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.....enforcing a little known rule they have buried in one of their massive collection of policy books:
You are *NOT* permitted to have any private insurance notation that either resembles THEIR sticker; NOR place any notation of private insurance on the same side of the package as the shipping label.
I had them use a black magic marker on all of my "insured" stamped packages today.....the clerks were very apologetic about it, but said they have "gotten orders" to start enforcing the rule. One said it is obvious that the PTB are tired of the declining sales of insurance on packages and are hoping that this will force those of us that self-insure, to go back to buying THEIR so-called insurance. Yeh......riiiiiiight!
A little questioning DID get the answer that we *CAN* place our own sticker or stamp on the package....but it can *NOT* be on the label, nor even be on the SAME SIDE as the label. Yep.....you can put it on the INSIDE of the package, on the backside of of an envelope, or on any side of a box that DOESN'T have a shipping address.....but don't you dare have it where it can be seen easily by a carrier or customer.
In the big scheme....it really doesn't mean all that much......other than you have to really wonder if maybe things that are marked "insured" actually *DO* get a little better handling.
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Hmmmm .... I'm gonna inquire what endicia's official response to this is. Letcha know what I receive.
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so we could cover every square inch of the package, except for the label side, with INSURED stamps?
heh heh he
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This sounds like a sales opportunity for a wide clear packing tape with the word "INSURED" over and over. Tape that package up real nice all over three sides. Just make sure the tape design doesn't come close to the USPS insured label look or characters. I'd even use orange instead of red or green.
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Originally Posted by larruone
so we could cover every square inch of the package, except for the label side, with INSURED stamps?
heh heh he
Larry....we think WAY TOO MUCH a like!
What really twists my boxers about this is that they have every right to restrict the use of a stamp or label that looks like theirs.....
.....restricting the use of ANY OTHER stamp or label to a side that is not on the address side is plain out & out bullpuddles!
On another topic of "let's enforce the rules"......supposedly the POs are under orders to start measuring the ENTIRE envelope now too if you are using DC on it. If it doesn't meet the thickness requirement OVERALL....then you can't have DC on it.
So I started taping a packing peanut in the middle AND in each corner now.
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On of the things I like about UPIC is that there is *NO*, as in NO indication when using it that the package is insured.
SO there is nothing to attract the attention of theives.
The thing I HATE about USPS insurance is that the value is listed on the label. So any thieving postie can see how much its worth.
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I personally would never want to stamp a package insured. Esp. if the USPS wasn't the insurer.
It's like asking for the 'basketball' treatment....
And Ken, those rules (thickness and stamps) have been in place for years. Why is your PO only now enforcing them????
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I use U-Pic and never mark my packages insured. I explain to the customer in my "item shipped" email that packages are specifically not marked as to value, contents, or insured status in order to deter theft and tampering.
I almost never mark packages fragile either. IMO, that's just asking for trouble. I buy a lot of glass Christmas ornaments, and often the packages that practically scream FRAGILE all over the box are the ones that arrive in the worst shape.
BTW, the USPS is enforcing another rule recently too. I just paid 91¢ postage due on a package for the difference between Priority and Parcel Post. The seller shipped parcel, but re-used a box that had priority tape on it from the original use. It was not even a Priority box. That's happened before but it's the first time I've had to pay postage due because of it.
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The rule you mention is a long standing policy. Some post offices enforce it and some do not. Just as during the holiday season some enforce the 10 parcel limit rule while others have no limit restrictions.
As we have for sixteen years we recommend that you do not indicate value on your parcels. We provide you with proof of insurance cards you can slip inside each parcel so that your clients are aware you have a policy for property while in transit.
www.u-pic.com
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Quote:
".....other than you have to really wonder if maybe things that are marked "insured" actually *DO* get a little better handling."
And you also have to wonder if the package handlers have been given the old "wink & nod" that parcels with non-USPS insurance markings need no particularly careful handling.
At the very least, I'd think that USPS insured parcels take priority (treatment wise) over non-USPS insured parcels. (ie: tossing in the truck, heavy boxes on top of them, etc.).
I think the idea of a card inside the box indicating it is insured (with a unique control # for each item) instead of a label makes sense. It could even double as and advertisement / business card. But I would still have to clearly mark "fragile" or "handle w/ care" on delicate items. If they do happen to arrive broken, and you've failed to mark them, I'm sure the customer would would deem that as being quite neglectful and unprofessional.