Extra Services Fact Sheet (2024)

Extra services include enhancements that, for a fee in addition to postage, provide special features beyond those of mail classes, such as greater security and accountability. Extra services also comprise confirmation of mailing, deliv­ery, and receipt; special handling; and payment and accep­tance options for mail. Additionally, extra services can provide alternatives to both delivery and payment for goods and services.

Domestic Extra Services

Below are highlights of changes implemented in May 2007 to domestic extra services:

Insurance

• All domestic insured items now bear a barcoded label. This includes those items with a value up to $50. Note: Unnumbered indemnity is no longer offered.
• Insured items valued up to $200 use PS Form 3813, Receipt for Domestic Insured Parcel, and receive a scan at delivery, but no signature is collected.
• Insured items valued over $200 use PS Form 3813–P, Insured Mail Receipt, and receive a scan at delivery, and a signature is collected.
• Unlike Certified Mail and Registered Mail scans, an insurance scan by itself will not provide electronic verification that the article was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made.
• Prices for insurance coverage changed as follows:
• Value up to $50 is $1.65.
• $50.01 to $100 is $2.05.
• $100.01 to $200 is $2.45.
• $200.01 to $300 is $4.60.
• The price per additional $100 of insurance, valued over $300 up to $5,000, is $4.60 plus $0.90 per each $100 or fraction thereof.
• Prices for Express Mail insurance:
• The first $100 of value is still provided. Values above $100 are now priced differently than for regular insurance.
• Value over $100 up to $200 is $0.75.
• $200.01 to $500 is $2.10.
• $500.01 to $5,000 is $2.10 plus $1.35 per each $100 or fraction thereof.

Delivery Confirmation Service

Changes were made to fees only. The retail option fee for First-Class Mail parcels and Package Services parcels is now $0.75, and the Priority Mail retail option fee is now $0.65. The Priority Mail electronic option — included with Click-N-Ship service — remains free.

Signature Confirmation Service

Changes were made to fees only. The retail option fee for all parcels is now $2.10.

International Extra Services

Below are highlights of changes implemented in May to international extra services:

Insurance

Insurance is available for Express Mail International and Priority Mail International merchandise shipments. Check the IMM for country-specific availability.

• PS Form 3813-P is used for domestic mail only.
• Record insurance amount and fee on PS Form 2976–A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72:
• The clerk should write a “V,” insured amount, fee, and special drawing rights (SDR) conversion in spaces provided on PS Form 2976-A.
• “V” indicates an international requirement to indi­cate the article has value.

Note: The following items are prohibited in Express Mail International shipments to all countries: Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry, including watches; and other valuable articles.

Registered Mail

Registered Mail service is available for a fee for First-Class Mail International and Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope shipping options only. Check the IMM for country-specific information and availability.

Note: For Registered Mail service indemnity, regardless of the declared value, the maximum amount of indemnity pay­able for loss, damage, or rifling is $43.73.

Additional extra services such as return receipt and restricted delivery are available to select destinations. Check the IMM Individual Country Listings for complete information.

Quick Tips

• Gift cards can be insured for their full value only when sent by Registered Mail service. Gift cards sent by Express Mail (which includes Express Mail insurance) or another class of mail with merchandise insurance are protected only up to the maximum indemnity for cash and negotiable items — $15. Customers should check the terms of their gift cards as many are replaceable by the issuer if they are lost or stolen.
• Online indemnity coverage is limited to $500 for lost, rifled, or damaged articles. Customers who wish to insure items for more than $500 should be instructed to take these items to a retail postal facility. Addition­ally, customers should be advised that insurance purchased online cannot be combined with insur­ance purchased at a retail postal facility.
• eBay and Click-N-Ship customers may purchase insurance and file claims online at www.usps.com. Information on how to file insurance claims can be found at www.usps.com/insuranceclaims. Note: Only claims for insurance purchased online may be filed online. Claims for insurance purchased online may also be filed using PS Form 1000, Domestic Claim or Registered Mail Inquiry.
• To file a claim for domestic insurance purchased at a retail postal facility, customers must complete PS Form 1000 (available online and at retail postal facilities) — instructions appear on the form, and see the section on the form titled “What You Need to File a Claim.” For additional information, see DMM 609 or Notice 122, Domestic Indemnity Claims — Customer Quick Reference Guide.
• Be aware of fraudulent money orders. Always ensure the money order amount is equal to or less than the maximum amount ($1,000 domestic/$700 interna­tional), and verify security features on the money order, such as the Benjamin Franklin watermark and the vertical security thread with the word “USPS” repeated. A listing of missing, lost, or stolen U.S. money orders can be found in each issue of the Postal Bulletin. Post Offices and financial institutions may call the toll-free money order verification system at 866-459-7822 to verify if a money order was issued by the Postal Service. Information on security features and a link to Notice 299, U.S. Postal Money Order Reference Card (“Look Before You Cash!”), are available at www.usps.com/missingmoneyorders/security.htm.