eBay

halloweendonnyguy · ‎02-18-2012

For anyone selling jewelry to U.S. customers, here's a head's up regarding insurance. I recently sent a $650 item to the U.S. by express mail, and the package arrived, but the item inside was gone. I put in a claim to Canada Post and they told me that they could only refund me $500 for the missing item.

I was surprised because I had been told by my local post office that I could insure jewelry, if sent via expedited and express mail to the US, for up to $1,000 for the past 6 years! The fact is, most post office employees are not aware of the rule that jewelry can only be insured for $500 max.

I pointed out to the Canada Post officer assigned to my case that I had been overpaying on insurance for years, but there was no response from him. I did get only $500 in the mail for the stolen ring, but I fought him on it, saying that the post office sold me $650 worth of insurance, and that if it wasn't available, it was their mistake, not mine.

In the end he sent me the remaining $150, but he said it was a one-time thing and now that I am aware of the rule I won't be reimbursed over $500 again.

I went to Canada Post's web site and it took me hours to find this information on insurance. It is true, but why should it take so long to find it? And why doesn't Canada Post educate their postal workers about it? Many people are overpaying for insurance and they should know about the rules, which aren't, by the way, listed at any PO that I have been in.

EJ

sweet.suki · ‎02-18-2012

thanks for letting us know! i was about to sell a necklace on ebay..this information is very helpful!!!

thanks again!

dutchman48 · ‎02-18-2012

Don't insure anything through Canada Post as they are very expensive since rates went up. They also don't insure a lot of items. Small packet outside of Canada insures fior $100 free but still has restrictions as to items.

Use private insurance, it is cheaper, but be very careful how an item is mailed as it can void the insurance. I use Shipsurance and find the reasonable and problem free so far. UPic is also good but they have also quit insuring some items.

toff3 · ‎02-18-2012

Halloweenguy,

When you write that your "local post office" advised you that jewelry could be insured with Canada Post for up to $1000, did you mean a Canada Post station or a franchise Retail Postal Outlet? Only Canada Post stations are manned by Canada Post employees. RPO staff are not employees of CP and, due to lack of adequate training, often have an incomplete knowledge of CP regulations and policy.

Tom

halloweendonnyguy · ‎02-18-2012

Hi Tom:

I am talking about people who work in my local post office in a 7-Eleven store. Most Canada Post outlets are now located in stores.

I really don't see why these people should know less than the people who work in the "real" postal stations. After all, they're taking our money for services and they should all be informed of all the insurance restrictions.

I have heard all sorts of things depending on which outlet I go to. A person in a Shopper's Drug Mart post outlet near my home told me that you can't insure any jewelry travelling within Canada. Another postal clerk working elsewhere told me something quite different. I don't think any of the staff has received adequate training. Sometimes I have to tell them what to do.

With regards to Ship insurance, I do use this to insure packages going out of country like the UK and Japan. It seems like a good alternative to Canada Post, but the one thing I wonder about is, how difficult is the claim procedure? Hopefully there isn't too much fine print!

westernstargifts · ‎02-18-2012

I am talking about people who work in my local post office in a 7-Eleven store. Most Canada Post outlets are now located in stores.

I really don't see why these people should know less than the people who work in the "real" postal stations. After all, they're taking our money for services and they should all be informed of all the insurance restrictions.

The 7-Eleven store in my area no longer has a postal outlet...thank goodness. I had nothing but problems with them when I first began selling on eBay.

Even before that I took a letter in to mail to Malaysia. The clerk said "That's in the States, right?" Then she told me that the postal code must be wrong because it didn't have the proper number of numbers, which she expected should be the same as the U.S. postal codes.

We do have a postal outlet in a stationery store and they are excellent. There staff is well trained, they have all been there for a long time and they know what they are doing.

dipmicro · ‎02-19-2012

1) CanadaPost cannot insure jewelery above $500 and they cannot charge for the service they cannot provide, thus they owe you sum of all overpayments

or

2) CanadaPost accepted the insurance payment and thus agreed to insure in full, which means they owe you $650

I think you can bully them into one or another. Whatever is easier. I think they will go for #2 because who wants to go back who knows how many years and count all overpayments.

femmefan1946 · ‎02-20-2012

If you are selling high value items constantly, you might also look into Hugh Wood Inernational, who have offices in Toronto, although they are a British firm which works internationally.

They specialize in insuring (with annual contracts) collectibles and dealers in collectibles. Our family business has used them for some years.

They cover mailings, shoptheft, shows, travel to and from shows, consigned items, auction viewing(as part of shoptheft) and fire and water damage.

They are the insurer for the American Philatelic Society. The APS has circuit books, a system in which members send stamps out to a string of buyers who pay for theitems they take and send on the book. HWI insures the books. Think about that.

femmefan1946 · ‎02-20-2012

I really don't see why these people should know less than the people who work in the "real" postal stations. After all, they're taking our money for services and they should all be informed of all the insurance restrictions.

Most outlet clerks are minimum wage employees of the store. Their employer is taking money for services rendered not the clerk.

Post Office clerks have usually worked their way up to the position and have a lot of experience to add to their training.

OTOH, some of the retail clerks are college and university students and are smarter and faster learners than the long-time CP employees. It's the usually carpshoot.