anytime anything with any value (and especially if an item is being sold/purchased) there really is no excuse to not add insurance. it is not expensive to add insurance- i do alot of (long-distance) transactions---and i don't care if it's only $25 i will not send anything to any one without adding insurance to the package- if the recipient purchased an item from me they deserve to recieve it in the condition i *guarantee* it to be in- the best way to make sure that is the case is to protect myself and them-and add insurance to the package. personally ---i would hold the seller responsible- sorry-