Your Breyer Model Arrives Broken.. Is It Insured??

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week thus far....

Today I felt I should address the issue of packaging and shipping Breyer Model Horses, all model horses as well as all fragile items. You see, even though I have worked for the Post Office, seems like forever ago now, and even though I keep telling Collectors the questions to ask, models are still shipped haphazardly. And I still receive Breyer Models wrapped in paper... rrrg

I have written some content on this on our website on the selling page, however, I do think this issue needs to be addressed and updated. You see, not too long ago the Postal Service decided that to help eliminate insurance fraud that was taking place, they would ONLY pay for insurance claims that met certain criteria.

And really it is pretty simple. Their specifications are:

Fragile items must be wrapped in bubble wrap and packaging peanuts, enough to ensure safe delivery.

Simple.

So what this means is that when a Seller sends out a fragile item, like a Breyer Model, wrapped in paper and it breaks, the insurance coverage is null and void. You wont' get a dime. Why? Because the Seller did not package it correctly. Simple.

Standards that should be used when packaging and shipping anything fragile like a Breyer Model are:

• Within your own country of origin use 3-4 inches of Bubble wrap on ALL sides of the Model.
  
• Outside the country of origin, use 4-6 inches of Bubble Wrap on ALL sides of the Model.
  
• Use packaging peanuts to fill in the open spaces.
• When you close the top of the box before taping it closed, gently shake it. If you hear ANY sound of movement then you DO NOT have enough packaging and need to redo.
  

Buyers should always request this to be done before making a purchase. You will pay for the insurance on the Model one way or another, whether in the shipping price or the Model price. So while you are paying for the coverage, doesn't it make sense to actually HAVE the coverage?? I think so!

And Sellers, build and protect your reputation and wrap the right way without being asked. Please? It really would save all of us time and head ache.

And here's a heads up for those not familiar with eBay policies. eBay now requires ALL Sellers to include insurance coverage on all items they are selling. It is no longer optional for the Buyer to ask for or not. Must be covered by the Seller. So you will likely see shipping charges going up. As long as insurance is paid for AND the Model is wrapped the right way, you should be fine.

If you are planning on making a purchase of a Breyer or other Model Horse sometime soon, send them the link to this blog and ask they follow these standards. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Here's to safe shipping of Model Horses everywhere!

~you can also find cheap packaging supplies on this page of our site~ Hey, we try to make it as easy as possible for you don't we??

Many blessings,
Bonnie
www.breyerhorsecollectors.com