[meteorite-list] Dealers, Sellers: Please INSURE your shipments

[Gary Fujihara]

Aloha,

I have been the victim of theft after discovering that over $1600  
worth of meteorites were missing from a shipment I received from  
Argentina.  I had noticed the package felt light, but discovered that  
the US postal service is not responsible for thefts of the contents of  
international mailed items that are not insured.  This shipment was  
not insured and so I will in all likelihood take the full brunt of  
this loss.

Thievery by customs officials, foreign and domestic postal workers and  
other individuals or organized groups inside and outside the US is a  
possibility!  I believe most packages arrive at their destinations  
with their contents intact, but feel it is negligent and at the very  
least unconscionable not to insure shipments at or above the full  
value of the contents.  I know it costs more to do so, but please  
consider insurance especially for foreign shipments.  Mailing specimen  
cards and paperwork separately from the meteorites can also prevent  
thieves from knowing what those "Mineral Samples" are.

Is it fair for me, the buyer to take the loss alone for this theft?  I  
personally don't think so, unless I was given a choice and elected not  
to insure.  I would hope that the seller (an IMCA member who, to his  
credit is working with me) would have a sudden rush of conscience and  
compensate, or share the loss with me, since his act of omission  
provides me with little if any recourse.  What are my rights, and what  
can I do?  Do other dealers insure their shipments?  What is SOP?

Gary Fujihara
AstroDay Institute
105 Puhili Place, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 640-9161, fujmon at mac.com
http://astroday.net