shipping insurance

the last 6 items I have sold and shipped, I have decided to insure the package. For me it has been just $1 to $3 extra.

I decided to do this, as I mostly am selling hard drives and laptops, so if anything happens, then a claim can be filed and the money gotten back.

I talked to the clerk at the post office and he said the buyers can file a claim and get the money, this way they are not out any money and I don't have to refund anything.

since I include my shipping into my prices then the full amount will be refunded.

something to think about.

i use the ship saver app thru ebay for my insurance its about 50% the cost of the built in insurance options.

ShipSaver Insurance - Productivity apps for eBay users

The big bonus is the app will let you insure first class packages. Usps will not insure first class packages.

I use Risky (self) Insurance
I make a lot of extra money that way
On the rare occasion of a lost or damaged package >> Instant payout >> No paper work >> No Muss >> No Fuss

Start putting that $1 to $3 extra into the risky jar >> Average of $1.50 item shipped

How much did you spend on shipping Insurance in the past 12 months?
How much have you received in payouts?

That difference pays for Dinner & Drinks several times a year at this house

ShipSaver or USPS Insurance ever take you out for dinner & drinks?

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Originally Posted by JohnC4X4

I use Risky (self) Insurance
I make a lot of extra money that way
On the rare occasion of a lost or damaged package >> Instant payout >> No paper work >> No Muss >> No Fuss

Start putting that $1 to $3 extra into the risky jar >> Average of $1.50 item shipped

How much did you spend on shipping Insurance in the past 12 months?
How much have you received in payouts?

That difference pays for Dinner & Drinks several times a year at this house

ShipSaver or USPS Insurance ever take you out for dinner & drinks?

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self insure a thousand dollars worth of scrap that fits in flat rate box, then try to figure out how many dinners and drinks that would have bought when it gets lost :cool:

Been doing for years

Like I said, My Insurance Co takes me out for dinner & drinks several times a year

Shipping Insurance very profitable part of the business

How many of those box's that you ship have been lost?

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Originally Posted by jghilino

i use the ship saver app thru ebay for my insurance its about 50% the cost of the built in insurance options.

ShipSaver Insurance - Productivity apps for eBay users

The big bonus is the app will let you insure first class packages. Usps will not insure first class packages.

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I see it says "Try for FREE", does that mean, there is some sort of fee after a "trial period" aside from what the insurance will just cost?

I will give them a try either way. Thanks for the recommendation!

BTW, with them, can the buyer file the claim, like you can if you get the insurance through USPS?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnC4X4

I use Risky (self) Insurance
I make a lot of extra money that way
On the rare occasion of a lost or damaged package >> Instant payout >> No paper work >> No Muss >> No Fuss

Start putting that $1 to $3 extra into the risky jar >> Average of $1.50 item shipped

How much did you spend on shipping Insurance in the past 12 months?
How much have you received in payouts?

That difference pays for Dinner & Drinks several times a year at this house

ShipSaver or USPS Insurance ever take you out for dinner & drinks?

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As much as I can appreciate that, I have shipped close to $600 to $700 worth of merchandise in the past 2 months. Only recently I decided to start adding insurance to all shipments. I am doing this more for the fact, if the items are lost, or damaged, then the buyer and I are not out any money. They can file the claim, get the money, and go buy the same item from someone else, and I dont have to loose money on the deal myself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jghilino

self insure a thousand dollars worth of scrap that fits in flat rate box, then try to figure out how many dinners and drinks that would have bought when it gets lost :cool:

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That is why I am starting to insure all packages now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnC4X4

Been doing for years

Like I said, My Insurance Co takes me out for dinner & drinks several times a year

Shipping Insurance very profitable part of the business

How many of those box's that you ship have been lost?

