Towards the end of my active selling I stopped using the "insurance" offered by carriers. I felt like stating a value was just an invitation for sticky fingers, although, that said, the only thing I recall ever truly go missing was a beat up original French Grand Guignol act poster which I can only imagine got tossed as soon as it was opened. Broke my heart to have it disappear, lack of monetary value aside as it was almost certainly a 'one of' poster.
Peter On Fri, Mar 31, 2023 at 5:01 AM Tony Calvert <[email protected]> wrote: > I recently had an incident with Shipcover through Ebay. I sent a film > overseas and insured for $400, it arrived in Switzerland, then stopped. I > waited hoping it would arrive, but it did not. I could not figure out the > process to file a claim, when I finally called them they said it was 1 day > past the time limit. The person was very nice and sent me an email with > the information they needed, I sent it back and they put it in my PayPal > account that day. Not sure if this service is available outside of Ebay or > other outlets, or what the limits are, etc. I was very satisfied with the > process and service. Tony > > On Thu, Mar 30, 2023 at 6:44 PM Moviemem Original Movie Posters < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi David >> >> The postal carriers make it very difficult and time consuming for sellers >> to even attempt to make a claim on insurance. Australia Post puts the onus >> on the receiver to take the package to the Post Office for inspection, then >> fill out forms, etc before even considering a claim. It can then take weeks >> to process. I have heard that Australia Post requires proof of value which >> is pretty difficult to establish with movie posters. >> >> >> >> Buyers don’t want to waste their time going this process. They just >> expect the seller to provide an immediate refund which is not unreasonable. >> The problem then is that the seller cannot make a claim on the insurance >> because the buyer hasn’t completed the necessary paperwork, etc. >> >> >> >> Thankfully, I have had very few problems with damaged packages but I am >> hearing more and more about the issues that sellers have with postal >> carriers so it is all very concerning. >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> >> John >> >> >> >> *From:* MoPo List <[email protected]> *On Behalf Of *David >> Kusumoto >> *Sent:* 31 March, 2023 9:23 AM >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Subject:* [MOPO] Paying global carriers for "insurance" that's worthless >> >> >> >> Really disturbed by this thread in that what you guys are experiencing >> feels like a total scam that has been carried out with impunity by global >> carriers for years. If I was a younger man back during my "reporting" days >> - I'd be using my old school contacts with desk editors and would be >> tearing out the floorboards and dry wall to investigate this nonsense. >> This is a legit news story. To learn small retailers like poster sellers - >> have been dealing with this crap forever is beyond the pale. Meanwhile, >> the lowly "spot consumer" is completely unaware of the dishonest / >> misleading practice of "taking money for insurance that's worthless." As I >> and others used to say, "Anything in Fine Print is NEVER Good News." Even >> Bruce H. used to tout the efficiency of UPS in relation to paying claims as >> a large customer - and I noticed this week that he's now qualifying those >> earlier recommendations on social media. Almost feels old USPS registered >> mail, which is slower - but what people still use to send $$$ slabbed comic >> books - must now be the "default" for domestic items - but is likely still >> useless for stuff sent overseas when the hand-off occurs to another >> carrier. And this is not going to be worth the trouble for one-sheets >> valued at $75-$200. >> >> >> >> Sorry to bring up eBay given their horrific sins harassing the Steiners - >> but what's it been like for dealers using its so-called all-inclusive "eBay >> International Delivery" or "Global Shipping Program" - whereby a "front of >> signage" presumption is made that eBay - (sort of like Amazon) - has taken >> overseas shipping "in house" - and is now responsible for point-to-point >> tracking and "insurance" coverage of all items sold on their platform? >> Rather than choosing "your own carrier" - there is now a voluntary option >> to let eBay handle overseas deliveries. I tried it a couple of times and I >> was surprised at how efficient it was for mid-range material. I sent some >> signed Broadway material to a buyer in Germany - and got real-time updates >> about progress. It was slower but still. It looks like eBay negotiated >> contracted rates with UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc. - to move those packages - even >> if those carriers end up sub-contracting to have Royal Mail or Deutsche >> Post / DHL, etc. or private people driving Ubers to deliver items the last >> few miles to a customer's home or office. -d. >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> *From:* MoPo List <[email protected]> on behalf of Moviemem >> Original Movie Posters <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Thursday, March 30, 2023 1:46 PM >> *To:* [email protected] <[email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: Postal Service handling issues >> >> >> >> Hi Caitlin >> >> It does seem that they all have that get out clause but leave it to the >> sender to read the fine print. However, it doesn’t seem right that they >> still accept your money for insurance when it is likely that it won’t be >> covered. >> >> >> >> As to the customs charges (GST etc) I have been told that they