posted on June 28, 2002 08:49:42 AM new
I need to know more about this online insurance by anyone that has used it.
I've been using Endicia, and dropping off at Post office, no problems. I usually do not insure (that may not sound good, but I sell $20 or under items, and knock on wood, have not had anything broken or lost) If something happened; get lost or broken, 2x in a very long time, I've refunded.
I looked up PIC insurance once, and didn't fully understand what they do. Do you pay them monthly for their service?
posted on June 28, 2002 10:16:26 AM new
I have been using U-Pic for the last 4 months and I think it is wonderful. Since I am on Endicia, I just have to send them a report at the end of the month. Within a weeks or so, they send you an invoice (but you should already know the total when you did your monthly list). I am on the small business plan which is $0.40/$100 of insurance for USPS with del. confirmation.
This now allows me to never have to stand in line at the post office. My PO lets me drive to the back loading dock and unload. This has saved me countless hours in standing in line time over the past few months.
Note - I have not have a claim yet so I do not know how they do in this area, but I have not heard of any problems in any of the eBay-related boards that I visit.
posted on June 28, 2002 11:06:08 AM new
I've used PIC for over a year. I email them my log every Monday, then at the end of the month, I tally it up and pay my premium via PayPal or a check. They will send you all the forms you need, including claims forms.
I've never had a claim, but I've heard from others that it is a fast, no-hassle process.
They have several different programs, depending upon the volume you do. The best thing to do is email their sales department and ask one of them to contact you. They will answer all your questions. The customer service is quick and responsive.
posted on June 28, 2002 01:04:41 PM new
i tried to use them on a single packaged just to thry them out and they wanted info on the buyer. should i just go thru ebays contact info to get it? is that even a good idea to do that cause it might worry the buyer?
posted on June 28, 2002 02:31:54 PM new
Well, they are probably great if you sign up for them on a regular basis.
I just did it for one package.... since I'm getting these last out. I won't be starting up ebay again till mid July or so. But this one wanted insurance, and went ahead and paid through PayPal (the $1.10 the PO charges) and well, U-Pic charged me $1.50. ,.50 cents was the service charge.
Oh well its done now. They didn't ask specifics on the buyer from me, just the destination was it, and I have a printout of the confirmation #.
posted on June 28, 2002 05:01:14 PM new
If you are using Endicia's Dazzle program, it's easy. I am on the U-Pic "stamp" program because of my lower volume. (Don't worry, this is an archaic term, you do not actually have to "stamp" anything.) I prepaid $80 -- from which U-Pic will withdraw my monthly usage until I need to prepay again.
When you enter the bidder information into Dazzle, instead of leaving the "value" field at $0.00, enter the value (final bid) of the item (before shipping). This is how U-Pic can tell which packages are insured and for how much.
I charge $.50 for both First Class and Priority insurance (cost is actually $.60/$.40, so $.50 is a nice price point.)
You can either e-mail the log to your account rep -- or send them a hard copy through the mail with one of their forms -- by the 10th of the following month.
posted on June 30, 2002 09:09:41 AM new
Why not just self insure...I started doing this about a year ago and I now have nearly $500 sitting in a pot for whenever it may be needed. In more than 4 years of selling, I have had only 2 problems. One was with postal insurance and it was such a hassle, I just paid the claim out of my pocket. The second was a shipment using Endicia with delivery confirmation. This package more than a month later still shows undelivered. This was $55 and I paid from my personal insurance pot.
How many insurance claims have you had over your eBay career? Once you look at this, it makes pretty good sense to self-insure.
posted on June 30, 2002 10:20:24 PM new
Marcn - Do you tell your bidders that you self-insure? I'm sure some of them might not like that set up. I use PIC insurance and pay once a month. I have only had one or two claims in over a year. Because of the low claim rate, self insuring could make sense, but I think it would be dishonest to lead buyers to think you are paying for the insurance up front. Pam
posted on July 1, 2002 06:48:43 AM new
Question: when you file a claim does U-pick pay the buyer or the sender. Do your packages show any type of "insurance" stamp or sticker? I've always been reluctant to use this service because I'm afraid of running into false claims of damage or non delivery due to the fact that noone on the sender's end verify's claim.
posted on July 1, 2002 10:22:33 AM new
With PIC insurance they send the claim money to the seller and you either mail it to the buyer or I usually pay the buyer through PayPal if they have an account. I did have a problem getting a claim paid about a month ago because they had someone new on the job, but it did get finally paid. Otherwise I have only had two claims in 1 1/2 years.
They suggest no "Insured" stamp on the package because they think it causes more problems. I think that is true because I had more lost packages when the PO stamped "Insured" on the packages. I didn't really understand the last part of the question above.
Now on another thread they are saying that with Endica they are linked to PIC insurance and you don't even have to send a weekly and monthly report. I may change from Stamps.com
to Endica because it is also cheaper. Pam
posted on July 10, 2002 12:29:20 PM new
Hi Everyone,
We are integrated with Endicia. Your monthly logs will now come electronically - nothing for you to send!!
We have 3 programs -
Online -
$1 per $100 and a .50 cent fee per transaction. .20 cents higher if your value is less than $50 and all other values we are less than the USPS - with guaranteed claims paid. No account - anyone can use our online service. There are restrictions as far as methods shipped and extra requirements depending on the method shipped.
Typically used for those shipping less than 10 packages per month or for buyers.
