USPS Lost Registered Mail And Claim Ripoff Beware!

I noted there are other threads on mail problems with USPS lately, but thought this deserves its own thread. Attached image is letter I received from USPS for a lost registered shipment. Yes, registered items evidently can be lost! Although I insured the shipment for $100 for $18 in postage (to make sure an item was delivered back to an ebay seller who shipped shoddy merchandise), which USPS gladly accepted payment for... I received this letter telling me the maximum USPS will pay "regardless of declared value" is $46.09. International Mail Manual (IMM) section 333.2.

I received the check, but I had provided ample proof of the $98+ for the lost items out of pocket value. Evidently as this was international mail (went to Germany) USPS limits their liability.

Does anyone find this distasteful by USPS? They collected $18 in fees and I stated insured value, and then when it happens to get lost in Dresden I am just out $50 plus the $18 in postage.

The claims supervisor's last paragraph is priceless. Left unsaid? "Just try it!"

USPS should be required to inform customers of the limits of their liability when, or before registered mail is bought. Not doing this looks to be WRONG.

The PO does whatever it wants, most of the time it goes well but at least once a year I get some kinda horror story happen.

Actually, you didn't insure it for $100.00. You said the value was $100.00. The computer program for such items internationally will only allow $ 46.09 in insurance. The program won't let the clerk input anything over $ 46.09 into the machine.

Check your computerized receipt and see what it's actually insured for.

A better option would have been to use International Express Mail since that has a tracking number that you can use to access the postal journey. Last year I did a lot of international mailings. The worst part was when it got to the destination country and then languished in customs for 2-3 weeks sometimes before being released.

International Express Mail is the route to go for anything of serious value. But good luck collecting on something that gets lost! By the time I jumped thru all of the USPS hoops it took 2 months to collect on a $300 claim. And then I got the run around from a local branch on filling out the form sent to me and had to go to a different branch before I could get that processed.

Forgot to add, that a claim also requires the cooperation of your buyer at the other end. They have to get a form from their local post office to start the process. So I imagine if you get no cooperation there that you may be screwed. I don't know if anything can be done without that since my buyer was cooperative.

Registered Mail indemnity on international parcels has always been a paltry amount. Not only that, but once the parcel passes U.S. borders, you are at the whim of the postal entities the parcel travels through as to how securely it is handled.

I personally would NEVER use Registered Mail for international shipments from the U.S. All it does is take money out of your pocket.

Doesn't the reimbursement on your claim include postage? So it would be $46.09 +$18. Still, not good, but 50% rather than 25%.

If you have insurance on your collection either through Hugh Wood or Collectibles Insurance Agency, you may be covered for the loss.

reimbursement does not cover postage. Actually the costs are really postage ($1.20) plus the registration fee (what ever that was)

On International Express Mail you get the postage back and the valuation of the item. Just not real fast.

One thing I've never understood though is why Registered Mail from the US is so expensive compared to mail coming in from other countries. An incoming envelope from Latvia for instance is $5 for the registration while we pay nearly 3 times that counting the postage the other direction. Plus I've heard more than once that Registration just calls attention to what you are sending. Not always the best thing.

Because while within the United States, Registered Mail is kept under lock and key and checked in at every stop along the way. That is what you are paying for.

Except, by treaty, isn't every country supposed to treat Registered Mail the same way? Or is that just so much fantasy?

Have you ever wondered how sellers in other countries can ship Registered Mail so cheaply, the equivalent of US$3-4? "Registered Mail" means many things in many different countries. The only true controls are what happens up to the point the mail leaves U.S. custody.

John - just so much fantasy.

Fantasy, I am afraid. It did used to be that way, but not anymore. Registered Mail from other countries is put in the normal mail stream by the USPS and only treated at all specially when it gets to the final delivery office. Then you should be required to sign for it.

I understand that the UPU no longer requires as careful handling of registered mail and that most countries do the same as the US.

Domestic US registered mail, however, is still handled quite carefully.