would not >> be refunded in Australia if the package was damaged. >> >> >> >> I think you are right in saying that the only way to be sure of safe >> delivery of a high end package is to hand carry it yourself!! >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> >> John >> >> >> >> >> >> *From:* Caitlin Graham <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* 30 March, 2023 7:09 PM >> *To:* Moviemem Original Movie Posters <[email protected]> >> *Cc:* [email protected] >> *Subject:* Re: [MOPO] Postal Service handling issues >> >> >> >> Hi John, >> >> >> >> I had an expensive poster go missing (I suspect stolen) in Fedex Memphis >> warehouse last Christmas when shipping UK-US. I had paid the Fedex >> insurance but subsequently discovered, like Helmut says, that their terms >> and conditions have a get-out-clause on anything 'unique' which includes >> all collectable items and even watches, jewellery, cellphones. So I had to >> claim on my own business insurance. All couriers seem to have a similar >> get-out clause so I don't even bother insuring shipments with the carrier >> any more and rely on my own transit insurance. >> >> >> >> Both me and the buyer were devastated as it was such a rare poster. >> >> >> >> If a poster arrived damaged, the buyer would simply need to return it to >> you and provide proof of the return export to obtain the import refund. >> Obviously that wouldn't work if they held on to the damaged poster - in >> which case they are not entitled to an import refund. >> >> >> >> There is definitely a big risk - I just avoid slipping into the USPS at >> all costs. I think if there was something extremely valuable and >> irreplaceable I would hand carry it myself! >> >> >> >> Best, >> >> Caitlin >> >> >> >> On Thu, 30 Mar 2023 at 09:30, Moviemem Original Movie Posters < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi Helmut >> >> I paid around $400.00 for insurance but I do agree that I might have >> wasted my money. I also get a lot of packages delivered from the US and UK >> and always have to pay the customs charges before the package even arrives >> in the country. I would say that there would be little to no chance of >> getting the customs charges refunded if the package arrived damaged. >> >> Bottom line is that there is a huge risk in sending high end posters >> internationally. It doesn’t matter how much you try to anticipate issues, >> sellers will always be at the mercy of the postal services. >> >> Regards >> >> John >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: [email protected] <[email protected]> >> >> Sent: 30 March, 2023 6:06 PM >> >> To: Moviemem Original Movie Posters <[email protected]>; >> [email protected] >> >> Subject: Aw: [MOPO] Postal Service handling issues >> >> John, >> >> when shipping from Germany, there is no way to insure any collectibles >> beyond a value of €500 with any of the carriers. UPS in the US used to >> insure collectibles, but I don‘t know if they still do. For all I know, the >> Postal Services around the world do not. Chances are that you wasted the >> money on the insurance, as they would have never paid out anyway. In fact, >> if the value is over €500, you won‘t even get that amount, they simply pay >> nothing. UPS Germany makes this pretty clear in their Terms of Service. >> They also explicitly state out that they are under no obligation to tell >> you about this when they take your insurance money. >> >> All you could do is to get your own insurance policy, which is very >> costly. >> >> There are no custom duties on posters, only Import-VAT. As a business >> seller, it is easily refundable for me. For private buyers, I guess they >> have to prove that a shipment was returned and then file for a refund with >> customs. I never heard of anybody actually doing that. >> >> >> >> Helmut >> >> >> >> > Gesendet: Donnerstag, den 30.03.2023 um 01:09 Uhr >> >> > Von: "Moviemem Original Movie Posters" <[email protected]> >> >> > An: [email protected] >> >> > Betreff: [MOPO] Postal Service handling issues >> >> > >> >> > Hi to you all >> >> > There have been lots of comments on Social Media about an increase in >> damaged packages, no matter how well they are packed. >> >> > >> >> > I recently sold some high end posters to a collector in Europe. >> Thankfully it all went very smoothly. >> >> > >> >> > However, much as I tried to anticipate any potential issues there was >> always some risk involved: >> >> > >> >> > 1. The package was fully insured but there is some fine print about >> what is and what is not covered. >> >> > 2. The buyer paid with Paypal. If the package was damaged in transit >> and the buyer had to be refunded, Paypal do not refund their fee which was >> significant. >> >> > 3. The buyer had to pay customs charges BEFORE the package even >> landed in the country. >> >> > 4. If the package arrived damaged, the buyer would quite rightly >> expect customs charges to be refunded but how would that work? I would >> imagine that there would be a lot of red tape in getting a refund. >> >> > 5. I think some buyers would expect the seller to cover all costs >> immediately in the event of damage. >> >> > >> >> > Fortunately, I didn't have any problems but just curious as to whether >> everyone here takes into consideration all of the risks that are involved >> in International Shipping of high end items. >> >> > >> >> > Regards >> >> > John >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: >> https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: >> https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 >> > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: > https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
