Has anyone ever had to turn in a request for Postal (USPS) insurance? and if so, did you ever collect? I keep hearing horror stories about damaged packages that have never received any compensation for lost or damaged packages. With the higher cost for shipping, they have also increased the cost of the insurance. Maybe someone can chime in about good or bad experiences. I will be shipping a rather expensive bow in the near future, and I don't want to waste my money on insurance if there is no chance of getting any result in the event something happens. Any feedback would be appreciated. - Let me know your experiences. - jwingman

I’ve been involved in 2 claims. Both denied for bs reasons. Scam.

Collecting from them is a big joke. When you ship take pictures and document as well as you can. I had one claim and just gave up on it. That being said ive shipped alot of archery stuff through the years and that is the only time it happened.

We ordered a special bed for our old dog, the temp. mail man delivered it to the wrong place. Our normal carrier told her boss about it, they contacted the place it was delivered and they said they didn't know what we were talking about. The PO knows where it went but they would not give the address to me. The sender did not owe us anything, they did nothing wrong.

the answers are Yes and NOPE!

I got the $50 which is the base insurance amount for priority mail without the extra cost for insurance.

I didn't say it was easy. They wanted pictures, descriptions, original purchase receipts, etc.

It's funny though...after they eventually paid, 6 months later the package should up to the recipient

NOPE!

Yes once I shipped a bow that arrived damaged. The recipient received the tube with a big red damage sticker on it. I filed a claim with the photos and a purchase receipt and they paid. Probably one in a million.

A fella bought a set of limbs from me. Despite the package being well wrapped, one of the limbs fell out of the package before it was delivered to him. He filed a claim for the insured amount, about $300 if I remember correctly, and was paid. Then, a few months later, he was at the post office and it turns out the missing limb was there. That's apparently where it fell out. Wasn't damaged and he was given the limb. No request to return the claim paid. He made out pretty good on that one.

I had an insured properly packed Brooks Grumley destroyed by the USPS and the repeated attempts to collect insurance (for less than the sold price)rejected.Ill never insure another item it was a JOKE.Sold to a guy at Three Rivers and they vouched for the value and packaging.

From personal experience, my advice is don’t waste the extra money on insurance. Pack the item better than should be necessary and hope for the best.

I am a mailman at this present time. I would advise no one to get the insurance. It will be denied most of the time for a bs reason.

They can’t even get a payroll correct. I’ve been shorted on my check three times now and have yet to collect. One day going back to February and another in March. There is no excuse for this and it is a hot point for me.

I was also shorted a day last October but I was able to recoup that during the Christmas rush by actually being dishonest about some time and mileage.

They are the worst managed place I have ever witnessed.

I shipped a bow with insurance and the package went missing for a few weeks. Asked about what to do at the P O and they told me the hoops to jump thru and I did. Filed a claim and the package was delivered two days later-EMPTY and the end taped back up with their clear tape. Then was told something should happen at the two week time since filing the claim and on that day received a check. It worked out for me but was bizarre how it got handled.

I had a positive experience. Mailed a Hoyt Pro Medalist. Buyer let me know it was broken when delivered and I asked for pictures. Filed a claim for value of bow and shipping cost, and 2 weeks later was paid in full. This was about 4 years ago.

words of wisdom. Save your money. Not work it

I did on some arrows. I got pics from the guy who received them. With the pics, they paid.

Over the years I have sent and received many dozens of bows, arrows and bamboo fly rods. I have had a total of one bow shipped that was damaged, the tip was broken. It was a pain in the ass because it was of course the only time I lost the Post Office receipt but I did get compensated the full ammount it was insured for which was the cost of a new bow.

Yes, every time I’ve had a damaged insurance claim they have paid with none of the hassles or denials claimed previously. I will continue to ship Priority Insured and specify insurance to be on parcels sent to me.

I think the hardest thing to provide that they ask for is the original receipt of what you paid for it. If the item is several years old, you know your not likely going to have the receipt.

Also, take a picture of the item and package before you send it.

I did once for a $900 money order. It took 3months but did get my money back. Said I had to wait 60 days for check to clear. Also got my money back for the Tracking and signature request.

