Each envelope would contain an item worth around the $30 mark, but as they would be going international I want them to be insured. I can find UPS rates, but not USPS rates for insurance.
I looked at the Express mail, but I noticed a bit of small print which says that certain items are excluded from their insurance, jewelry amongst them, which is one of the things I do want insurance for.
Look at USPS’ website…you may be able to get "insurance" for doing registered mail….
www.usps.com
Additional information:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_005.htm
321 Description
Insurance is provided against loss, damage, or rifling for Priority Mail International parcels. Compensation varies according to the fee paid. For parcels delivered to the addressee in damaged condition or with missing contents, payment is made to the addressee unless the addressee waives payment, in writing, in favor of the sender.
http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_006.htm
322 Availability
Insurance is available only for Priority Mail International parcels and only to certain countries. See Individual Country Listings. Insurance is not available for the Priority Mail International flat-rate envelope.
http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_007.htm
323 Fees and Insured Value
323.1 Insurance Fees
The insurance fee is in addition to postage and other applicable fees. See Individual Country Listings.
323.2 Insured Value
323.21 Maximum
The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the maximum allowed for the country of destination. See Individual Country Listings.
323.22 Insured Value vs. Declared Value
The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the declared value of the contents. However insured value may be less than declared value depending on the wish of the sender.
323.23 Computation
The insurance fee is based on the insured value.
http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_008.htm
324 Processing Requests
324.1 Mailing Receipt and Insurance Number
324.11 General Use
All Priority Mail International parcels must be numbered. PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72, and the cash register receipt issued at the time of mailing will serve as proof of mailing and proof of insurance. Volume mailers may use PS Form 3877, Firm Mailing Book for Accountable Mail, as the sender’s receipt.
324.12 Accepting Clerk’s Responsibility
The accepting clerk must:
1. Indicate on PS Form 2976-A the amount for which the parcel is insured. Write the amount in U.S. dollars in ink in the “Insured Amount (U.S.) block.”
2. Convert the U.S. dollar amount to the special drawing right (SDR) value and enter it in the SDR value block. For example:
INSURED VALUE
$100.00 (U.S.)
68.60 SDR
3. See Exhibit 324.12 for a table showing the conversion of U.S. dollar values up to $600 to SDR equivalents. To determine SDR equivalents above $600, multiply the insured amount, rounded up to the next full dollar, by the conversion factor of 0.6860.
Note: Use the following rates when converting between U.S. dollars and special drawing right (SDR) values:
$1 U.S. = 0.6860 SDR
1 SDR = $1.46 ($1.4577 U.S.)
4. Write a bold capital “V” in the space provided for the insured number as an indicator that additional insurance was purchased.
5. Indicate special contents for fragile liquid and perishable items.
6. Round stamp PS Form 2976-A in the appropriate place on each copy.
324.13 Sender’s Responsibility
The sender should enter name and address of addressee on mailing receipt and retain it. The receipt must be submitted if the sender wishes to make an inquiry about or file a claim for an insured parcel (see chapter 9).
324.2 Marking
The sender has the responsibility to do the following:
1. Mark parcels containing fragile or perishable articles with the appropriate endorsement — e.g. “FRAGILE,” “PERISHABLE,” “GLASS,” etc.
2. Enter the insured amount in U.S. currency (figures only) in the appropriate space on the customs declaration.
324.3 Postmarking
1. Postmark item at the time of acceptance showing the full name of the Post Office facility two–letter state abbreviation and ZIP Code if authorized and the date of mailing.
2. Postmark at all breaks (cuts or torn edges) of any gummed–paper strips used in sealing parcels.
324.4 Sealing
All insured parcels must be sealed.
Basically, do a search on USPS for "insurance" and "international"
Hope this helps…
And you can’t insure an envelope – it has to be some type of parcel…
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