Hello fellow s,

I have custom shipping set at $5.00 per order. (I ship domestically only). Recently, there has been a rash of missing/ stolen orders through the US Mail. My post master offered only one solution -"Well, unless they were insured, you are s**t out of luck. (yes, she said that).

I would like to make the shipping insurance optional, but cannot figure out how to add this in with custom shipping.

All help is mucho appreciado.

Thanks,

Janet
Rolling Paper Warehouse: Discrete, Fast service
contact@rollingpaperwarehouse.com

Janet,

I would highly recommend adding insurance to all of your higher valued packages. Giving the customer the "option" for insurance will most likely not indemnify you from a chargeback if the package is lost, stolen or misplaced. Also, some customers make be wary of the “uninsured” shipping option and at the same time not appreciate the “extra” charge for insurance. If needed, increasing your shipping cost to $5.49 or $5.95 may cover it for you with the options I've listed below.

As you use USPS I would first recommend shipping all packages with Delivery Confirmation. This is free if you ship via Priority Mail and print the labels online at usps.com or thru a third-party such as stamps.com or endicia.com.

Second, I would recommend checking out u-pic.com. They have a couple insurance options for USPS packages starting as low as $.40 per $100. Not bad if the value isn't going too high.


A few tips for trying to prevent Mail Theft:

• Do not use product or value identifying words in the return address. "Customer Service" is less likely to disappear than a package that indicates "Acme Jewelers"

• Use plain boxes or carrier supplied boxes that do not identify the products. A little box with "Acme Jewelers" stamped all over it could quickly disappear.

• Place all invoices and packing slips inside the package, not in an outside sleeve or envelope.

• Ship using Delivery Confirmation (USPS) or a via carrier with package tracking (UPS/FEDEX)

• Uninsured packages (USPS) that have large values should at least be shipped with "Signature required". This is $1.30 extra for USPS packages, but worth it if your concerned about the package but for whatever reason choose not to insure it.


Now, as for setting it up that way if you still want to...

This is easy if you just use a custom fixed rate right now. Just edit your existing custom method and add "Uninsured*" to the end of the name on it. Then create a new custom shipping method with "Insured*" at the end of that one. Be sure to place a explanation in your customer service section explaining the difference.

Hope this information has helped you out... or atleast someone out there

JanetC-

Ultimate is absolutely right on all points he makes. And, IMHO (if that counts ) I would offer strictly the insured method. Your customers will appreciate the consideration of shipping insured, and they won't see the "extra fee" if it's the only shipping method you offer.

The free Delivery Confirmation is key too, if you don't mind going to their site to print the labels.

Very solid advice from both. Thanks. Nothing leaves the office without delivery confirmation. As my customers prefer discretion, plain priority mail boxes are used.

Thats is a good work-around to the insured/uninsured problem. (Although it will not cover varying amount of insurance.) Luckily, the bulk of my orders fall in the first tier of insurance coverage at 1.30 for the first hundred.

Insofar as delivery confirmation, endicia.com offers a plethora of benefits to the small business owner.
Here are a few:

• Free delivery confirmation
• Easy refunds for mis-printed postage
• the ability to "hide" the amount paid for shipping (Some customers get upset when charge $8, and they can clearly see it cost $3.85
• Easy integration with many email / address book programs
• On-line history and accounting of all transactions

All that you need is a decent laser printer and a credit card. The program is on your computer, not the Internet. I have been using it for 2 years, and am very satisfied. You can print any class of mail, and on envelopes or labels.

There is one question that I will have to confirm with the postal autorities: If delivery confirmation confirms delivery, but the customer insists that they did not receive the order, does the insurance cover the loss?

Once again, our community come through. 100 brains really are better than a half!

We also use endicia.com, it's a great service at a reasonable price. Before you start paying $1.30 per package for insurance you should really check out u-pic.com thou. It could save you upto $.90 per package.

Just trying to help...