posted on December 17, 2000 06:55:21 PM new
Hello.
I'm think about using U-Pic because the insurance rates are going up along with the postage rates. We currently insure everything. How much does it cost, and what do you charge the customer? Thanks for any advise. I'm looking into the stamp program.
Mel
posted on December 17, 2000 07:49:43 PM new
Decided to stick with regular USPS insurance $1.15 for coverage up to $50.00 and $2.00 for $51-$100. and so on. I think we don't sell enough to bother with the stamps or I'll never get off eBay. I think I'm going to make insurance optional except on breakable items, and say I won't be held responsible is you choose not to insure.
Ok. 'Night!
fonze
posted on December 18, 2000 08:14:48 AM new
I started using UPIC about a month ago, and so far have been quite satisfied. It costs 40 cents for the first $100 of coverage, which pretty much takes care of 99% of what I sell. I haven't had to make a claim yet, but from reading posts of those who have, it is extremely easy, especially compared to the USPS.
I now include the 40 cents in each auction, bundled with the postage. IOW, if it costs me $1.00 for postage and 40 cents for UPIC, my auction will read, "$1.50 (I round up a bit to make it an even amount) first class postage including insurance." No complaints, no problems, and I feel good about covering EVERYTHING, not having to decide what is "worth" bothering with.
The paperwork is fairly easy...you email a simple report once a week, then snail-mail a monthly summary.
posted on December 18, 2000 07:01:50 PM new
I've been using u-pic's stamp program since April. To get started I had to buy $85 worth of stamps. That was for a combination of 20 cent stamps and 25 cent stamps. It costs 40 cents per $100 coverage for domestic and 45 cents per $100 for international. If you don't ship internationally then you'd only get 20 cent stamps.
When I insure something I simply write the item number (you can use any reference number you want) and the item value (including postage!) on the log... if you want you can put the stamps on then, but I wait until the end of the month and do them all at once.
Once per month I send in the log to u-pic. Be sure to make a copy for yourself. That's it!
marlenedz: They DO insure non-ebay items.
I've had one claim and it was paid quickly (again, including postage!).
I've said it in many threads before, but I'll say it again, the combination of u-pic and 'print-your-own' postage can't be beat. No standing in P.O. lines (except for int'l stuff).
posted on December 18, 2000 07:18:31 PM new
I was going to use it but could not get any customer service people to answer questions. The package sent to me was incomplete and they would not respond when I asked them to send proper forms.
They kicked me off the program for not paying them. Like how could I figure out how to pay without any processing info?
posted on December 18, 2000 07:30:48 PM new
I'll start out by saying I have never needed to make a claim with U-Pic, so I can't comment on that aspect.
But the combination of U-Pic and Stamps.com has saved me a substantial amount of time, and allowed me to double (or more) the number of eBay auctions I run (on a part-time basis). I find U-Pic's customer service to be excellent. I've been using them about 8 months now.
posted on January 1, 2001 05:35:46 PM newQUESTION - IF one has a claim, and the buyer doesn't have to carry the item to the PO or somewhere, doesn't that entice unethical buyers to claim items are broken or didn't arrive?
Does your claim include not just breakage, but lost items?
posted on January 1, 2001 07:04:28 PM new
to jwpc:
When they have a claim, the customer does have to send ME a signed form first stating what happened. I make a copy for my records, and send that to u-pic. If the package is lost, they do have to wait 30 days before starting a claim. Same as at the USPS. I've only had to do a claim once, and it was really easy.
As for making it easy, I don't generally tell the customer HOW easy a claim is unless one needs to be filed.
