Shipping insurance

Anything over $200.00, I've been buying insurance for. If something, less than that, gets lost, I've got to foot the bill. Well, even if it's more than that, I still have to make the buyer whole, and deal with the insurance situation, myself. Just to be clear, if something happens, and the buyer doesn't get what they bought, from me, it's my problem, and I'll deal with it. No reason to trouble them over my problems, right?

But, when calculating what I'll sell something for, insurance is a part of that. So, while the insurance money comes from me, I'm getting the insurance money from the buyer, right? So, no matter how you look at it, the buyer's paying the insurance.

Reminds me of when people are buying a house, and they figure that the seller has to pay for the commission, so it doesn't, really, impact them. Well, the hell if it doesn't! If that seller didn't have to pay that commission, "doncha" think that you could get a bigger discount?

And that's what it boils down to, for me, if I have to pay for insurance, I can only discount, this, or that, so much, right? So, when it comes to insurance, I try to keep in mind that we all take a hit, in the shorts, if you know what I mean?
 
Yes - broad strokes as PeteyTwoPointOne wrote - sorry to be so blunt. Thanks Pete or the clarification.

As a seller I have WANTED to use F&F to sweeten the deal for the buyer UNTIL I realized that I was actually jeopardizing the buyer. Add to that that this is a rip off of PP - a company which makes it so easy to buy and sell here - that I finally woke up to the ONLY WAY to SELL and BUY is with G&S. Every transaction has its risks and yeah, like it or not, there are those out there looking to scam and/or exploit.

I prefer not to ship knives out of the US or accept money orders or cash - unless... TBD on a case by case basis.

Don't be so desperate to make a deal that you give up your commons sense or don't listen to your inner voice.

OK - now you can close this thread or move it to GBU. :D

Thanks, Ray
 
Just my $.02 - the best insurance you can buy is extra packing material and tape (so the package doesn't get damaged on the way) and signature confirmation (so the package doesn't get left on a doorstep for anyone to grab).

USPS insurance is expensive and, from what I've heard, can be difficult to claim regardless.
 
PeteH said:
I used to buy insurance for anything I sold for more than $100, but it's gotten to the point that the insurance is costing more than the postage.
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I'm the same way. I "self-insure" for most knives I sell nowadays, with the understanding that if the knife doesn't make it to the buyer for any reason I will be refunding them immediately.

You also have to keep in mind that if you're unable to prove the value of the knife in compliance with USPS's rules, then the insurance won't be worth anything.
 
That's the problem I hit with USPS insurance. Sold a handheld GPS for $250 on the bay. It went out working perfectly and arrived damaged. The USPS decided it was only worth $138. I tried to argue that I had just sold it for $250, but they wouldn't budge. I finally gave up and ate the difference, but I don't use their insurance anymore. If they won't accept as value what someone just paid for it, what's the point? These days I use signature confirmation and take the risk.
 
A question - If you use signature confirmation and it never arrives do you get your money back from USPS? I'm guessing NO but asking because I don't know. Is SC just a way to keep from getting scammed by the intended recipient?

Ray
 
One big problem I have with the ad ons is it artificially affects market value. Let's say I have a BG tglb and I sell it for $400 all included. Then you offer on for $375 + pp fee + insurance. It a) makes yours appear to be a better deal b) affects future values because buyers are only comping sell price
 
tyyreaun said:
Just my $.02 - the best insurance you can buy is extra packing material and tape (so the package doesn't get damaged on the way) and signature confirmation (so the package doesn't get left on a doorstep for anyone to grab).

USPS insurance is expensive and, from what I've heard, can be difficult to claim regardless.
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I received a certified letter, return receipt, yesterday -- dropped in my rural mail box while I was out of the house.
 
RayseM said:
A question - If you use signature confirmation and it never arrives do you get your money back from USPS? I'm guessing NO but asking because I don't know. Is SC just a way to keep from getting scammed by the intended recipient?

Ray
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Ray, Signature Confirmation <in most cases> reportedly will clear you, as a Seller, from charge backs on you from PayPal for parcels that the Buyer claims he never got-- As long as someone accepted delivery and signed for it.

Also should cover you on the event the postman mistakenly delivers your parcel to an unscrupulous neighbor who keeps it.

Not sure how PayPal would rule on a parcel that was delivered and signed for, but the buyer dishonestly claims it was empty or wrong item. Maybe a case by case basis? Taking into consideration Buyer & Seller reputations??? IDK, for sure....

None of the above have happened to me, but other brothers here have had the first example happen to them.

I also am fairly sure I read where if your parcel only has USPS tracking and it gets lost somewhere along the delivery chain, PayPal will hold you harmless, as well. Actually, I think that's on PayPal's site itself.

If I'm correct about that, it would also appear to me that that would protect you from the parcel snatchers that are running rampant these days. The tracking would show "DELIVERED" and should end your responsibility, I'd think. But, I've been wrong before. :oops:
 
boring said:
Doesn't f&f cost the sender to send? I thought pp still got their cut.
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no sir...it's a free service as long as you send it from your cash balance...mighty generous of PayPal which makes it more despicable for someone to try to use it to subsidize a deal, IMHO. :mad:

send my "grown" sons cash that way quite often, hahaha.
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
no sir...it's a free service as long as you send it from your cash balance...mighty generous of PayPal which makes it more despicable for someone to try to use it to subsidize a deal, IMHO. :mad:

send my "grown" sons cash that way quite often, hahaha.
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^ this is true if you send within the same country. If you send F&F from one country to another, there is a small fee the sender pays. Just FYI ;)

Cheers,
C.
 
FYI - I use my bank checking account as my primary PP balance - hardly ever keep money in the PP account - so F&F money actually comes out of my bank balance.


Thanks for the info on the Signature Request - PeteyTwoPointOne!

Ray
 
I've seen 3 or 4 in the last few days by experienced sellers. They even worded it kinda a-hole-ish.
 
tyyreaun said:
Just my $.02 - the best insurance you can buy is extra packing material and tape (so the package doesn't get damaged on the way) and signature confirmation (so the package doesn't get left on a doorstep for anyone to grab).

USPS insurance is expensive and, from what I've heard, can be difficult to claim regardless.
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So if your package got lost during shipping, how would you recoup your $$ from USPS? The buyer certainly won't be out of any money as the item is never delivered to him/her. The USPS at most will give you $50 (let's say we are talking about the 3-day priority shipping with small flat rate box) while your item could be worth $200.

I guess what I am saying is that signature confirmation and insurance are for different purposes. The former is to guard against dishonest buyers who received the items but claim not, whereas the latter is for recouping loss during shipping.

I do agree with you that purchasing insurance does not mean USPS will always pay you back the amount you claimed in the insurance. I imagine it could be a complicated process.
 
If you deal with any seller that want to charge you for insurance, be sure to pay G&S. You should anyway, but it is extremely important in this case, for the seller doesn't plan to honor his/or her obligation to get the item to you. PP protection will be your only option.
Even better don't deal with them.
 
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