eBay seller message to me about insured shipment

I wanted to bid on a few hundred dollar coin and sent a message to the seller asking that if I won, would he ship insured, his answer . . . .

"It is virtually impossible to collect from USPS in the event insured is lost in mail. I found this out a few years back. If this is important to you, I suggest you not bid on this item. However thanks for looking, I appreciate your interest".

Now I am not sure what to do.

 

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I hate to say it but, he is right. I have never filed a successful claim. He could have worded his response a little more eloquently, but I see where he is coming from.

 

Shipping insurance does absolutely nothing for the eBay buyer. Your protection is covered by the eBay Buyer Protection program. The seller has the responsibility to prove that the item was delivered to you, and if the item is worth more than $250 eBay requires the delivery include signature tracking. If the item is lost in the mail, the seller is on the hook, and will be required to give you a refund. The seller was trying to convey to you that coins are not covered by insurance and that purchasing said insurance is a complete waste of money.

 

Use a credit card that extends coverage on the purchase. That way if you dont recieve the item go to the cc company.

 

If you could contact someone at eBay, my recent experiences for "buyer protection" are about the same as winning a large amount at the Casino.

This is especially true for large value purchases with their 30 day real-time case closure. They will wait the entire time for their non-English speaking sellers to respond that they don't understand. If you contact Paypal they immediately close any communications.

Now, I may be incorrect for you with your believed successful career.

JMHO

 

The thing I am worried about is I live in an apartment complex with multiple mailboxes in a group. I have had mail "delivered" by the post office but not into MY box. Post Office shows mail delivered, so the seller does not have to do anything. How can I protect for this situation?

 

I would tell him to send it tracked and insured with signature required to and add the cost to your invoice.

 

At least the seller responded and seemed honest about it.

 

+1

 

To each their own on this, but folks, I'm just not going to stop living (and shipping) because of what MIGHT happen amid infinitesimally small odds. Yes it could and does happen among tens of millions of letters and packages...like a fatal plane crash or car accident among similar numbers of people...but the odds are randomly minute and we don't stop flying or driving (except for mask mandates...no flying for me ). Life is a risk...I'll take (ship) it.

 

Registered Mail is the safest for valuable items. Everyone who who handles the package has to sign for it upon arriving and leaving a facility.

 

It's $750, not $250. They changed it several years ago.

Sellers need to know that the $750 includes all costs paid by the buyer, so if the item was $700 and it's being shipped to a state that collects 10% tax, even though the seller doesn't see the tax, this is now a $770 transaction and requires signature. Same if you ship internationally using the Global Shipping Program. A $600 item could be above the $750 threshold due to customs and international shipping fees.

And I've submitted several insurance claims to the USPS for lost coins and every single one of them has been paid.

 

The seller is quite correct. In order to collect you must prove that it was insured, have proof of the value and that is was properly packaged to prevent a problem.

You could ship by other methods or take a chance it will get there with no problems. It’s more expensive to ship Registered Mail but if you want that coin....

 

If you have ever tried to locate a lost Registered USPS shipment, as I've forced Postmasters to search, you'd realize it is virtually impossible to track on its unscanned labrythian path.

It's only scanned normally upon being received, and delivered!

How is Registered Mail handled?
When mail is registered, it will be handled in the domestic First-Class Mail mailstream from the point that USPS obtains it until it reaches the local Postal Office responsible for final mail delivery. The recipient must only sign a delivery receipt at the time of delivery.

Currently Certified Mail is handled, possibly without being tracked, other than upon being received by the local USPS station.

 

Copied from the United States Post Office website:
Protection Against Loss or Theft
Everyone worries about lost or stolen mail. With 493.4 million pieces traveling through the USPS’ system, it happens.

But, Certified Mail protects your letter or package because there’s a record of everyone who handles it.

Because a signature is required, the letter or package isn’t left in a vulnerable mailbox. The item must go right to the recipient, giving an added layer of protection.

Where ever your package is it is kept in a secure location, not with regular mail

 

When I was a postal manager I had no problems in tracking Registered Mail. It may have changed since I retired but I doubt it. It is scanned, everywhere it goes. The thing is for security purposes, the customer can’t see the scans. Only the first and last scans are visible. Postal managers can see all of the scans. It travels under Lock and Key and keys are locked up. One must have proper authority to have access to a key. A formal hand written tracking is also performed. All this is for security and Registered Mail is the safest way to send mail but it’s a slow way as well. You’re not paying for speed, you’re paying for security. Registered Mail is lock in a thick canvas bag that locked and numbered and that number is recorded.

All other types of mail are handled like an envelope with a stamp. If the letter or parcel has a barcode, it’s scanned. Any one can handle it, minimal safety and shipped in open trays, tubs with no lids or in a wire cage or a cloth or plastic cart.

 

The Postmaster who eventually quit/retired explained that because signatures are required at every transfer, the item is considered "secure". Scanning was optional! She couldn't locate a $12000.00 coin which was mistakenly shipped overseas. She explained the shipping path is unknown to virtually all for Registered shipments.

She was like a Pit Bull, but she "retired" when she located the coin and had problems with its' return.

You are correct with the most recent lost Certified envelope, which only had the original Postal scan. It is handled by anyone, with a tag indicating it has value.

When I was eventually able to open a case, it took some time to be contacted by an investigator, after several weeks of re-opening a search action.

I was eventually informed of Postal employee shortages.

The investigator eventually couldn't locate anything, and suggested it will eventually "show-up".

I have had cases closed at the end of statutory limitation.

I learned that although every Postal facility has a copy of regulations, few know their content, or location.

Rather than discussions with head-strong, I locate/copy appropriate statutes, deliver to Station, and get a signature for same.

In the past my procedures improved memories/service.

Dealing with Postal violations is another story, as virtually everything is "hearsay" and not admissible.

With current changes, things are different. Seemingly reduced moral!

JMHO

 

His answer is just not true, but that said it doesnt matter to you whether he does or not. It's his responsibility to get the items to you and eBay will side with the buyer 100000% of the time if an item is not delivered. If he wants to insure it thats his choice but its not something the buyer pays for.

Now if you wanted him to ship express or something like that you should pay the upcharge, but insurance just simply isnt your problem

 

There's no shipping option that will stop that really. You could talk to the local post office about it, but that never really seems to do much good. All you could really do is get a PO box if its that big of an issue that way you wouldnt have to worry about it.

Signature does basically nothing at this point. Covid protocols let the carriers sign it themselves and they just leave it in the boxes. You need the signature for private insurance, but the carrier doesnt have to get one from you if they dont want to and thats true for all of the services and companies.