Steve,

What I am about to say is not what you want to hear but ...

Your auction should clearly state that the seller is not responsible for loss or damage while in transit. The buyer can purchase USPS insurance if desired.

Since you did not state that you are not responsible for the item while in transit and insurance was not purchased, I would say that you are the one responsible. I know that you tried to get do this, but I don't think you did. I hope that you can chalk this up to a lesson learned.

Anyone who ships should be aware of your responsibilities, whether trading or selling, eBay or otherwise. Good strategies are:

o Always require insurance. If the buyer does not want insurance, let them tell you and you can agree but you must inform them that they are responsible for the item while in transit.

o Say something to the effect that ... Insurance is optional. If the buyer does not purchase insurance, the buyer is responsible for items lost or damaged in transit.