katzname
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posted on January 6, 2001 02:08:53 PM new
Up until December I made insurance optional ~ and most bidders choose not to insure their packages. I was lucky that only one package got lost, and I made good on it and refunded their money.
For the month of December, I required insurance ~ no one questioned it. One person did leave my a pos. feedback ~ but stated that I did not give her a option on insurance. It did rub me the wrong way because the insurance requirement was stated in my TOS.
My question is, should I require insurance? Most of my auctions are for less than $10.00. If an auction is over $50.00, I buy the insurance even if the bidder does not want to pay for it.
Personally, as a seller, I like being protected, but I don't want to turn off the average bidder.
Since the Paypal rules have changed, I do now require delivery confirmation, where before I did not. I
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dottie
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posted on January 6, 2001 02:13:22 PM new
Include the cost of insurance automatically in your shipping cost when you notify the buyer of their winning bid.
Non Optional... Cover Your "Ahem!"
- Dottie 
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libra63
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posted on January 6, 2001 02:19:28 PM new
I think that is up to you. I put my S/H a little higher then I put the rest on that would cover the insurance. Ex. I just mailed a package I charged $2.50 S/H insurance is extra if wanted she didn't want it so after it was weighed and I added the insurance it turned out to be $2.75. With insurance rates going up from 85 cents to $1.05 I don't know if I will add it if they don't want it, but then again if they don't receive it I am out that money. I feel that the USPS is going to make money off of ebay sales, if they haven't already. Just my opinion... I have only had one package lost in 2 years and it had insurance on it. I also feel that if a package has insurance on it it is more likely to be stolen than one without. Good Luck
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debtrek
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posted on January 6, 2001 05:24:52 PM new
I still offer it as optional...
I've not had anything break OR go lost, so it's not an issue for me yet...
However, should the situation change, you bet I would automatically add it to the shipping and my TOS would change accordingly...
Don't let what one whiner left in your feedback influence you...
Your TOS covered it then...
I doubt if you'll get many questions about it, if any...
Did you respond in your feedback to that buyers complaint?
Then let it lie...
As for now, review the pros and cons of how automatically adding insurance applies to YOUR situation and adjust your TOS accordingly...
Remember...
YOU decide the TOS of your auctions...
NOT the buyer...
And once decided, PLEASE stick to them for your own piece of mind...
Hope this helps 
deb
"Wit is educated insolence."
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katzname
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posted on January 6, 2001 07:38:35 PM new
Thanks Deb ~ you made some really good points. No I did not respond to the feedback ~
Postal rates are changing and Paypal requirements are getting tougher. I just called Paypal to verify just what proof of mailing was required if a seller claimed you did not mail a package. They will take delivery confirmation or proof the package was insured ~ DC is .40 ~ but not available for first class mail under 1 lbs ~ and insurance is $1.10 ~ and available ~ gives me something to ponder this evening.
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avmom
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posted on January 6, 2001 07:49:49 PM new
Katzname,
I also utilize PayPal. My proof of delivery is the post office's new printed receipt. They have to enter the zip code and it tells me what city I sent it to. I believe that is sufficient proof for PayPal. It is a good enough receipt for my tax man.
I recommend insurance on breakable items. At least I suggested it. Now, on orders of a substantial amount, I require it.
avmom (not avmom on eBay)
edited to correct typos .... oooh, bad headache too.
[ edited by avmom on Jan 6, 2001 08:03 PM ]
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katzname
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posted on January 6, 2001 08:02:17 PM new
Avmon ~ you might check with Paypal ~ when I asked if that would work as proof ~ the lady on the phone told me that it would not ~ because it was not proof of what address it was shipped to ~ and the new Paypal rules state that you have to have sent the package to the "verified address" of the seller. This is all part of their new seller protection policy.
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pumpkinhead
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posted on January 6, 2001 08:20:12 PM new
I used to insure every item. However, over the last 3 years I have only had a couple of items that got lost or damaged. So, it seemed a bit much to insure low priced items. So, now I just insure items that sell for over $50.00.
BTW, with the Postal increase on insurance, I switched over to U-PIC. It only costs 40 cents for up to $100.00 worth of coverage. Anything under $50, I self insure. I figure if something gets damaged or lost, I will reimburse the bidder. Only one package lost for $22.00 that wasnt insured. Cant complain.
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katzname
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posted on January 6, 2001 08:47:40 PM new
Pumpkinhead ~ God I love that name! ~ do you take Paypal? What do you use as proof of shipment?
