[78-L] A note to any users of the US Postal Service

[Cary Ginell]

To all who sell and ship records on eBay or through private auction.

This is a warning that the United States Postal Service will NOT honor insurance that you might purchase on 78s or any other collectibles sent through the mail.

I recently had a shipment of 78s broken due to mishandling by the US Postal Service. I had purchased sufficient insurance to guarantee the value of the records, but when they refused to honor

the insurance, I filed a claim. After waiting for two months, I received a notice saying that I had mailed "prohibited" items, and therefore they will not honor the insurance. I checked their website to see why 

78s are not covered. Under a lengthy list of standard and prohibited items (which include things like flammable chemicals, body parts, and firearms), comes this:

http://about.usps.com/publications/pub141/standard-prohibited-and-restricted-items.htm

"COLLECTIBLE AND/OR IRREPLACEABLE ITEMS (ANY ITEM WORTH MORE THAN ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OR THAT IS NOT COMMONLY AVAILABLE) INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANTIQUES, FINE ART OR COLLETIBLE COINS AND STAMPS."

So, if you use USPS insurance, you are simply wasting your money, because they will not cover any damages as a result of their mishandling of the package.

Cary Ginell