I have been plagued by that issue for the last few days. I mailed a parcel to someone in Texas (a small envelope with about $50 worth of chips). I used one of those handy Automated Postal Centers and took out $50 worth of insurance. The recipient asked me not to use insurance again (maybe Delivery Confirmation was OK) because he was not at home when the carrier arrived, so a note was left for the addressee, and he had to drive 15 miles to the post office to pick up the chips.

Well, I don't know whom to believe at the post office. A black colored form (3813) is now used for articles insured $200 and under. A blue colored form (3813-P) is used for items over $200. I was told many times, and I read, that the bar codes of both are scanned into the post office computer system when the articles are sent and delivered, but only the Blue colored ones (the forms for over $200) are supposed to be SIGNED FOR at delivery.

On the other hand, maybe the carrier wants all insured items signed for if the label is generated by the Automated Postal Center or a home computer -- it should look the same black and white label for any amount of insurance. But someone told me that when scanned in with his pocket computer that he carries with him, the carrier should see the amount of insurance. I'll have to ask a carrier. ..... ..... .... I am also told that the carrier has the discretion to not leave anything behind unsigned for if he is suspicious of the safety of the mail, if there is a crime problem in the neighborhood, if there is a history of mail theft in the area, or if the mail box is broken or full.

Robert