Insurance to Russia - What do you think this means?

[pjcdn2005]

I just sent a package to Russia and was curious to see whether or not the insurance companies still considered it an excluded country.

I use Auctiva which uses Shipsurance and on the SS site, you can't insure a package to Russia if you are buying a single coverage policy.

But on Auctiva it states:

"For shipments to Russian and other Commonwealth of Independent States countries (includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan) coverage ceases upon touchdown of the aircraft at the airport of destination or upon discharge from the overseas vessel at the destination discharge port."

If small packet was used then there is no way to prove where the package was lost.So if the buyer said they did not receive the package and small packet was used, do you think that the package would be covered?   Or do you read it as meaning something else? I know that I could contact Shipsurance but I'm curious how others read this statement.

I haven't decided whether or not I would buy insurance if it is available but obviously have thought about it. I haven't had the best luck sending items to Russia lately.

I rarely buy insurance so please don't think it necessary to post the "I never use insurance" posts and/or explanations about cookie jar insurance. I already understand how it all works.

[raanana]

Shipping to Russia is always risky..A letter/package can be delivered within 2 weeks as well as  3 month,Expensive items  I would mail by fully insured method,though it might be expensive and there might be condition on a coverage.

I'm dealing pretty much with Russian buyers/collectors (not only on ebay) and  would also recommend to check buyers feedback prior choosing of shipping method.

[dipmicro]

That means they will sell you the coverage but without tracking number showing last item wherebouts they will decline your claim.

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

The one and only time I sought out insurance and full coverage was a parcel to Russia. Cutsomer paid full price for something. It was a larger more breakable parcel. I decided to cover both the customer and myself. There were no problems.

I used CP and it wa sinsured to the customer's hands.

[i*m-still-here]

I have never used this and don't understand what it's about......... but I thought that the next time I have a sale to Russia I'd look into it.......... and in case you're interested:

http://http://www.rusify.com/sellers/home

[i*m-still-here]

I just read your post more closely.

You've already shipped.  U-Pic and shpsurance do not cover Russia at this time.

Apparently Auctiva has a modified version that covers you until the plane lands, and so that's a waste of money............... IMO anyway.

[rose-dee]

The way I understand the Auctiva restrictions you've quoted is that you can buy the coverage, but if you use Small Packet and you are unable to show that it was lost/damaged, etc. prior to its reaching the first Russian (or other similar country's) airport, they won't cover it. 

This means the coverage is only worthwhile with tracked services, and only as far as the Russian border.  I'd say that's more or less useless, since the biggest risk is within Russia itself.

I use Auctiva, but haven't tried insuring to Russia yet.  The last SmPkt I sent to Russia must have got there eventually, as I heard nothing further from the buyer.  The only way I'd ship again to Russia would be if the buyer was willing to pay for a tracked service that could be insured (Canada Post may cover Russia for some services, I haven't checked lately).  The other issue to Russia is that things can take so long you risk INR scenarios as a result of mere delay. 

This is why I've actually now excluded Russia as a ship-to destination; for the few sales I'd get I decided it wasn't worth the risk for SmPkt, nor worth the cost of tracked shipping.  I've been told the postal system there is very unreliable and that bribery and theft are rife.  And the cookie jar can get depleted pretty fast that way.  

[pjcdn2005]

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. This is the one time that I really miss the insurance on CP small packets.

[i*m-still-here]

I'm having a similar situation.   I have an offer from a buyer for an item at $175 with 0 FB from a country no one will insure to.

I'd like to take it but it's a little scary................  

So me too:   It's sales like these when that $100 insurance made these decisions easy.

In this particular case, I could ship tracked packet at almost $50 or small packet at $9.

I hear everyone and agree that insurance doesn't pay off.............  but it sure does make shipping items off to countries that seem so chaotic less stressful...............

These are the decisions I hate making.

[pjcdn2005]

Interesting....I wrote to Shipsurance to see what they would say and here is their reply.

Thank you for contacting Shipsurance.

Our coverage to Russia is limited. Yes, if the tracking information shows that the package made it to Russia, then that is where our coverage ends & it would be a gamble on your part if the shipment makes it to its final destination. If there is no scan that the shipment arrived in Russia, then you would have coverage all the way through because there would be no way to tell where the shipment became missing.

If you need further clarification or have any other coverage questions, please call our office directly at the toll-free number below, Monday through Friday, and speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Now that small packet has a bar code, I wonder if it is scanned by CP at any time throughout its journey. I realize that it doesn't come up under tracking but it's possible that CP knows where the package is??  Anyway, I'll buy the insurance and see what happens.