Many may already take advantage of this but I thought I'd post it for those who don't.

If you log onto USPS and sign up for an account, you can get the postal service deliver a package of 25 Priority boxes to your house for FREE. These boxes are just a bit bigger than a video tape and work well for bombs and trades.

Also, you can print out labels with postage (charged to your credit card) with a free confirmation number right from your computer (save 45 cents and a trip to the post office). Put the little box out with your standard mail wha-la trade/bomb is on its way.

Almost too easy.
Shipping boxes delivered to your door: 0 dollars.
Print out labels and postage with DC#: $3.85.
Trading with or hitting an unsuspected B/SOTL: Priceless.

err... unsuspecting B/SOTL.

WTG Bucky. . . . spread the word on Click-n-ship. . . .

. . . also, if you don't want to sign up, you can still print labels with free delivery confirmation. . . . then bring into a PO for mailing. . . and try out their 24 hour Automated Postal Center. . . .

I do have 1 HUGE issue with USPS. No matter how much you insure a package for, if they loose it/destroy it/steal it, you must provide proof (i.e. a receipt) of the items value, and they will only pay out that much. Receipts printed off the internet are not valid for proof of value. Personally, I don't think USPS is safe for my stogies any longer after having to go through a claims process.

I sold an item on ebay, and shipped it insuraned in the amount of the winning bid. It was destroyed in transit, and USPS will not pay the claim without proof of value. A printed ebay receipt is NOT VALID for proof of value! I assume printed CI receipts would be void as well.

So, you're saying Postal Insurance should be a means to make a profit off of loss or damage????

I deal with that issue a lot, and to me, it's common sense. . . you're insuring an item, not gambling. . . Postal insurance is to provide a replacement or repair of the item you're shipping. . . it's not a means to make money. . . if you mail a 50 dollar item, and it's damaged, why would you insure it for more than 50 dollars???? Why would any insurance company pay more than the item is worth? I got rear ended once, and State Farm required me to get an estimate from a body shop for a replacement bumper. . . . and then they paid that much, not twice what it's worth. . . I just don't understand the concept of earning money through insurance. . . . . I mean, if it cost you 50 bucks, why in the world would you pay to insure it for 100 or 200 in the first place?? The only people who argue that are the ones who want to rip off the post office. . .

. . . yes, they do need proof of value, and for some people that's a pain. . . but it's not impossible. . . the Postal Service will accept advertisements, catalogues, ebay invoices, and even statements from dealers (this is good with antiques- I will take a letter from an antique dealer as proof of value). . . Some items, with sentimental value, are difficult to prove, so show them similar items. . . . . .

Believe me, if people could profit from postal insurance, the USPS wouldn't even exist today. . . think about it - you buy a 25 cent toy, break it, mail it to your buddy, purchase $5,000 worth of insurance, and . . . . voila. . . . you're $4999.75 in the black. . . don't you think just about every Tom, ****** & Harry would be doing that right now? How long could a company last paying out 2, 3, 4 or 5 times an items value in insurance? Not very long. . .

. . . . We still get rip off artists though. . . I have a customer who ordered a used car computer from a junkyard. . . . it arrived with no damage to the box, packaging or the item itself. . . . . he brought it back for a claim, because it didn't work, and he blamed us. . . I asked what kind of damage did we do to it. . . . he said, "the junkyard says it works, and it doesn't. . . therefore it's your fault". . . . I take the item, and tell him my decision will take a day or two. . . . .I took it apart, and the wiring inside was melted!! I called and explained it to him, that the junkyard sold him damaged merchandise (always a possibility with used car parts) . . . . he came in, apologized, took the stuff and left. . . .

. . . two hours later, I get a phone call from a neighboring office where he took it to file the same claim over again. . . . .

I use USPS Priority mail exclusively.
I sent a package, Ethans' (see AlThor) Middle of the road boxpass, to ND from Arkansas. The package was insured for $200. I had taken a picture of the contents, just for backup inventory purposes. The package never made it to ND. I went to the PO and they gave me the steps to recover damages. They were a pain, proof of value, this must be a reciept of certification of value from a recognised "expert".
I emailed Trish, here at C-Bid, with a list of cigars in the pass, and the picture I had taken. She did the work, and supplied me with a list of the smokes, minus ISOMs, and their MSRP. the total was over $200, something like $206. Though the box was only insured for $200, I recieved a check for the full amount that Trish had listed. WTG USPS, and of course Trish at C-bid, for doing all that work for me. By the way Trish, I still owe you. One of these days I'll make it up to you.
Oh yeah I did send Ethan the insurance money.
Have a great day.
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

Seth, I totally understand what your saying. However, take the following example.

Someone in Cali mails me a PAM64. About $25 in Cali, so they insure it for $25. It gets here damaged and the local value of said cigar is only $14.99, so they will only payout $14.99. Sure that amount will replace the item, however my botl in Cali is now out $10 as they could have just sent me $14.99 to purchase the cigar.

And my local post office did not accept my printed ebay invoice as they "are easily forged these days". Maybe my local station just sucks.

That certainly sounds frustrating. . . .

. . . You do have a choice with the local office. . . Insurance claims $50 and under are paid out locally with postmaster making final decision. . . if they're refusing ebay invoices, they aren't providing good customer service. . . perhaps they have had some problems at that office with scam artists. . . . In this case, it's the opinion of the postmaster, so you may have better luck with another office. . . You can file a claim at any office. . . . or, if they are denying it only because of the ebay invoice, perhaps the sender can get a price list from a CA tobaccionist showing the prices of PAMS, and try again with your PM. . . . have you talked to the local PM, or just a window clerk? In your case, I'd definately ask for the postmaster. . . .

. . . if you still cannot make any headway with the locals, you could send everything to my office, and I'll take a look at handling the claim. . . . email me if it comes to that. . . .

Thanks Seth. I didn't know that I could process my claim through another station. I'll contact the office near my work. My local office seems terrible on all service in addition to claims. For some odd reason, they take a day longer to deliver priority mail then all other offices. If a BOTL and myself ship on the same day, they ALWAYS get mine 1 day later then I get theirs, no matter where it's going. I've tried having the carrier pick it up, and I've taken it physically to the office in attempts to solve the day later phenomenon. So looks like all signs point to a bad office. Is there a "my local office sucks at everything" hotline I can call? haha

Until then, I'll just use our office UPS account to ship since UPS picks up everyday and they haven't done me wrong yet.

The key to having fun on this web sight is doing just that. Don't stress. Just take a fiver to the post office with an address and launch that baby. Look if you do one a week/month chances are you'll make sombody's day. And you know how good it feels to know you made someone smile.

I know rick really likes swiser sweets....hint hint...