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Before and after, none, but don't feel like taking the chance, especially when it is such a small cost.

nope, the try for free means you dont have to pay anything for the first package you insure with them that is valued at $20 or less, i just started using it though so im not sure how they are gonna be with claims. I stopped using UPS because they would not honor there insurance claims, i call them the brown bomber. If youve seen the movie grandmas boy, you will know why i call them that. I use fedex now on anything that is over 70 pounds

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jghilino

nope, the try for free means you dont have to pay anything for the first package you insure with them that is valued at $20 or less, i just started using it though so im not sure how they are gonna be with claims. I stopped using UPS because they would not honor there insurance claims, i call them the brown bomber. If youve seen the movie grandmas boy, you will know why i call them that. I use fedex now on anything that is over 70 pounds

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Yeah, well you got the government to think for all that, for selling them to a private company.

I tried signing up for a FEDEX account not long ago, but there was some error to it...need to try it again to be honest lol.

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Yeah, well you got the government to think for all that, for selling them to a private company.

I tried signing up for a FEDEX account not long ago, but there was some error to it...need to try it again to be honest lol.

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i said UPS not USPS, UPS is garbage, there shipping cost is the highest and they dont honor insurance claims

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Yeah, well you got the government to think for all that, for selling them to a private company.

I tried signing up for a FEDEX account not long ago, but there was some error to it...need to try it again to be honest lol.

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What did the Gov't have to do with the UPS (brown trucks)??

Explain in your listing that the insurance is optional and only if requested by the buyer, that the cost for ins. would be X amount.
That way if something did happen then your not responsible for it if they do not request the ins.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jghilino

i said UPS not USPS, UPS is garbage, there shipping cost is the highest and they dont honor insurance claims

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Sorry JG, I miss read that. Yeah, I have never used UPS for anything.

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

What did the Gov't have to do with the UPS (brown trucks)??

Explain in your listing that the insurance is optional and only if requested by the buyer, that the cost for ins. would be X amount.
That way if something did happen then your not responsible for it if they do not request the ins.

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I miss read his posts...I thought he said USPS, not UPS.

That would be good, but the way I look at it, is that even though ebay reps could look at the listings, and then see the buyer declining insurance, etc...it could still be a bunch of headache. To me, the few dollars I have been spending, or even with the program that JGhilino recommended is worth the peace of mind to know that if anything happens, the buyer and I both are covered.

But that is also why I had it to the bid amount, so technically it isnt like I am out the profit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Explain in your listing that the insurance is optional and only if requested by the buyer, that the cost for ins. would be X amount.
That way if something did happen then your not responsible for it if they do not request the ins.

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That is irrelevant, because ebay is judge, jury and executioner. Ebay makes the decision on anything and that decision is final. We do insurance to cya. If they buyer dosent like how ebay decides it then they can also file a claim with paypal. If they dont like how paypal decides it they can do a chargeback with there credit card company. Reguardless the seller is screwed if they dont have insurance and something goes wrong.

Just to make it 100% clear, insurance is not for the buyers protection, it is for the sellers protection. I dont put any shipping or insurance costs or fees directly in front of the buyer, because its bad business practice. 99% of the items i sell are free shipping. So i have everything built into the item price. For my ebay sales.

What private company do I work for GEO? Last time I checked Congress was still in charge of the USPS. At least I know I have government blue cross blue shield for my health insurance. What is this company you speak of?

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Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

What private company do I work for GEO? Last time I checked Congress was still in charge of the USPS. At least I know I have government blue cross blue shield for my health insurance. What is this company you speak of?

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lol we are talking about shipping insurance

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Yeah, well you got the government to think for all that, for selling them to a private company.

I tried signing up for a FEDEX account not long ago, but there was some error to it...need to try it again to be honest lol.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jghilino

lol we are talking about shipping insurance

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Looks like GEO is talking about USPS :) I think in responce to saying they didnt pay claims. He mentioned this once before in another post and didnt answer that one either?

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Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

What private company do I work for GEO? Last time I checked Congress was still in charge of the USPS. At least I know I have government blue cross blue shield for my health insurance. What is this company you speak of?

