This is what the postal clerk said.....

[Archive]

Posted By: AdamBaxter

I used to work for the USPS and I can honestly say that these experiences some you guys have had are really odd. First of all, I have NEVER been asked what I'm mailing/insuring or to "prove" the value of the item I was mailing. The only question I usually get asked when I'm insuring something, is the value and whether or not it's fragile/perishable/liquid. So far as I know, having to substantiate the value of the item your insuring is not USPS policy, UNLESS you are filing a claim for lost or damaged merchandise. To be asked to describe the item and/or prove it's value is highly unusual and IMHO means that either the question is asked for either purposes of theft, policy overzealousness or employee ignorance. Once I tell a Postal Clerk that expense vintage baseball cards are coming and going to my P.O. Box, then it won't be long before something ends up "lost". Although it isn't an epidemic, theft (especially at the large Parcel Distribution Facilites) does occasionally occur. If a clerk askes questions that seems unusual or inappropriate my advice is to speak with a supervisor, Postmaster, go to another Post Office or deal with another carrier (UPS, etc.).