Royal mail insurance

Rosemary7391

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth paying for extra coverage when sending this...

It's a saxophone neckpiece. It's from a saxophone that is 90 years old. It's going to be nigh on impossible to get a like for like replacement if they lose it, so just going to hope that doesn't happen... But if it gets damaged, would they cover repair costs? Or would they try to insist on my replacing it and cover the cost of that? I note that they'll only cover the "market value" regardless of how much insurance I pay for, but that's a nonsensical concept for something that isn't sold separately...? I really doubt they'd pay for me to replace the whole saxophone!

So is it worth even trying to insure? Is it any more/less likely to get lost/damaged if I use a tracked service? It has to be royal mail because I can't get to anyone else's depot etc, I don't drive. It's nothing to do with paypal or ebay, I'm sending it to a repair shop, but the reason it needs repair and any damage in transit will be very obviously different.

Thanks for your help!
Rosemary

custardy

You dont even say what its worth?

Rosemary7391

custardy wrote: »

You dont even say what its worth?

Because I don't know how to define that! No amount of money would replace it if it went missing. I'd have to buy a different make and pay someone to make it fit my sax, and it'd be lacking a major part that doesn't exist on modern saxophone necks. If it got bent or dented, that could cost up to £200 to repair depending on how bad it is. Replacing the saxophone is also difficult, but I've insured the sax itself for £500, although I'd struggle to find a replacement at that price because mine is one of the less valuable ones to start with, and not in the best of nick visually, although perfectly playable.

FreeBear

If you don't insure and something goes wrong which results in you taking legal action against RM, they will claim immunity under the Postal Act.

Take out the insurance, and if you do need to sue, RM will still try to hide behind the Postal Act, but plenty of claims have succeeded on the grounds that the insurance is a separate product outside the scope of the Postal Act & Universal Service obligations.

Or you could use Parcel Force - They can't hide behind the Postal Act and are much easier to take to court in the event of any problem.

That said, the RM Special Delivery service is generally pretty good, and if they fail to deliver on time, you can claim the cost back.

custardy

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Because I don't know how to define that! No amount of money would replace it if it went missing. I'd have to buy a different make and pay someone to make it fit my sax, and it'd be lacking a major part that doesn't exist on modern saxophone necks. If it got bent or dented, that could cost up to £200 to repair depending on how bad it is. Replacing the saxophone is also difficult, but I've insured the sax itself for £500, although I'd struggle to find a replacement at that price because mine is one of the less valuable ones to start with, and not in the best of nick visually, although perfectly playable.

Then you need consequential loss cover.
Send it Special Delivery,add consequential and pack it in a solid box.

Rosemary7391

custardy wrote: »

Then you need consequential loss cover.
Send it Special Delivery,add consequential and pack it in a solid box.

Thanks... really hope it doesn't get lost! It is packed solidly.

Would they consider replacing the entire saxophone in the case that the neck was lost? That would be the only way to get a neck with the microtuner on it - what I described above would just get me back to a playable saxophone.

sham63

Aren't musical instruments only covered up to a max of £150 with Royal
Mail?

Rosemary7391

sham63 wrote: »

Aren't musical instruments only covered up to a max of £150 with Royal
Mail?

I hope not, or the post office have been ripping me off every time I've paid for £2.5k cover for my clarinet... I can't see anything about this on the website?

Neckpiece is safely posted now. Thanks for the help everyone

sham63

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I hope not, or the post office have been ripping me off every time I've paid for £2.5k cover for my clarinet... I can't see anything about this on the website?

Neckpiece is safely posted now. Thanks for the help everyone

Well I've had a look and musical instruments are definitely excluded from enhanced compensation via Parcelforce;

http://www.parcelforce.com/help-and-advice/sending/items-we-exclude-compensation

custardy

sham63 wrote: »

Well I've had a look and musical instruments are definitely excluded from enhanced compensation via Parcelforce;

http://www.parcelforce.com/help-and-advice/sending/items-we-exclude-compensation

Which isnt RM (unless you mean RM group)
Sd covers a lot of stuff usually excluded.

Rosemary7391

sham63 wrote: »

Well I've had a look and musical instruments are definitely excluded from enhanced compensation via Parcelforce;

http://www.parcelforce.com/help-and-advice/sending/items-we-exclude-compensation

That's not Royal Mail though? I send my clarinet using RM Special Delivery. I'd really hope someone would've told me about this by now if it's true, given that I've sent it several times from different post offices and always specified the item and value. If it is the case it's very well hidden...

Edit: Thanks custardy, I thought I was covered!