kpjfalconer@aol.com (Kevin Falconer) pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:

Don't like shopping at dive shops?

Dan Bracuk
If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure.
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/

<snip ups stuff> since you're talking usps

question : was it insured ?
http://www.usps.com/receive/howtofileinsuranceclaims/welcome.htm

if it was left outside of box :
the sender might also have marked the shipment as "leave outside if
too big" in which case as long as you didn't tell them that, they
"might" be responsible for bypassing USPS rules

http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/D042.htm#Rbj15220
7.0 CARRIER RELEASE
7.1Parcels

An uninsured parcel may not be left in an unprotected place, such as a
porch or stairway, unless the addressee has filed a written order, or
the mailer has endorsed the parcel ?Carrier?Leave If No Response.? The
endorsement must appear directly below the return address as specified
in M012.

10.3 Parcel Delivery

An ordinary parcel too large to fit into a customer?s mailbox is not
left unless the customer has filed a written order with the postmaster
relieving the USPS and carriers of all responsibility in case of loss
or depredation of any such parcel left outside the box.

UPS has an automatic low level insurance of $50-100 (?)
USPS (with the exceptiomn of EXPRESS has optional insurance)

afaik : all shippers require the "trace" to be done from the shipper
side.  Has to do with "who created the shipping agreement with the
shipper" = the person who placed it over the counter

    good luck

            - Ed
got talc ?
Drysuit talc & bags http://www.underwaterusa.com

At a glance it would seem to me that if the carrier took it upon
themselves in the absence of other instructions to leave the parcel in
an unsecured place, they're responsible. If the shipper instructed
them to do that, the shipper is responsible. If the purchaser
instructed them to leave it that way, then the purchaser is
responsible.

JF

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent their government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)

You mentioned two different carriers.

USPS is sort of unusual in what they will & won't leave on the
doorstep.  I don't believe that they automatically insure to any given
dollar amount.

UPS will usually leave a delivery notice, assuming you don't live in a
driver release area.  I'd suspect that your signature on the notice is
as good as signing in person.  ie You assume responsibility.  UPS
shipments are automatically insures to $100.  I leave a note
indicating to deliver next door, where there's usually someone home.

BTW....  Leisurepro gives you choice of carriers.

Larry

I often ask the shipper to write on the package
 "Delivery driver please leave on back steps"

It's really easy to walk down my driveway to my
back porch.  UPS drivers do it every time.  the
US Post Office drivers NEVER do it.   I got two
packages yesterday and they shipped USPS and that
was on the package but it set on my front steps
all day long.   Luckily no one "lifted" them.
(I didn't know the shipper was shipping USPS)

I guess the Post Office workers are just lazy.
They can't even seem to my mail all the way in
the mailbox and close the lid, which sucks on
rainy days.

But I've had good luck with the FedEx and UPS
drivers in them putting items on my back porch.
I used to work from home and also had asked them
verbally to put them on the back porch.  Give them
a cold Coke on a hot day when they deliver to your
house and they appreciate it and remember it better
I've found.  :-)