usps express shipping and insurance

[fettucine]

Sorry if this has been discussed to death, but I reviewed all of the past threads before posting. I have couple questions for anyone who can help.

1) My loose stone is insured by Jewelers Mutual and is going to be sent for setting in the next a few days. Has anyone else talked to JM stating that they would insure the stone in transit as well to the setter? My agent told me it is indeed insured in transit regardless of the carrier, however there is nothing in writing on the website or in any form stating such.
- The reason I ask this question is, if in fact it is insured already, I don''t have to stress out about how to send my stone, and wiould feel safer sending it via express as in (q#2)

2) Has anybody used usps express with insurance to ship loose stones? It is obviosuly quicker, by the question is whether this is worthwhile even with the insurance, or is it just better to wait the 3-9days for priority registered.

3) Does the "insured for $xxx" amount appear infront of the express mail package or the registered mail package?

Thanks for any help.
-f8

 

[mrssalvo]

USPS registered mail is the safest way. My postman told me all the registered mail goes into the same bag and moves at the same speed so it''s not really worth it to pay the extra for priority. Insure the stone for what it''s worth. Once you hand it over it''s their responsibilty. just make sure you have proof of the value if they had to pay you for a loss. I think Dave atlas said in another thread that he''s shipped 10''s of thousands of packages USPS over years and years and they have only lost 2. I don''t think the insurance amount is shown on the package.

 

[angeline]

I have sent stones twice from CA to TX, registered and added Priority for like $4.50, total cost for a $10k stone about $22. They made it there in 3 days each time which I thought was pretty good. Don''t know how far you are sending yours but I thought that was fast. It''s also very secure.

a

 

[maxspinel]

For relatively expensive items, I sent them through the normal USPS registed mail since it came out way cheaper than the USPS express. But based on my experience, it is much slower; it took 6 days for an item sent from Los Angeles to reach Knoxville. Of course, when I mailed it via USPS express with insured, the item was delivered the next day.

I don''t know anything about Jewelers Mutual but you might want to contact them to make sure that it is in fact insured.

 

[reader]

Insured express Ritani diamond ring: scanned accepted in MA. at 346 PM Friday
Hits my post office in MD 11:30 am Sat
On my nervous, sweaty hand at 12:53 Sat.

Your postman has it slighly wrong. Express mails and Registered mails are sent in 2 different bags, the Reg is sent in locked pouches that must be signed for every time it changes hands. Expresses are scanned for acceptance, arrival at unit, and delivery. Regs do go slower than Expresses, if that express fails (doesn''t get an attempted to deliver scan before the time stated on the package) the mailer gets a refund.

No, the insured amount does not appear on the package, in fact, my ring was sent in a larger sized mailing box, my co-workers thought that it was clothing. If an insured item is valued at less than $50.00, it gets stamped with the word insured, over 50 is a bar code that the carrier must scan at delivery and get a 3849 signed.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/20/2006 3:57:17 AM
Author: reader


Your postman has it slighly wrong. Express mails and Registered mails are sent in 2 different bags, the Reg is sent in locked pouches that must be signed for every time it changes hands. Expresses are scanned for acceptance, arrival at unit, and delivery. Regs do go slower than Expresses, if that express fails (doesn''t get an attempted to deliver scan before the time stated on the package) the mailer gets a refund.

I reader, i don''t think I explained myself well. I was talking about Priority registered mail and regular registered main, not express. I''ve never used express nor even inquired about it. I was going to send a ring priority registered and pay the extra to do so and he said it''s not going to get there any faster b/c priority registered and regular registered go into the same bag. Maybe that''s wrong too. whenever I send anything registerd they never know how long it will take. my ring took 10 days to get to rich sherwood in florida from TN. But when I shipped it to the DC area from TN it showed up in 2. Sounds like express might be the way to go for those who don''t like the unknown transit time. But many company''s like WF will only expect things USPS registered mail so be sure to check the recipient.

 

[reader]

Priority and first class registered do end up in the same bag. Sorry that I misunderstood you.

 

[fettucine]

Thanks for all the responses, I will send my stone with express iinsured and then post the time and "safety" information. Maybe somebody from Jewelers Mutual (sue) can post a response regarding coverage of loose stones in transit to the setter. I did call JM, and talked to two different agents with different responses regarding this matter.

Thanks,
-f8

 

[sfritz]

Date: 9/19/2006 11:14:28 PM
Author:fettucine
Sorry if this has been discussed to death, but I reviewed all of the past threads before posting. I have couple questions for anyone who can help.

1) My loose stone is insured by Jewelers Mutual and is going to be sent for setting in the next a few days. Has anyone else talked to JM stating that they would insure the stone in transit as well to the setter? My agent told me it is indeed insured in transit regardless of the carrier, however there is nothing in writing on the website or in any form stating such.
- The reason I ask this question is, if in fact it is insured already, I don''t have to stress out about how to send my stone, and wiould feel safer sending it via express as in (q#2)

2) Has anybody used usps express with insurance to ship loose stones? It is obviosuly quicker, by the question is whether this is worthwhile even with the insurance, or is it just better to wait the 3-9days for priority registered.

3) Does the ''insured for $xxx'' amount appear infront of the express mail package or the registered mail package?

Thanks for any help.
-f8

Jewelers Mutual''s Personal Jewelry policy does not have a transit exclusion, so shipments of insured items are covered.

We recommend shipping jewelry through the USPS Registered Mail or Express Mail because our long shipments'' history indicates that this the safest way to ship. Express Mail''s advantage is speed... one or two-day delivery. With USPS Express Mail, you can insure each package with the post office for up to $5,000, and our policy would cover any amount over $5,000. However, the choice is yours; you do not have to insure Express Mail shipments with the PO if you already have a Jewelers Mutual Personal Jewelry policy.

Sue Fritz
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company

 

[maxspinel]

Date: 9/20/2006 9:04:57 AM
Author: fettucine
Thanks for all the responses, I will send my stone with express iinsured and then post the time and ''safety'' information. Maybe somebody from Jewelers Mutual (sue) can post a response regarding coverage of loose stones in transit to the setter. I did call JM, and talked to two different agents with different responses regarding this matter.

Thanks,
-f8

Regardless of what the representatives from an insurance company tell you verbally, please read the fine prints of your policy w.r.t. to the coverage and restrictions. Something not explicitly spelled out has a high chance of not being covered or there are conditions that you have to satisfy before the coverage applies. If you want clarification, please request a response in writing. When it is time to file a claim, insurance company would just follow the written rules and anything an agent may have informed or mis-informed you would not count at the time.

 

[fettucine]

Thanks Sue, that helps me alot. Also thanks for posting that information as it is no where on the JM website. I think it will also be a relief to a lot people that if their jewelry is insured through JM it is also covered in transit to be set or reset. I have heard from many people that going through insurance claims from P.O. (USPS or otherwise) is pretty bad experience, with first rounds of claims denied off hand.

Again appreciate all the help.
-f8