Call Kurtis: Crocker Art Museum Stymied By Shipping Insurance On Broken Art Piece

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) —A $5,000 piece of artwork arrives broken to the Crocker Art Museum. When what they thought was shipping insurance wouldn't cover it, the curator called Kurtis.

How many times do you ask for insurance, when you ship something valuable? We've learned you may not be buying insurance after all but something called "declared value coverage."

Among the priceless native American vases at the Crocker Art Museum, there is one piece visitors won't get to see: a wedding vase. That's because it arrived to the museum broken.

Scott Shields, the museum's chief curator, says FedEx won't pay the full cost to replace the $5,000 vase.

"There was a lot of time invested in that piece, that is now lost," said Scott.

The artist used a FedEx authorized shipping facility in Grants, New Mexico and bought $5,000 worth of coverage.

But FedEx only paid $1,000, pointing to its lengthy terms and conditions stating a grand is the most they'll pay on artwork.

"It's very frustrating, it makes you feel sort of duped. You're paying for something they have no intention of covering," said Scott.

Byron Gee says UPS wouldn't pay a penny to cover a broken headlight he shipped.

"I don't know how much better I could've packed it." said Byron.

They say he didn't pack it sufficiently.

"I was mad. I'm like, isn't that why I paid for insurance?" asked Byron.

But we've learned in both of these cases, they didn't buy insurance. Instead, they bought the only protection FedEx and UPS offer, something called "declared value" coverage.

"Consumers unfortunately get a really nasty awakening about how inferior this declared value coverage is compared to insurance," said Joe Ridout, Consumer Action spokesperson.

Ridout says under declared value coverage, you may have to prove the shipper did something wrong, causing the damage, which can be tough and often the amount covered is capped.

"The problem is you're paying for something that won't deliver when you need it to deliver," said Ridout.

For example, FedEx caps artwork at $1,000.

UPS doesn't specifically name artwork, but says they won't cover "articles of unusual value."

While the postal service which offers actual insurance, will cover up to $25,000 if you send something registered mail, as long as it wasn't too fragile too ship.

Both UPS and FedEx refused to back down in these cases.

Scott says he'll rethink shippers the next time the Crocker Art Museum transports something valuable.

"I think we shouldn't have been buying coverage that was not going to help," said Scott.

Ridout says you may consider getting insurance from a third party company, like shipsurance.com or stamps.com.

FedEx says if you take something to an actual FedEx office, they take a packing pledge to make sure it's properly packed.

This was shipped from a FedEx authorized ship center.