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

Wed Jun 3 12:28:21 EDT 2009

Gary,
 I don't think you get how registered mail works. It is far better than certified mail. First of all registered mail must be secured using paper tape which cannot be removed and  the tape is date stamped all along every edge of the tape (this assures that the tape has not been tampered with). Then as added security the mail has to be signed for every time it changes hands. If at any point in the process the package has been opened or tampered with the process ends and the last person to sign for item is held responsible. This assures that there can be no corruption. These carriers guard this mail with their life.
So, registered mail is a safe way to go and I trust this so much that I never even buy insurance. No need. 
I hope this clears it up.
Aloha to you too.
Carl Esparza
IMCA 5829

---- Gary Fujihara <fujmon at mac.com> wrote: 
> Aloha listees,
> 
> I want to thank everyone who responded to my email.  Many good points  
> were brought to my attention, so I thought I would condense them into  
> a sort of Reader's Digest version here:
> 
> * Many points of origin and destination offer no insurance for shipped  
> items.  Unless you self-insure by some third-party underwriter ...  
> seems like a hassle though.  (FWIW, the country of origin of my  
> shipment allowed insurance)
> 
> * Some dealers or sellers understate the value of their shipments to  
> reduce the tax burden on the buyer for international transactions.   
> But it is always as a dual agreement between the buyer and seller  
> before this is done.
> 
> * A high value declared on a shipment can slow down the delivery and  
> invite theft.
> 
> * A very good option for overseas shipments for very valuable  
> specimens are the courier services.  A good option for very, very  
> expensive shipments is to deliver in person (anyone for a trip to  
> Hawaii?  ;-)
> 
> * Never declare that you are shipping meteorites or even minerals - it  
> makes it too tempting to steal.  A better strategy may be to declare  
> "Geological specimen for research", which is accurate but less  
> attractive to thieves.
> 
> * Use Paypal or a major credit card for transactions.  Most have buyer  
> protection plans that can cover your loss (I don't know if I qualify,  
> but I have inquired).
> 
> * Purchases made on eBay or paid through Paypal are protected in the  
> same manner (I don't know if I qualify but I have inquired - keep in  
> mind that you can't double-dip from both eBay and Paypal).
> 
> * Always ship registered mail because the mail has to be signed for  
> each time it changes hands.  No insurance is needed because it cannot  
> get lost.  (well my package didn't get lost - it made it right to  
> me ... empty).
> 
> * For those of you who were wondering: No, I wasn't buying illegal  
> meteorites from Argentina - no Campos or Berduc.
> 
> * Keep all receipts, you need tangible evidence of the cost that you  
> paid (which could be problematic if you, the seller is also the finder  
> of the stones).
> 
> * On larger orders, the seller should recommend insurance to the  
> buyer, who may elect not to do so at his/her own risk.  But give the  
> buyer the choice, make him an active participant in the shipment.
> 
> * There are inherent risks in doing business on the internet - caveat  
> emptor!
> 
> The current status of my lost shipment of meteorites from Argentina is  
> that I filed a Dispute with Paypal, which I escalated to a Claim.  At  
> this point, Paypal has contacted the seller for information regarding  
> the shipment tracking information, after which it will review the  
> transaction and make a determination.  Fingers crossed.  Mahalo nui  
> loa (thank you very much) for everyone's responses and offers of  
> sympathy.  Sympathy is okay, but my rocks would be better, and since I  
> will probably never see them in my collection, then the money I paid  
> to procure them would be a reasonable outcome that I can accept.
> 
> I hope this thread, and the information contained therein are of use  
> to both sellers and buyers.  The best of luck to everyone in all of  
> your transactions and rock on!
> 
> gary
> 
> 
> On Jun 1, 2009, at 12:59 PM, Gary Fujihara wrote:
> 
> > 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
> >
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> 
> 
> Gary Fujihara
> AstroDay Institute
> 105 Puhili Place, Hilo, HI 96720
> (808) 640-9161, fujmon at mac.com
> http://astroday.net
> 
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