Selling to Canadians

She couldn't understand my wife and my wife couldn't understand her. So we're not certain about the accuracy of what she told my wife regarding the $675 insurance limit.

If the heavy accent was such a problem why are you posting the "info"?
-Or why didn't you simply look online?
It took me all of ten seconds to find out USPS insures packages up to $5000.

Does that sound reasonable to you?

I had a look at the USPS website. The insurance limit for priority mail to Canada is $675 as the customer clerk said. However, you can insure for more than that to other countries. I have to say that I am mightily surprised. Perhaps you can obtain excess insurance from another insurer but it seems too much trouble to me. I didn't look to see if there is an insurance limit higher than $675 for services other than the priority mail service.

Mr_Man: Please note the response from Markphd. So you can see there is some confusion as the representative failed to mention any other insurance options. So my reaction seems pretty reasonable.

I too have experience with insurance limits at the USPS. In my case I couldn't buy any insurance for a $100 accessory shipping Priority Mail to Vietnam. Also, in my experience with the USPS web site, though convenient and quick, what you find there isn't always accurate vs what happens when you go into the post office. May be user error in my case . . . but wading though all the options and international regulations is confusing.

So far, never had a problem with UPS. They have always collected duties and brokerage (UPS ground only) when delivered. Last package from Fedex, they said my address doesn't exist so I had to pick it up. Clerk at the desk, who couldn't have been more than 18, released the package without charges, even though I asked. That was just before I moved. That was just one of several screw-ups and, ever since, I've also insisted that senders do not use Fedex because of their local incompetence. Much later, I found out they had been trying to bill me. Should have heard if the sender got tagged.

Also got charged duty on a Sonic Frontiers (Canadian) preamp. Sender filled out form incorrectly and put that in the comments instead of the country of origin. I was told my only recourse was to get the manufacturer to send a note. Duty can be much more for Non-US countries so, on used items from the US, the country of origin should be ignored, unless it was made in Canada.

Damage insurance is not an option up here on used items unless it is packaged by the courier. Even then, they'll only cover it if there is external damage. That includes Fedex, UPS and DHL.