USPS DMM 609: Indemnity Claims & Proof of Value

DMM Section 609 governs the indemnity claims process for USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express shipments. The key subsection is 609.4.1, which defines acceptable forms of proof of value. This is where most eBay and Etsy sellers get stuck — USPS routinely rejects e-commerce platform receipts as "insufficient," even though 609.4.1 explicitly allows them.

Under 609.4.1, acceptable proof of value includes: sales receipts, paid invoices, credit card billing statements, or statements from professional appraisers. For e-commerce sellers, the order confirmation email from eBay, Etsy, Mercari, or Poshmark — showing item name, transaction date, and price paid — qualifies as a sales receipt under this standard.

When USPS rejects your documentation, cite DMM 609.4.1 specifically and attach the documentation again. The appeal should state plainly that the submitted documentation meets the regulatory definition of a sales receipt as defined in DMM 609.4.1, and request a supervisor review of the denial.