

Do you actually pay the shipping rate or do you pass it on to the buyer? $100 including
shipping still doesn't forgo that ultimately the buyer pays.

Many times I mail inconsequential gifts to family kids just for the fun of getting
a package in the mail, so I'm to pay higher rates just so you will be happy. BS

I suppose you have never made an innocent mistake or had an unforeseen accident just
doing your job for which you were paid.

I'm always amazed that the same people time after time who come up with shipping grips
on this forum. I've lived all over the world. Trust me, the USPS is a bargain and takes first
place in efficiency and customer service.

 

[mikemiller1955]

I suppose you have never made an innocent mistake or had an unforeseen accident just
doing your job for which you were paid.

sure I have made mistakes...

sure I have had accidents...

and when it happens...I step up to the plate...take full blame and correct the issue...

I owned a restaurant for 27 years...believe me...I have seen more than one mistake on an order we prepared...

but...

I never asked the customer to insure my competency to ensure his satisfaction with a meal...

if the meal wasn't right...it went in the trash can and he got another...that's part of doing business...I always fixed anything that wasn't right...and we never charged insurance...

I don't understand having to pay for insurance for someone to do their job...

 

[jazzeum]

Simple answer: don't. Of course, if your package is lost, don't b_tch.

If none of that is good for you, there's always Fed Ex and UPS

Or hand delivery.

Ok?

 

[BLReed]

I never asked the customer to insure my competency to ensure his satisfaction with a meal......

I repeat:
Do you actually pay the shipping rate or do you pass it on to the buyer? $100 including
shipping still doesn't forgo that ultimately the buyer pays.

I repeat:
Many times I mail inconsequential gifts to family kids just for the fun of getting
a package in the mail, so I'm to pay higher rates just so you will be happy. BS


Oh, sorry, I didn't know that all the insurance you paid as a cost of business was a gift and wasn't
passed on in menu prices. Lets see. There's:
.1. Property Insurance
.2. General Liability
.3. Liquor Liability
.4. Automobile Liability
.5. Workers Compensation
.6. Life Insurance
.7. Fire Insurance
.8. Loss of Business Insurance
.9. Food Contamination Insurance
10. Specific Peril Insurance

Here's a link for further explanation.
http://restaurants.about.com/od/businessinsurance/a/Insurance.htm

Disclaimer: I'm not in the Insurance business.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Simple answer: don't. Of course, if your package is lost, don't b_tch.

If none of that is good for you, there's always Fed Ex and UPS

Or hand delivery.

Ok?

Brad...I really don't even know how to respond to your comments...they are so flippant...so Bradesque..."don't b_itch"...hahaha..."hand deliver it"...I feel this has gone so far over your head that you have missed my point completely...if you're happy just rolling over and paying extra for someone to do the job correctly...then I'm glad for you..."just accept it"..."don't b_tch"....thanks for the informative post...

I repeat:
Do you actually pay the shipping rate or do you pass it on to the buyer? $100 including
shipping still doesn't forgo that ultimately the buyer pays.

I repeat:
Many times I mail inconsequential gifts to family kids just for the fun of getting
a package in the mail, so I'm to pay higher rates just so you will be happy. BS

Disclaimer: I'm not in the Insurance business.

because you have repeated your 2 statements in "bold enlarged letter font"...which in "text talk" means your are talking loud or shouting...I will try to address your statements this time...

I'm not exactly sure what you're saying here...but just a few days ago...I sold these 5 items on Ebay to a single domestic buyer...the total was $1,081.00...the sets went for "crazy Ebay prices"...some of these auctions had almost 40 bidders...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314146964?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314138265?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314135421?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314136532?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301421862471?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

because it was such pricey sell...and if they got lost or damaged...I knew the USPS would do nothing if they were not insured...so I insured them...it cost me an extra $15.50...but whether I paid or the buyer paid...that's not my point....my point is why does anybody have to pay extra to ensure USPS doesn't do what they are already being paid for?

here's another example...this doesn't exactly fit the model of sales I'm referring to...as they were to a single International buyer...but you should be able to understand my point...these 3 sets sold the other day for "crazy Ebay prices" too...the total was $830.00...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314128861?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314131315?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291314139618?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

because it was such pricey sell...and if they got lost or damaged...I knew the USPS would do nothing if they were not insured...so again...I insured them...it cost me an extra $14.85...

does that answer your question on who paid for the insurance?

and what does it matter who pays for the insurance...that's not my point...why does anyone have to pay extra for them to execute a delivery?

I don't like paying extra to get a guarantee that you will do your job correctly...if you are happy doing that in your business deals...then that's okay with me...

you seem okay with menu prices being higher to cover the cost of business insurance and expenses...but when I suggest USPS builds in an automatic insurance into the shipping price...you balk...and just say "BS"...so...it's okay for every business to do it...but not USPS...because you mail gifts with them?

I do appreciate your point of view...but as you and I seem to disagree on this...I respect your opinion...and on a side note...you probably have nothing to worry about...I doubt the Postmaster General is going to read this thread and change policy because of what I have written...

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to destroy the USPS...^&grin

 

[jazzeum]

It really is that simple but you choose to ignore it:

If you want to use their service and want to be covered in the event of a loss, they will not do that unless you pay an extra fee. Otherwise, it's not worth their while.

You asked who does this, who exempts themselves from their own negligence. I negotiate commercial agreements for a living. It's what I do. Service providers are always asking that they be only responsible only if they are grossly negligent. In other words, they won't be responsible unless they are seriously culpable, not just at fault, but seriously at fault. Thus, if they make an honest mistake, they won't be responsible. This is common, particularly in leases. Sometimes you win some and sometimes you don't (although more often I win the point). I've been on both sides of the issue so I can argue it either way.

I don't get upset by it because it's a tactic and they are acting in their client's interest.

 

[gk5717]

This is for the couple of posters who are apparently sticking up for USPS. I posted this story a while back but it bears repeating. I also will point out I am not exagerating this is exactly what happened.
I ordered some plastic figures which were origional figures converted to new poses. Just as the postman was pulling up to the mailbox my wife was walking up from the back yard. She then observed the postman force this box into our mailbox. He then drove off, my wife retrieved the box which was so cramned inside she had to forcebly pull it out. The top of the box was crushed. I opened it up and about 6 plastic figures were heavily damaged from the box being crushed. The next day I responded to my post office with the box and broken figures. I spoke with the post master, described what happened and she told me I could receive no compensation since there was no insurance, even tho my wife witnessed the mailman forceing this box into the mailbox, clearly his fault. I then asked if any disciplinary action could be taken against this postman and she said no that the union would not permit it.
Open for any comments that USPS was right on this.
Funny the postman who did this was not my regular guy. A few days after the incident I spoke with my regular postman in regards to the incident and he said per USPS rules if a package cannot easily slide in and out of the mailbox it should be placed on the front porch.
Gary

 

[4th Hussar]

Changing direction slightly - How does USPS costs with insurance compare to Fed Ex, UPS etc. ? Do the non Govt subsidized carriers provide frLast time I visited my local UPS store to ship one of my wifes packages I asked to send the cheapest way I got USPS priority mail which I believe is insured.

Is USPS with insurance the best and mosteconomical method ?