posted on January 4, 2006 06:23:40 AM new
IF you use such on line insurance for shipping like U-Pic, etc:
WHO do you use?
HOW long have you used them?
How satisfied are you with their service?
WHAT has been your experience in filing a claim for breakage or a lost item?
I used U-Pic in the past, but when I stopped shipping USPS, I dropped U-Pic also. At the time I used U-Pic, I found filing a claim an endless hassle, requiring more paper work than the IRS.
posted on January 4, 2006 08:00:31 AM new
I used U-PIC,yes,they are disorganised.
may be they just dont want to part with their money.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
[ edited by hwahwa on Jan 4, 2006 08:01 AM ]
posted on January 4, 2006 08:20:56 AM new
Thanks for your response. That is what I was afraid of. I used U-Pic in the past, and was overcharged 3 or 4 times by them, and never received a response about the issue.
I cancelled my use of Endicia because of the issues with U-Pic.
I never got a response from Endicia either regarding the over charges.
I would like to test USPS shipping again, but dread the thought of having to use U-Pic; and using the regular USPS insurance is too expensive, and requires paper work, which take too much time.
Thanks again for your response.
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
posted on January 4, 2006 08:56:39 AM new
I think you might be missing the big picture.
If a customer pays for an eBay item using PayPal, and the package goes missing, what happens?
Right. They get their money back (eventually) whether or not they bought insurance. No matter what insurance provider you use.
I'm not going to address claims of damage in shipping, since I think the number of those is negligible and the cost of fixing them is easily absorbed.
So, what is even the POINT of going through any paperwork hassles at all? The PayPal user is going to get their money back on a loss claim. Bundle an amount for insurance into your shipping fee and you're done.
posted on January 4, 2006 08:57:07 AM new
We're happily using DSI and have a simple system using Endicia. We export our Endicia log monthly and e-mail it to them - selectively insuring those we want to (indicating this when we print using Endicia).
We've had only one occasion to process a claim - and was able to do it online (uploading a scan of the completed form) - and it was paid in less than 10 days as I remember.
Glad to help you with more info if you want to talk via phone. We get a referral credit if you use this link:
posted on January 4, 2006 10:51:32 AM new
For items that cost less than $50 or so, unless I have a "sixth sense" about the transaction, I self-insure. How many packages go missing, relative to the outrageous initial insurance fee? Insurance for more expensive items makes sense, and the marginal increase in cost (say, between $100 and $200 on UPS) is not extortionate.
How many times do you have to not pay $1.30 before you're ahead on insuring a $25 item that gets lost?
By the way, I require insurance on all items in my TOS (my average selling price is over $150, so it's not a rip-off). I do not consider it deceptive, as they are insured, even if I'm doing it out of my pocket.
posted on January 4, 2006 03:55:43 PM new
I just signed up with DSI, so I can't give any feedback except I've heard good things about them - they are charging $0.48 per $100 for items with delivery confirmation. My customers want insurance, it makes them feel better - and the USPS claim system is a nightmare and expensive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on January 4, 2006 04:18:29 PM new
I wish Harry would pop in with tidbits about how Endicia Insurance works. I've used it a couple of times but then I've never had to file a claim. It sure is EASY and cheap.
posted on January 4, 2006 10:27:22 PM new
I use endicia and love it. I've filed many claims with them too, and they are great. Professional, they actually call me to follow up on things. I started out with them by individual items, and then switched to a flat rate plan where everything I ship is insured, I just pay one monthly premium. I factor that in my shipping costs, it ends up being like a quarter per package. It's nice not to worry about it after it is gone, and customers do like insurance so it is nice to say I do offer it instead of go the self insured route. They also cover international packages as well.
I know people can file a claim on paypal, but the vast majority of packages don't go missing. When that has happened, I've never had a single person use paypal to do a chargeback, they've worked with me through the insurance claim (if they have a fax, I can get them a refund almost immediately)
posted on January 5, 2006 07:40:00 AM new
I have been using DSI for around 2 yrs now. they are great to use and cheaper then any one else i have tried. if you write them an email or phone them, they do answer very promptly. and will insure to most places we send parcels or mail to in the world. they do process claims very quickly. so i do recommend them.
posted on January 5, 2006 06:29:47 PM newThanks, TheFamilyBiz
I used Endicia for about 3 years, but because the preponderance of our business is through our web sites; these are run through our Merchant Account; and when a customer makes any type of a claim “I never got my order,” , a signed receipt for the is required by our credit card processor, to show proof of delivery.
I HAVE to have a signature on all shipments to be safe; we have had too many claims of "not received," only to prove to the customer that they signed for it!! We only won a dispute through PayPal, because we had signature proof.
When you add in "signature" proof of delivery via the USPS, it costs time doing the paperwork and money. IF I could do this automatically, via Endicia, I might consider going back to Endicia and insuring through them, but I just recently read their site again and there is no reference to and way to use the automated system and acquire a proof of delivery signature.
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
posted on January 5, 2006 06:45:13 PM new
Jwpc, We have procured Signature Confirmation using Endicia. It prints out with "Signature Confirmation" in the space it would normally read "Delivery Confirmation" - and we use a highlighter to make sure it's noticed on the label.
The electronic confirmation that can be checked pretty quickly through Endicia indicates who signed for it and I'm sure if you needed a "paper proof" of the signature it could be acquired from the post office.
Here's an example:
Destination Address:
JOHN WAGNER
X XXXX XXX RD
NXXXXXX NH 03XXX-8XXX
Your item was delivered at 10:00 am on December 21, 2005 in NXXXXXX NH 03XXX. The item was signed for by J WAGNER.
It's also a nice deterence against fraud when you send them the confirmation e-mail (automatically through Endicia) that their item is being shipped - and it mentions that it is being sent using the USPS "Signature Confirmation" service.
So, it does look like it could work for what you're looking for.
Caroline