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Well, I will have to do a little research tomorrow, but I thought about 2 or so years ago, the government sold all of USPS for around $500 Million to a private company? Just something I read online somewhere...for all I know it could have been nothing but a bunch of BS.

I wasn't really speaking badly of the USPS, but of the decision makers more so.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Well, I will have to do a little research tomorrow, but I thought about 2 or so years ago, the government sold all of USPS for around $500 Million to a private company? Just something I read online somewhere...for all I know it could have been nothing but a bunch of BS.

I wasn't really speaking badly of the USPS, but of the decision makers more so.

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Save your time USPS is still owned by the government :)

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Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

Save your time USPS is still owned by the government :)

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Perhaps what I read then, was about an offer to either sell or own it.

I personally have nothing against USPS. I thought JG was referring to USPS, and my comment was in regards to who bought out USPS, but I miss read his comment and so forth.

Have you ever tried to collect on a USPS insured parcel that was damaged? Darn near impossible to do. I tried to collect on a collectible 1qt fruit jar I had shipped. I used a 5 ply cardboard box. It was large enough so that there was 4 inches of space on all sides of the jar. I filled this space with foam rubber. It got crushed. USPS said it wasn't packed good enough!

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Originally Posted by Flinthills

Have you ever tried to collect on a USPS insured parcel that was damaged? Darn near impossible to do. I tried to collect on a collectible 1qt fruit jar I had shipped. I used a 5 ply cardboard box. It was large enough so that there was 4 inches of space on all sides of the jar. I filled this space with foam rubber. It got crushed. USPS said it wasn't packed good enough!

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That is why you take pictures before packing it, and after packing it (before sealing the lid), so you have proof of what you did. Nothing better than physical evidence, or photographic evidence.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flinthills

Have you ever tried to collect on a USPS insured parcel that was damaged? Darn near impossible to do. I tried to collect on a collectible 1qt fruit jar I had shipped. I used a 5 ply cardboard box. It was large enough so that there was 4 inches of space on all sides of the jar. I filled this space with foam rubber. It got crushed. USPS said it wasn't packed good enough!

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never had to file a claim with them. I only insure less than 10% of what i sell, and ive never had anything ive insured with usps have an issue. So i cant say how there insurance is. The only company ive filed claims with is ups and that was until they stopped honoring them, now im using fedex, not had anything come up yet so dont know about them either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

That is why you take pictures before packing it, and after packing it (before sealing the lid), so you have proof of what you did. Nothing better than physical evidence, or photographic evidence.

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In a previous life I was a shipping manager for 8 yrs. For the past 13 yrs I've been an insurance claims adjuster. So I'm with you on the evidence but how do you prove that your photos of the interior packing are of the SAME box that was damaged? It's impossible. The only way to prove anything would be to take a photo of the box while being held open by your local postmaster and hope he doesn't get amnesia. Fact is, all they had to do was look at it to see how it was packed. They didn't care. My point is this, USPS insurance is worthless, in my opinion.

My Dad is a retired Postal Worker...he has told me several times their insurance is a waste of time and money and nearly impossible to collect on a claim. The Feds love to take your money but only hand it out if they want your vote.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flinthills

In a previous life I was a shipping manager for 8 yrs. For the past 13 yrs I've been an insurance claims adjuster. So I'm with you on the evidence but how do you prove that your photos of the interior packing are of the SAME box that was damaged? It's impossible. The only way to prove anything would be to take a photo of the box while being held open by your local postmaster and hope he doesn't get amnesia. Fact is, all they had to do was look at it to see how it was packed. They didn't care. My point is this, USPS insurance is worthless, in my opinion.

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Well if I am mailing just one box to you and I have pictures of it in prestine condition, as well as its contents, and it shows up damaged, and the contents broken, how many other boxes would there be?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flinthills

Have you ever tried to collect on a USPS insured parcel that was damaged? Darn near impossible to do.

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Risky pays out when needed >> No Fuss >> No Muss >> No forms to fill out