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Mon May 10 2021 09:58:03

Shipping Insurance: Who Do You Use?

By: Ina Steiner

Unless you're selling digital goods online, you probably ship a lot of packages. And even if you're a master-packer, chances are good that at some point, you'll get a claim that an item you sent arrived broken - or didn't arrive at all.

Although we haven't seen statistics, anecdotally problems are on the rise. Household front-door cameras are picking up videos of "porch pirates" and delivery drivers who toss packages like a football.

Shipping insurance sounds like a necessity for online sellers, at least for certain types of items. But there are some horror stories of shipping-insurance claims being wrongly denied.

Do you insure your packages, and if so, what service(s) do you use? Have any claims been handled to your satisfaction?

If you were advising a new seller on how to handle the possibility of losses due to lost, stolen, or damaged goods, what would you tell them?

Comments (24) | Leave Comment | Permalink

Readers Comments

Shipping Insurance: Who Do You Use?

by: railady

Fri May 14 12:00:54 2021

@spooky - I have to speak up and say my experience has been exactly the opposite. I have NEVER had a problem with insurance, the few times I have used it, other than the situation below.

I do think most local office personnel make the difference in one's impression of the post office. Mine are fabulous and good friends who do their absolute best (and the community loves them). What bothers me about USPS is too much has to happen ABOVE that level. Example, It is so difficult to get help. The 800 number only throws ANY problem back on the local postmaster, who often has nothing to do with it, let alone knowing nothing about it !!

Shipping Insurance: Who Do You Use?

by: Toledo Maude

Sun May 16 19:08:29 2021

The most damaging shipment in 20 some years of selling on eBay was early this year, when eBay advised that USPS was charging me an additional 30 bucks because a 12 cube box was really larger than that.

Instead of adding the 30 bucks to my account balance, the idiots at eBay charged Paypal and Paypal charged one of my bank accounts. I use this bank as a ''firewall'' to prevent eBay from picking my pocket and never keep funds in this account.

The charges went back and forth with the f'ing bank gleefully accessing NSF charges. When the dust settled, I was out 70 some dollars in bank fees plus the post office charges.

Postscript: Due to ''Mangled Payments'', I no longer sell on eBay. When shipping to the West Coast - I use FedEx.

Shipping Insurance: Who Do You Use?

by: agedtechie

Mon May 17 15:16:10 2021

We use Pirate Ship because of the great rates on package insurance. They have FANTASTIC customer service too. integrates with eBay easily.

Shipping Insurance: Who Do You Use?

by: LasVagueness

Fri May 21 14:34:10 2021

I use ShipSaver due to their low rates ($0.79/$100). The claims process is very difficult and you MUST have the buyer's cooperation, but you can't beat the price.

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