Personally, if a seller is 'self insuring', I feel that this info should be stated in the listing. Then the buyer can make an informed decision on whether he/she wishes to pay the extra charge. For any of us who have had to deal with a loss and the USPS, the time,effort & energy expended can sometimes be more frustrating than accepting the loss. 'Self insurance',with USPS insurance, at least we have a documented claim with a third party when dealing with the USPS. What claims process do we have with 'self insurance', not very 'self assuring'!! Just my opinion!!