posted on September 1, 2000 11:23:27 AM
I have been reading with interest about refund situations when an insured item has been lost or damaged in the mail and I have a question.
From what I have read, the Post Office will only refund the value of the item and not the postage costs. Is the seller obligated to then refund the postage costs to the buyer?
If you are dealing with an International transaction, is this also the case? The costs of postage overseas can be quite high.
How do the sellers handle this situation?
Thanks for your input on this matter.
posted on September 1, 2000 11:34:05 AM
My postmaster told me that Post Office insurance will reimburse both the bid price and postage. They won't reimburse for the cost of the insurance, though.
She looked it up in her rules and regulations book for me, so I'm going with what she told me.
Robin
[ edited by monkeysuit on Sep 1, 2000 11:34 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 11:47:11 AM
if the shipping is insured the insurance pays what it conciders fair value
your job is complete one item is in the mail the its the post office is responcable for the shipping and there willing to stand behind there service to the point of insureing it
they will be getting there money back for there purchase and the postage was used to ship the Item.
even though you might not be able to feel for then them they will wait up to 8 months to get there money and still wont have there item.
Its there dollar .85 what ever if they want to insure but I wouldnever require it or recommend it .
posted on September 1, 2000 11:47:54 AM
That is what I was told by my local PO also. I was told NOT to add the postage into the insured value, because the insurance will only cover the cost/value of the item. The refunding of the postage IS separate.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:00:47 PM
I basically agree that if insurance covers postage insurance would refund postage. Since sellers usually add for materials and/or handling as part of their shipping costs, that portion would not be covered. It's usually a very small amount and would be up to the discretion of the seller for refunding. I wouldn't hold a seller responsible for what the post office failed to do--I also state that I am not responsible for their failure when I ship something (I make sure I do what I can to make for a safe shipment and so far have not lost anything )
International shipments are probably different and I would not hold my breath getting a refund for postage on them. If anyone else has better info I'd love to know too.
[ edited by mballai on Sep 1, 2000 12:02 PM ]