Offline Pre-Paid -
This is for those shipping less than 100 parcels per month. You pre-purchase your insurance in bulk. Once a month you submit your report and we deduct off the amount due. When you fall below $10 we will let you know to deposit more. Rates are .75 for values up to $50 and $1 for values from $50 - $100.
Offline Standard Account -
This is for those shipping more than 100 packages per month. You send in a report at month end along with your payment or send in your report to be invoiced. Rates are .75 cents per $100 or .50 cents if you use DC.
We only insure International packages if you acquire an offline policy. We accept paypal as a payment source as well as checks.
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Why would it matter if I told customers I self insure? All that matters is that they are covered. I used PIC for awhile but the customer service was horrible. No need to throw away money. Everyone out there wants a piece of your eBay sales and this is just one that I can eliminate. I have sold more than 6000 items on eBay and have only had 2 go undelivered. One was a USPS insured package and one was one I self-insured. The USPS was such a hassle that I paid it myself and never looked back. The bottom line is that the seller is responsible for the delivery insured or not...
How do you handle or explain to buyers about your self insure policy?
Since the increase in postage, I haven't run any auctions, still waiting to figure something more 'simplified' for shipping cost (yeah right )
Anyway, when I was running auctions regularly, I would use Endicia, charge the exact Prioity charge, and drop the packages off at the P.O., and not even wait in line.
I would then get 1 maybe 2 that absolutely insisted on insurance. Which would mean standing in line with one package (believe me my PO has lines ALL the time)
I guess the buyer likes to see that stamped INSURED on the package.
Sometimes I would send the EOA with the Priority shipping charge + bid, and that was there total, then I would receive a PayPal payment with that extra $1.10 with a message of 'I've added the insurance, PLEASE insure through USPS.'
I had always found it easier to refund the money if anything arrived damaged or was lost, since most of my items were low end ($15-$25 range)
How do you, if you do, explain 'self insure' if buyer is adamant on that $1.10 USPS insurance, and are looking for that stamp on the package?
posted on July 11, 2002 08:16:02 AM new
Marcn,
I am sorry you feel you received terrible customer service. I would appreciate you e-mailling me direct to let me know why you feel that way. We pride ourselves on our customer service and address any issues as they appear. If there is something that was not handled properly, I would like to know so that future customers do not incur the same treatment.
Be careful charging for insurance and pocketing the monies. This is illegal. You cannot directly 'sell' insurance without being licensed to do so. On the ebay boards an ebay rep posted within the last month that ebay forbids charging for services that are not purchased from a legitimate company.
What you can do is say delivery assurance or guarantee - then you would be okay all the way around.
Have a great week and let me know if anyone has any other questions.
posted on July 11, 2002 09:36:06 AM new
NearTheSea,
I just say that insurance is offered and that it is private. Not one buyer has ever questioned this. I have also had to pay a claim on a rather expensive package as the DC showed that it never made it to the buyer. Endicia also has insurance options and if you use them, you just create your postage and then can just drop the packages at the loading dock or counter without waiting. Endicia has been a godsend for my eBay business.
posted on July 11, 2002 12:31:38 PM new
Thanks marcn
I have had some very picky buyers. A lot send payment immidietly, before I can get an EOA notice to them, and add that $1.10 USPS insurance fee (not that many do this, about 1 in 50 do) which to me, I've never had to file a claim, and I have refunded about 3-4 times in 5 years of selling. So I figure (knock on wood ) that refunding is the way to go. Which this self insurance you have seems to be pretty much what your doing?
I also use Endicia, and YES I love it, to be able to just drop them off, and NOT stand in line its great!
I got a phone call from PIC yesterday after sending a private email and it was not from the person who posted. I will now be using PIC as it integrates very nice with Endicia. The thing that tipped me over was that the insurance which is $0.40 per $100 is based on total sales, not individual items. If you insure 4 packages for $25 each, the total insurance is $0.40. I was always under the impression that it would be $0.40 for each item.
From what I have read here, when I do start selling again, maybe mid July or August, I will use PIC. Sounds like a very, very reasonable price for insurance (compared to $1.10 or over at the P.O.) and since it does intergrate with Endicia makes it much more appealing!
Though I haven't done anything with Endicia, since I stopped selling last month (I did update it to the new USPS rates) I will have to figure the logs that are FTP'd? and all.
posted on July 12, 2002 08:48:56 AM new
Hi everyone,
I have been asked by several calls to clarify a post here as there is some confusion.
Your insurance is based on each individual package. You cannot add up packages under $100 and pay one fee. The rates are per package.
All packages using Delivery Confirmation valued under $100 will be charged .40 cents per package. If you had insured those same packages with the USPS you would have paid either $1.30 or $2.20.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
posted on July 12, 2002 08:58:37 AM new
I just received a call from PIC stating that the info they emailed me was incorrect. This is the kind of problems they have always had, many contradicting statements. I will not do business with them.
posted on July 12, 2002 09:07:39 AM new
I will continue to use them. $0.40 (with DC) or $0.60 (without DC) versus either $1.30 or $2.30 at the PO sound like a bargain to me. And as a bonus, I do not have to stand in the post office line (use Endicia for postage).
posted on July 12, 2002 09:15:48 AM new
Marc,
We have forwarded your cancelation per your request.
I reviewed the e-mails and do not see any contradictions. I am also further confused as you have had this policy for 6 months and our programs have always been the same.
Thank you,
[email protected]
[ edited by PICInsurance on Jul 12, 2002 09:17 AM ]
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