I used Fed Ex exclussively to ship in the U.S., always thinking I was safe using their insurance, that I was paying EXTRA for! THINK AGAIN! Fed Ex, as well as others, only pay $100.00(Ground service) or $500.00(Express service) on “Items of Extraordinary Value”. I found this out, when I received my own Ddrum3 brain, back from my parents, shipped Fed Ex ground, fully insured, & after the clerk opened it, to inspect it was packed correctly. When I got it, the box was punctured & the display was damaged, rendering it almost useless. Part of my problem was, I wasn’t able to provide a receipt for it, since I bought it many years ago, second hand. Although, I did have a full retail, factory price sheet, showing the actual retail cost, to buy 1 new, in 1997. Now, discontinued, highly valued, personally programmed, & irreplacable, by mosts standards…
This led me to ask the question… “What would happen, if an item was purchased, sent to a buyer, with proof of payment (ie: personal check, cashier check, money order, etc.).” The answer I got, left me breathless! It affected how I, & I’m sure, a lot of people, will do business in the future…
They would only honor $100.00 for Ground, or $500.00 for Express. Even, with proof, that someone paid $XXXX.XX for it. I was told by the claims adjuster, that “Even a Van Gogh painting, sold & documented, at a well known auction house(ie: Sotheby’s, etc.), & then shipped, without 3rd party insurance, would only be ellidgable, for the $100.00 or $500.00, depending on how it was sent.”. So, that leaves either, A) Reimburse the buyer the difference, out of pocket, for something I had absolutely no control over. Or, B) Tell them they were on their own, it was shipped on their request. Of course, either is a horrible predicamnet to be in. I take all the necessary precations, to make sure my items are safe as possible, in transit. It’s very important to me, on a personal level, that my things make it in 1 piece, but accidents on the part of shippers, do happen, every now & then. I, & I’m sure, most sellers, can’t afford to take such risks.
I now, have no choice, but to make the buyer responsible in case of damage. After all, they’re the 1 who wants the item shipped. I’ll continue to ship, & pack items, to the absolute best of my ability. However, I can’t afford to be responssible, if the shipper damages or looses, a package, that was fine, when it left my hands. I’m sure if you are reading this, and sell second hand items, of any kind, you are, A) Very greatful for all your packages that made it to their destination in 1 piece. & B) Rethinking how you’re going to go about your business in the future.
Of course, I don’t like the situation I, WE, are in. I’ll be looking for alternatives, where the items are insured for their value. The value determined, by what someone is willing to pay for an item. Think about it… Value is indeed, a very vague term. Even in the case of a new item, which they would fully cover with a retail store receipt. Value is only determined by what people are willing to pay for something. ie: Apple makes great computers. They cost upwards of $4000.00. People are willing to pay that much for them. They didn’t cost $4000.00 to make. If people stopped buying them, the price would go down, at least, more compareable, to other “high end” computers. People buy them, because they’re good & they’re willing to pay the $4000.00, for them, because of it. Value determined! Otherwise, it’s just a hunk of metal & plastic, that probably cost, more like, a couple hundred dollars, to build… Get it? Value is determined, by what someone is willing pay, for an item. Not everyone, will see that valueable, or feel they have to have 1, but enough people do, which sets it’s, so called, “value”. This applies, across the board, to new & used items, alike.
Unfortunately, the shippers don’t see it this way. Even with proof of payment… That’ll be the downfall, of all they have built, through the boom of internet sales. Yes, this means, even if you own a brick & mortar store front, selling second hand merchandise, of any kind, sell & ship an item, it gets damaged in shipping, it would only qualify, for the aformentioned, $100.00 or $500.00. No matter what the actual retail price, you & a buyer, agreed upon. Please be careful. Also, let me know if there’s a better option I should explore.