A friend sells lots of bows online, one old Bear Kodiak was lost. He filed the claim and they asked for a picture and price. He printed out the picture and price from the 3 rivers catalog of a new Super Kodiak. They gave him his money based on that info. There was no other way to comply.

So sounds like the odds are better than 50/50 that you will be able to collect on the insurance claim.

I always ensure my packages but have never had to file a claim.

I bought a DH several years ago, insured, badly twisted limb, box bashed, told seller, seller filed claim, PO denied claim after inspecting my delivered bow and box.. Seller made good to me.

They do ask for a receipt, that is simple to provide. Have seller make a receipt out to you for what you paid. Seller provides copy of said receipt to PO.

Have been on the seller end at least 4 times, even one for $1000 and no problems collecting. Even got my shipping reimbursed.

Have also been on the buyer end a couple times and seller received payment for insured amount.

Never have been involved with a denied claim.

But the seller has to purchase insurance at time of shipping and that insurance has to be for the value of the item buyer purchased. You shouldn’t buy insurance for more than it’s worth.

You have to have a receipt for the item, luckily I haven't had to make a claim. If you have no receipt you'll have a tough time collecting.

Sounds like some have had great luck.. I just play the law of averages and never buy insurance. I am sure I have saved enough over the years to replace the lost item. But that is just me..I never buy product warranties either

Good information Kelly. And thank you.

Thanks for all input. It is valuable information to all. - jwingman

There are two sides to every issue. I was a Postmaster from 1983 until 2007 and helped process a lot of insurance claims. There were times I couldn’t believe how poorly packages were wrapped. Still, I think we pretty fair on adjudicating claims. We paid off on far more than we refused.

Personally, I have probably shipped a dozen or so bows. And have received as many through the mail. Yes, some were beat up pretty badly - really no reason for it other than sloppy work.

But I have always paid for additional postage, I don’t think there is any better delivery service out there.

There are two sides to every issue. I was a Postmaster from 1983 until 2007 and helped process a lot of insurance claims. There were times I couldn’t believe how poorly packages were wrapped. Still, I think we pretty fair on adjudicating claims. We paid off on far more than we refused.

Personally, I have probably shipped a dozen or so bows. And have received as many through the mail. Yes, some were beat up pretty badly - really no reason for it other than sloppy work.

But I have always paid for additional postage, I don’t think there is any better delivery service out there.

Gary Savaloja~thanks...and I agree... but I still do not like the $15 surcharge on a 30.5" box of arrows that I'm donating.... LOL

I agree with that. They are pricing themselves out of the market for us, I think. A surcharge for longer items is probably reasonable, but nearly half the original price seems excessive.

As I have been one who buys more than a few bows and tries them out, then ends up selling them, I will think long and hard about buying another ASL that is not a take down. Or at least get more serious about calculating some of the cost for shipping in the asking puce.

I have not had in issue with Postal claims we ship about 3 bows a week. over past 12 years 3 claims and all paid.

yes one time,got my money in 6 days

Yep only one time. Ordered 67 Grizzly from Florida and the end of the box was crushed as well as the limb:(. Received what I paid for the bow which is what it was insured for.

Help, I'm a little confused. When an insurance situation comes up, is the claim request filed by the person sending item, or the recipient? Obviously I've never had to deal with this.

Steve

It was incredibly frustrating to go through the process, but I stuck with it, sent photos and receipts for a bow that they lost, and eventually got the $250 insurance that I had paid for. The bow showed up on Craigslist about four months later, and miraculously we were able to get it to the original buyer.

The sender files the claim after the buyer returns the damaged item and the box it was shipped in to their PO. Then that PO sends the info to shippers PO so the claim can be filed by the sender.

Have bought and sold LOTS of bows & STUFF over the years, guess I'm lucky since I've never had or had to file a claim. Mostly USPS but some UPS and Fed Ex. As recently as this past week, TX to GA. How you package is the key, IMO<

Thank you, Kelly.

Steve

USPS We Cannot honor you CLAIM Item Was NOT NEW!!~It is with out a DOUBT!!! a MAJOR CLUSTER POOP!!!!

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