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morgantown
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posted on January 6, 2001 10:54:47 PM new
Before dropping insurance in favor of Delivery Confirmation, ponder this: Delivery Confirmation will not protect you from certain unscrupulous types that claim the box arrived, but "it was empty!"
It has happened to us a few times, and I DO NOT believe that anyone working for the PO rifled the parcel. Yes it could happen, but I doubt it...
Good luck,
MTown
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katzname
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posted on January 6, 2001 11:15:54 PM new
Morgan ~ that is very good point ~ had not thought of that one.
Insurance protects you in more ways than one!
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morgantown
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posted on January 6, 2001 11:20:26 PM new
Hi Katzname:
I look forward to the day when we can "beam" the items directly to the buyers!
Hope I live that long!
Best wishes,
MTOWN
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avmom
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posted on January 6, 2001 11:23:39 PM new
Good discussion. Looks like I may need to look into U-Pic. Insurance seems reasonable and about the same cost of delivery confirmation. Proof and protected!
avmom (not avmom on eBay)
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katzname
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posted on January 6, 2001 11:32:24 PM new
Here again ~ does UPic insurance truely give you proof of where you mailed the item?
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on January 6, 2001 11:58:38 PM new
Depending on the program you sign up for, UPIC does not require proof of shipping in order to file a claim for a lost item.
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katzname
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posted on January 7, 2001 12:01:06 AM new
I would need proof of insurance to prove to paypal that I shipped the item.
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pumpkinhead
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posted on January 7, 2001 05:41:05 AM new
Katzname,
I have never used DC....I think it is a waste of money. I just save the PO receipt. It has the zip code on there, that should be enough proof that I mailed the item.
I accept Paypal and Billpoint. I am not concerned about a bidder disputing a payment that they made. If they didnt get their item, I just refund if it is under $50, or file a claim with UPIC. Havent had to file a claim yet, but I have heard that they are great to deal with.
U-Pic is easy to use. I just keep track of the insured items on an excel spreadsheet. Very basic. Takes less time that having to get packages insured at the PO.
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Microbes
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posted on January 7, 2001 06:58:46 AM new
Ok, I charge s&h (I hear the moans), but the buyers butt is covered. Anything over $50 gets insured by USPS or UPS, anything under $50 I'll cover. Out of about 1000 packages, I've refunded 2 that they buyers say they didn't get. I do make someone wait the 30 days the post office say's is the offical "it's lost" date (even on priority mail).
Waiting 30 days is a good idea, I've had a couple of packages come back because I messed the address up. I let the buyer know, and reshipped.
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dervari
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posted on January 7, 2001 07:36:49 AM new
While the PO receipt has the zip you mailed it to, it's not proof you mailed it to a particular address and probably would not stand up to scrutiny.
Paypay does not require the seller to ship only to the billing address. It's *suggested* but not required.
My wife clearly states in her auctions that insurance if optional and if declined, she is in no way responsible for loss or damage after shipment. All items are FOB.
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katzname
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posted on January 7, 2001 08:03:49 AM new
Paypal will begin to force you to ship to the billing address or you will not be covered by their seller protection plan ~ as soon as they have the ability to allow you to reject a payment that wants it shipped to another address ~ which they believe will happen the first of this next week. I got this information while on the phone with paypal last night.
[ edited by katzname on Jan 7, 2001 08:04 AM ]
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labelleepoque1
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posted on January 7, 2001 10:18:45 AM new
I used UPIC to insure a $30 valued item. Yes it costed .75, then they added on a .50 cent "service charge". I didn't hear anyone else mentioning this fee. Am I doing something wrong here?
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/labelleepoque1/
http://www.labellestudios.com
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on January 7, 2001 10:25:05 AM new
Did you order the insurance online? I believe it is more expensive to do so- if you sign up for one of their programs, a $30 item should cost $0.40 to insure shipped through the USPS.
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msstone
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posted on January 7, 2001 02:40:31 PM new
I insure everything I sell. It is just a good practice. It protects you and the buyer. I have only lost one package out of 1250 sent. I have had a few that took weeks.
Right now I have one missing in North Carolina. I had a priority take almost 3 weeks get to North Carolina. Something about North Carolina mail??
Post s/h in your TOS so that includes insurance. Most people are happy to know that their purchase is protected. Isn't is better to be safe then sorry?
A few year back, there was a postal worker in some major city, that was not delievering his mail and keeping the mail and packages in his home. This went on for many months before it was discovered. I have had mail ripped open and rubberbanded back together after some postal worker went through the package.
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