posted on March 30, 2005 10:03:34 AM
Help please, FedX/UPS insurance
We sold an antique for $2,500 (the highest price we have ever gotten for anything!). I am investigating options for shipping, FedX, UPS, or USPS. It is made of wood with a glass lens so is fragile, but not extremely so. The object is 22" X 12" square so the package with plenty of padding will not be small. My concern is with the insurance coverage if I sent it either FedX or UPS.
I remember earlier threads on the subject mentioning that there were questions about collecting on insurance of antiques with these services. I have had only one claim with UPS which was for an autographed advertising piece. They paid but I was told by a UPS representative that their insurance only covers replacement cost of merchandise and rare or unique items are excluded.
I will call which ever shipping service I decide to use with questions but would appreciate any feedback you can give.
Thanks -----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on March 30, 2005 10:40:40 AM
stopwhining is right. USPS has a limit. I believ of $1000.00. Neither FedEx or UPS will insure for full value on antiques. I use DSI for all over 100.00 with FedEx.
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
posted on March 30, 2005 11:01:54 AM
From United States Post Office I entered 5020.00 "You entered an insurance value over the maximum insurance limit of $5,000"
posted on March 30, 2005 11:43:29 AM
USPS can give indivdiual sellers a hard time when it comes to paying claims on high ticket items esp if they sell on ebay,if they dont have a storefront,if they are of dubious value.
in some cases,they will refuse to use the ebay high bid amount,say a piece of pizza slice,how much is that worth??
common reasons for refusing to pay claim would be the external box is intact,the USPS packing guidelines is not followed.
you may want to ask your local antique dealer how they insure their items ?
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on March 30, 2005 11:51:08 AM
I looked at the DSI site and the single package limit seems to be $1,000. Is U-PIC more? I looked at their web site but could not find a limit listed.
The USPS says $1,000 maximum. I know I insured a package for just over $1,500 but I sent it registered. maybe that is what I need to do.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
[ edited by photosensitive on Mar 30, 2005 11:58 AM ]
posted on March 31, 2005 07:29:25 AM
My search for an insurable shipping alternative for this item continues. I had decided on registered mail which can be insured for enough. I have used it before for $1,500+ items and my only problem was finding the required gummed paper tape. The buyer, however, does not want it shipped by the USPS (the reason for this is really ironic... but I won't go into that.)
Today I called UPS and was told that I could declare a value of $2,500 and they would pay for damage or loss if I pack it to follow their guidelines. The fact that it is an antique will not matter if I have an invoice. This is the opposite of what I was told earlier.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts or experience.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on March 31, 2005 07:58:08 AM
i would be interested to hear what your local brick and mortar antique dealer does in your situation??
I know jeweller and coin dealers prefer to ship USPS registered and insured!
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on March 31, 2005 08:01:29 AM
I really don't know any local B&M dealers well enought to ask. I do know some dealers who sell high end items by mail and may write to some of them.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on March 31, 2005 08:21:19 AM
if you are going to use UPS,make sure what they told you about max coverage and packing guidelines apply to antiques.
I heard about limited coverage on antiques years ago ,i also heard UPS does not like to handle musical instruments?
Have you tried Fed exp or DSL?
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
