[meteorite-list] Postal insurance claim or stamps.com.

[Paul Gessler]

Mike , I had an experience like this back in 1995 (so not sure if still 
relevant?)
I purchased a cut slab of Huckitta pallasite from Michael Casper.
It was 112grams for $1.75 a gram back then.
It was shipped US postal service and insured through them for $200
When it arrived the box had been crushed and the riker box inside shattered
with the slab breaking into two pieces. I remember filing a complaint and 
scheduled a
meeting with the post master at my end. They contacted Mr Casper to get the 
value
from him. I argued along with Casper that the collectability had been 
destroyed because
it was broken in two. (those were the days before Bessy specks I think) The 
post office
agreed and gave me my $200 back. BUT they wanted to keep the meteorite? I 
demanded
they return it as it still had scientific value and they were supposedly 
going to just throw it away.
They finally relented and gave it back to me. My experience was that nothing 
was easy
or straight forward. I had to prove the damage by showing the crushed box 
etc and demonstrate the
obvious careless handling resulted in damage. Then I had to talk them out of 
the object that
had been written off as destroyed. Why would you keep something that was 
considered destroyed?
You could also argue sentimental value with this I guess. Same reasoning.
Anyway had to jump through some hoops but in the end I got a full refund and 
got to keep
the broken Huckitta.

Regards- Paul Gessler









-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Miller
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 5:26 PM
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Postal insurance claim or stamps.com.

I am wondering if anyone can share their experience involving the loss
of an insured package. Whether it was successful or not and with any
of the carriers. I am especially interested in stamps.com or the Us
postal service. I am asking the question because I ship a lot of
meteorites and have lost some but never any that were insured. Today I
talked with a representative of stamps.com and I was told they only
insure the value that I paid for the meteorite or its value at the
time of loss whichever is less.

-- 
Mike Miller  Kingman Az 86409