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I recently became familiar with Lumiere's new shipping policy, where they state that they will not be held responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged packages unless you use the "USPS Express Domestic & International" shipping method, which costs a whopping 25$. Now I've experienced some lost packages and they've been replaced before, but that was before all of the MMU sites started putting the "we are not responsible for lost items" policies on their web sites.
So, apparently my only option for getting my goods guaranteed is to pay 25 bucks for shipping. So my first step was to verify: is that really so? Is that the only shipping method that will insure my package against loss? And if so, what is the use of the "insurance" on all of the other packages?
Now, I live in Canada and it is considered "international" according to Lumiere's shipping options during the checkout. So I started researching :
At checkout you are presented with 4 options for shipping:
I discovered 2 interesting facts:
#4: USPS First Class International w/ Insurance
7.35$
If anything, let this be a summary breakdown of shipping fees. Took me a while to read and analyze all of the disorganized information on the USPS site!! Hope this helps somebody...
So, apparently my only option for getting my goods guaranteed is to pay 25 bucks for shipping. So my first step was to verify: is that really so? Is that the only shipping method that will insure my package against loss? And if so, what is the use of the "insurance" on all of the other packages?
Now, I live in Canada and it is considered "international" according to Lumiere's shipping options during the checkout. So I started researching :
At checkout you are presented with 4 options for shipping:
- USPS - First Class :: 3.00$ [doesn't apply to me]
- USPS US, Canada & Domestic First Class Mail * 10 or under SAMPLE BAGGIES ONLY - :: 1.00$ [doesn't apply to me]
- USPS - International Priorty Shipping - Flat Rate Envelope *if order fits* :: 12.00$
- USPS First Class International with Insurance :: 7.35$
- USPS Express International :: 25.00$
I discovered 2 interesting facts:
- Tracking is not available for Priority Mail International (PMI) Flat Rate envelopes
- However, Tracking IS AVAILABLE for Priority Mail International packages. Note that Lumiere does NOT give you this option (covered in the end of the post)
- Priority Mail International (PMI) Flat rate envelopes cannot be insured
- Again, PMI packages can be insured (see end of post)
- The PMI flat rate envelope actually costs 9.00$ on the USPS site
#4: USPS First Class International w/ Insurance
7.35$
- Tracking: wasn't able to find any information
- Insurance is actually NOT available for First-Class International Mail. The only option available is Registered Mail, which costs 10.15$, and covers you up to 43.73$.
- Shipping cost: 4.66$ for a 16oz package (even less if it's only a few ounces)
- Tracking: included
- Insurance :Ordinary Priority Mail International includes indemnity at no cost based on weight.
The indemnity for a package of less than 1lb is 63.78$.
- For sake of accuracy, there's an additional insurance that you can purchace, which is based on declared value (as opposed to the free included insurance above, which is based on weight), but my understanding is that this would only apply if your package is very light, and of greater value than 63 bucks.
- Indemnity Limit Not Over Canada* All Other Countries
$50 $1.65 $2.40
100 2.05 3.30
- Shipping cost: 16$ for a package that weighs less than 1lb.
If anything, let this be a summary breakdown of shipping fees. Took me a while to read and analyze all of the disorganized information on the USPS site!! Hope this helps somebody...