Hello, this is my first post on this fantastic forum and I wish to thank everybody for sharing their knowledge, their kindness and the passion for these timepieces.

Following are my two cents regarding insurance using UPS shipping. I just sent a timepiece to LVMH in NJ and this is what I learned.

UPS.com does not insure for values above $999.99. The website will allow you to insert any value you wish, but won't alert you if you are above the limit. I talked to Customer Service and they confirmed the cap of $999.99. If you want to insure your items for higher values, you must ship it from the UPS Store, which will allow you to insure the item up to $50,000.00. The cost of the insurance is about $1.30 for each $100 you are insuring. Doing some math, it tells us that a $2,000 declared value will add approx $26 insurance to the shippoing fee. The Declared Value you are insuring will not be indicated on shipping label, but only on the shipping receipt that remains with the sender and, of course, on ups.com thru the tracking number. Hope it sheds some light.

Regards,

Francesco

: After two 0ccasions during the last week again here some rules for
: the UPS shipping:

: - double box the item: watch in wrap and this in first box. This
: first box wrap and into a second box

: - do not write any brand name or the word watch on the label. Also
: avoid a address of yours and receivers, dealing with watch
: related stuff; dont put ebay stuff on or in the box: "old
: mechanical evise is a very nice experssion"

: - avoid shipping from and to bizz adresses dealing with watches,
: jwelery ect.: e.e.g having "classicheuer" on the box
: already could cause a problem.

: - completelly tape the two boxes at both edges

: - do tape the UPS clear bag also on the edges and to the package

: - If receiver asks for low insurance to avoid custom and tax
: trouble: let him confrim this explicit: and remind him on HIS
: own risk

: - Do never fill out UPS forms, but use online UPS as with the
: written ones you see the insured amount on the paperwork: and
: UPS too.

: Its a lot of work: but worthwhile to do.

: --------------------------

: Its more than clear, that the black sheep at UPS is sitting in the
: UK as one parcel was sent from Germany the other sent from
: Belgium. We could check if the y have a pooling platform too?
: However opening a package that careful does take some minutes:
: meanjng chance is low that this ahppens during tranfer, but at
: the very end of the chain: either UK UPS stock or the guy
: delivering.

: -------------------------

: For sure using special tape, which can not been mimicked that easy
: would be another add to the list above: think this strong
: textile tape is the best what you can get for money. Nobody does
: carry this with em.

: Instruct the customer which tape you used: I use often silver blue
: textile tape: If there is additional, other tape on top:
: instruct him NOT to accept the parcel!

: ------------------------

: I have never read the small print with UPS but believe as others
: the limit for watches and diamonds is 500 euro/500 usd. So
: having the parcel given some "extra weight" meaning:
: 1-2 Kg by old paper is another trick which I do use very often.
: together with the "broad description" does open
: options. However its insurance fraud and this is illegal too.

: -----------------------

: I would recommend, claiming the Belgium and German case together at
: UPS.

: rgds
: Alex