Insured Mail: Why?

Joey2k · April 09, 2007, 03:16:35 PM

Why should we have to pay extra to make sure the postal service does what we are paying them to do in the first place?

Christmas Ape · April 09, 2007, 03:36:21 PM

Because we'll pay it?

James McMurray · April 09, 2007, 03:47:02 PM

Because if you don't pay it and something happens you're screwed.

Joey2k · April 09, 2007, 03:52:55 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayBecause if you don't pay it and something happens you're screwed.

Well, yes, that's the way it actually works out. But since the postal service has already accepted your money in exchange for delivering a piece of mail, shouldn't the burden be on them to make it right if it doesn't get delivered?

James McMurray · April 09, 2007, 04:10:58 PM

Probably, but life ain't fair.

James J Skach · April 09, 2007, 04:29:06 PM

I love the way you think, Techno...

But Mail is the one true Monopoly - legislatively enforced. So I'm guessing there's a law that lets them off of damages because, you know, they want to be (boo hoo we deliver all this mail, you can't make us accountable for any mistakes).

So you get insured mail.

Having said that, don't you do the same thing for FedEx and UPS? Which would totally shake my very important argument to it's utter foundations.

Grimjack · April 09, 2007, 10:06:15 PM

I feel your pain but since they are a government entity they have sovereign immunity unless they choose to let themselves be sued and they would much rather let us pay money for insurance than try to adjudicate claims of how much packages and letters are actually worth....."what do you mean junk mail! you lost my original copy of the U.S. Constitution you fuckwad....now pay up!"
It would probably be more fair but just wouldn't be practical unfortunately.

J Arcane · April 10, 2007, 04:19:36 AM

Dude, accidents happen, that's life. That's why insurance of any kind exists.

Why don't you lay down the "OMG THE GUVMINT IS EVEIL!" paranoia a second and consider that maybe, just maybe, everything an organization does isn't some plot to scam you.

Joey2k · April 10, 2007, 08:58:28 AM

Quote from: J ArcaneDude, accidents happen, that's life. That's why insurance of any kind exists.

But if they lose my mail, it's their accident, not mine. They should be the ones paying for insurance, not me.

If I take my car in to the shop for repairs and they don't do the repairs and I get in an accident as a result, should my insurance have to cover that? Or should the repair shop have to pay to make it right?

James McMurray · April 10, 2007, 11:04:18 AM

Beyond businesses designed t prevent loss and damage, you'll be hard pressed to find any business that handles other peoples' things that says "we are responsible for loss and damage." If the government automatically covers all loss and damage, they'd have to switch to a totally hands on approach to make sure that the mail made it directly to you and wasn't removed from your mailbox before you could get there. That would cost a hell of a lot more to the users than insurance.

beeber · April 10, 2007, 11:13:33 AM

what do you really get for it (the insurance) anyway?

i mean, say i win a game on ebay for 5 bucks/pounds/credits and get insurance. if the post fucks up and i don't get it, i'm still out the game i wanted in the first place. i just get my fiver back? that's it? how about if it ends up damaged. do i get the damaged item and the cash?

seems like a waste to me, honestly. i'd only bother if the package was worth a fair sum (like, over $50, i guess).

James McMurray · April 10, 2007, 11:54:08 AM

You get whatever you paid for in insurance, although if you try to go insane and insure a postcard for $5,000 you open yourself to fraud charges.

To use your game example, you could insure the item for cover price + shipping fees + "this is what I think it's worth" bonus fees. If it disappears you get that amount. If it's damaged, you get that amount. In either case they'll, and if they think you're trying to screw them, they'll try to screw back.

Also, some shipping types come with insurance built in. For instance, if you send a package express mail you get $100 in insurance included in the express mail cost.

cnath.rm · April 10, 2007, 01:09:57 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayAlso, some shipping types come with insurance built in. For instance, if you send a package express mail you get $100 in insurance included in the express mail cost.

UPS includes either $99 or $100 in insurance with the base price, if you want more then that you can pay for the extra.

joewolz · April 10, 2007, 01:15:23 PM

My fiancee thought the same way about insuring stuff, until she sold two textbooks and they got lost in St. Louis. She insured the rest and found out someone at the post office in St. Louis was opening and stealing books out of packages and reselling them.

We were still out $200 or so from not insuring the first two textbooks. If it's worth more money than you can stand to lose, it's best to insure it.

cnath.rm · April 10, 2007, 02:14:44 PM

Something to watch out for on eBay and other sites are the people who sell you the book/dvd/whatever for $0.99 and overcharge on the shipping. The insurance only covers the purchase price most of time, so it's something else to take into consideration when you buy things online.