I sent over 100 pieces of antique china from a small town in northern WI to CA.
When I asked about a potential insurance claim, I was told that an appraisal of value would be necessary. I couldn’t find any recent sales. An eight hour drive would have been required to get an appraisal. After considering the cost of the drive, the cost of the appraisal and the cost of the insurance, this is what I did.
I split the shipment into three parcels. I put enough padding between each individually wrapped piece of china to protect every quarterback in the history of the NFL from injury for life. I sent the large boxes one at a time. Number two wasn’t sent until number 1 arrived safely.
I sent each package parcel post without postal insurance. All arrived safely and there was no breakage. I have heard multiple tales of difficulty in collecting on USPS Insurance claims. It’s hard for me to understand why the post office runs an annual deficit with their insurance seemingly being a cash cow.
I have only had to refund a couple of small eBay sales to fine upstanding eBay buyers who claimed no delivery or damage. Had I insured everything that I have sent using USPS in the last two decades, perhaps they wouldn’t have had a deficit.
