Suncoast, Yes some carriers do offer insurance
Delta Dash does, not to mention other airlines that you may pay a premium for, will handle animals and insure their arrival as guaranteed... The animals itself, no, but the delivery time yes !
Until you have been involved in litigation that has arisen out of a TOS due to the death of an animal and the terms accompanying the transaction, better to err on the side of caution..
Cpntrary to your statement, I think you will find many dealers especially those that have only 1 item to sell, are not looking for a marriage to obligate themselves beyond the arrival.. If so, each day only increases the ability for the buyer to change there mind, begin to doubt the sale, or feels that the price was not worth the purchase... This happens all the time... So if you feel its necessary for your own peace of mind to offer 7 days, be prepared for more then you bargained for... and you will see you are not doing yourself a favor....!
If you want to consider that being pessimistic, I can deal with that... But rest assured, when it goes before a judge, he is only interested in what is in writing, not what is implied.... A guarantee means nothing over a phone.
I demand as part of a transaction if I am the buyer, a written explanation of what the terms are prior to any payments.. based on that, whom I am dealing with, etc. is what is important to me... This may not reduce the guarantee one bit, but it does reduce my risk factor when paying...
If you go to The BOI, I just recently about 10 days ago made an inquiry into a person. There were no replys.. The transaction was for over $ 1,000 sight unseen to a person I did not even know... I was unable to get any information on this person other then I knew he had the geckos I wanted... He had 2.2 and could only handle PayPal as a form of payment... He also promised a 7 day health guarantee on the geckos... I requested that in writing as well how I wanted the geckos shipped, who the shipper would be and if he was willing as these were c.b. who they came from... All of these demands, were met in an email.. My risk factor was reduced enough to take the chance, ...............I did, and I was very satisfied... But I was lucky because these could not be replaced, and I am sure had there been a problem, the seller would not want to absorb the loss... I also took some other measurements to protect my or reduce my own liability if it became necessary , but it did not.... There is always even under the best of intentions a swing that can lead to a bad situation.. I like to be prepared for that, and just hope that everything works out.. Pessimistic maybe, cautious, wherever I can... As a footnote: after receipt of the geckos, I attempted to call him and email him as well........................never have heard from him again.. !