risk level for non insured shipping

[realjazz-123]

As I have written before on this forum, I am not comfortable shipping without insurance or tracking, especially with international destination. I decided that an item with value over  $50 would need tracking and I would risk without tracking sending  anything lower. Problem for me arose when an auction item listed at $15 sold  well above $50 and I was stuck with my described shipping of non tracking. Item did arrive but I was not comfortable during the weeks of waiting. As in dice, each throw (or mailing) is independent of the last so I will face the same doubt repeatedly.  I know tracking does not guarantee delivery but it adds much comfort to trouble in mind. 

  Could you let me know  what  monetary value of sold item  you use to decide to ship the item with tracking or not. I am not sure why your answers will apply to me but  my see saw mentality might become more settled with your experience and wisdom. Thanks,

[mr.elmwood]

I have no monetary value. If it is under a kilo it goes small packet. Over a kilo I am forced to use Expedited.

I calculated I have saved over $11,000 not purchasing insurance. Gags me how much I have saved on shipping. Many tens of thousands.

[vintagenorth]

If I sell an item for a lot more than I hoped to get then I send it with tracking and just pay for the extra postage myself. I still make more than I expected to get and tracking is for the sellers benefit anyway. Why did you say you were stuck with the described shipping? You can always upgrade the shipping method as long as you don't charge the buyer any extra. Makes the buyer happy too.

[pjcdn2005]

It really is an individual decision. I suspect that for some sellers that number is $80 or $100. For auctions when the selling price exceeds your maximum, you could always get 3rd party insurance rather than change the method of shipping. Shipsurance is used quite often by sellers but there are other companies. Not all companies insure the same countries. If you go that route, make sure that you read their requirements for making the claim. For example, shipsurance requires proof of shipping. I will usually make an extra copy of the shipping label and have the post office date stamps that label and initial it. I haven't had to test this method but you could write them and ask them about it.

[realjazz-123]

Hi: What I meant was I was stuck with described shipping that I expected the buyer to pay. You are correct that I myself could  pay the difference and I could ship with tracking. I also have done this, but for most items I sell to international buyers, the lowest rate for untracked is $23 and it jumps to about $75 with tracking. So adding my own $50 to reduce my risk worry would be done for at least several hundred $$ item.

[ricarmic]

Here is a topic I opened back in the summer last year with my experience....it also explains the various forms of insurance I use...my experience since then is better (Russia is much better) or the same......

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/My-experience-so-far-regarding-self-insuring-more-items/m...

[realjazz-123]

Hi: Your link to your own loss experience  is very useful reading and thanks for that.  Because you have a much larger volume mailing, you might be able to more easily  absorb the lost item (whatever the reason,)

  Also the biggest blow to my selling was the Jan 2013 CP international increase .Because I still have relatively few sales, my skin has not yet thickened to potential loss. I have the feeling (hoping) that as time passes, I will become more comfortable with untracked shipping.

[recped]

We both sell records, different stuff of course.........

I ALWAYS ship via the cheapest method available, this means it's very rare for a shipment I send to have any sort of tracking and I certainly will not pay for insurance.

My loss rate is very small, about 1 in 1000 so spending extra money on tracking or insurance is akin to throwing money out the window.

This is not to say that I don't get a slight twinge when I send out a valuable item to a destination that is often considered risky but history tells me that I have little to worry about.

[realjazz-123]

Hi:  Yes, that  "twinge"  you still feel with a valuable item is precisely the issue. While very relative to each individual of course, I have grown tired of my "twinge grande' . Given your considerable  eBay experience with record selling,  your response is most comforting and appreciated. I am going forward without a twinge of regret.........

[femmefan1946]

And here I go boring people about Cookie Jar Insurance.

While there is a lot to be said about shipsurance and similar third party insurers, you can also insure all your parcels yourself.

All you do is add a few pennies to every asking price to cover the chance of an occasional loss. Toss those virtual pennies in a virtual cookie jar.

If your average sale is $25 and like your colleague you have one claim in 1000 sales, then you add 2.5 cents to every asking price. When you lose that thousandth item, you take $25 from the cookie jar.

If you losses are higher, which depends more on the demographic you sell to than anything else, you may have to make that a quarter instead of tuppence ha'penny.

But I get a twinge every time something expensive or irreplaceable (not always the same thing, eh?) leaves my hands for its new home.