posted on August 5, 2003 09:40:18 AM new
Another method is to charge to buyer $1 insurance and insure the packages yourself eat any rare loss by the post office. I have had only one of two lost packages in thousands of ebay auctions and only a scant few damaged packages. If I had charged every buyer $1 I'd be thousands of dollars ahead of the game now.
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posted on August 5, 2003 10:30:36 AM new
I have not used ipic yet. I am aware of them because I use endicia which I LOVE. However if I needed insurance on something I would use them. I have already conversed via email and they were fast to respond and very friendly.
As it happens I do flat rate shipping price in most of my ads. I prefer that, then if it is a breakable item i just work the insurance in.
It seems everything I have been selling lately has been HEAVY and FedEx works out less expensive then USPS plus they include insurance.
The only time it doesn't go FedEx now is if it is a small item that most people would not insure anyways.
I don't worry about an item getting lost and not showing up.I use EDC and I am covered and since I have been driving to the USA and doing my shipping (instead here in Canada)**knock on wood** NOT one package has been lost. 2 took a long route (and both were found because of edc) but none lost. Don't even wanna hear the horror stories of shipping from Canada.
posted on August 5, 2003 10:43:15 AM new
Ace, by saying insuring yourself, you just mean you eat it if its lost or damaged?
I've thought about doing that myself. Most people dont choose insurance though unless they've had bad experiences or the item is over what they care to lose if they dont get it. Sometimes I insure breakables even if they choose not to. I do pack well, but I dont want to hear it if they say it arrives broken. Think that is a common scam for some colletors and collectables. ("Hey my XXX is broken! Let me replace it free!!"
posted on August 5, 2003 11:29:59 AM new
I have sold around 7,000 items on Ebay everything from a couple ounces to around 40 pounds. A lot of my items are very fragile. The U.S. Post Office has done a GREAT job shipping them. I don't think I have had over 10 or 12 items broke or missing. With delivery confirmation less and less buyers are buying insurance. All my auction description and invoices say insurance is the buyers choice, I will ship with or without insurance. I think the break down is something like this 60% shipped without insurance, 15% shipped with insurance, 5% shipped under insured. and about 20% shipped we me self insuring. If you are careful about how you pack and what you self insure you will even make a few bucks on self insuring. Good Luck and PACK WELL.
