Another lost package:(

[Former_Member]

On all of my orders, I put tracking. I only get insurance on larger orders or international orders.

Yesterday, I had yet another customer tell me that they never received their package. The tracking shows that it made it to local post office but is still in transit. It has said this since june 23rd.

So, I'm tired of usps losing packages. I've decided to start adding insurance to every package which is frustrating to me because some of my customers only order one item.

My question is this: Do I absorb the insurance cost? I get it through shipsurance. Or do I add the insurance cost to the shipping cost and raise my shipping prices? How do you add the insurance cost to your orders?

Any constructive advice in this matter would be appreciated.

[Former_Member]

I'm just bumping this up because I'm hoping that someone can give me some good advice:)

[Former_Member]

Depends on what your average $ order is. Does it pay to insure every $20-$25 order? Probably not.

$200? Probably.

[Former_Member]

Which is why I don't even do insurance because I feel its not worth it. But I'm tired of packages disappearing even its such a small amount because of the hassle of replacing it and having a frustrated customer

[Former_Member]

i started to insure all of my packages, even if the item is only 5€. insurance costs me 2,85€ for package up to 50€ worth of content and i just added it to my shipping costs because my items are timeconsuming to make and it´s more the aspect of time i lose if the package gets lost that the financial aspect

[twowhiteowls]

I would give the package more time before declaring it lost. I recently had a package take more than a month to get to Canada. Maybe it will still get there.

I only insure international packages over $50 and US packages 0ver $75. I figure if I'm saving the cost of insurance on most of my orders, that will pay for the 1% that are lost.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Barbara that's what I was thinking of doing myself. My items don't take long to make but then they have to tumble for hours and its just the whole process of the hassle. I know when you have a business this happens.

Jacky the package went to California. It was at the actual post office in 3 days . It arrived there june 23rd so it should have been delivered to customer next day. So someone probably lost it, because the tracking just stops when it reaches CA post office.

You two present both sides to my argument in my head. I started laughing when I read both of your posts. You both sound like me going back and forth in my head over what to do.

[twowhiteowls]

That is strange. Have you called the PO and had them look for it? Maybe it's still somewhere in that PO.

I know, it's not easy. On the one hand I don't want to pay any extra when shipping (or have to charge my customers more). But on the other hand, when a package goes missing I instantly think 'Darn it, I should have insured it'! LOL

[Former_Member]

haha I say that every time I have a problem with a package. (why didn't I insure that)

I've asked the customer to take the tracking to her post office to have them question the mailperson.

When I talked to my postmaster about it, they basically won't do anything on my end because the tracking shows it was shipped there already.

The customer is being very nice about it. Either way I'll have to replace and resend or give her her money back. Not a big loss, just a slight headache.

[Former_Member]

Tracking can prove it made it to the PO where it was sent and fortunately your customer is being understanding, but I wouldn't refund unless the item is returned in good condition as you have no way of proving that the customer didn't receive it. Best of luck with this!

[Former_Member]

Kim, I was in a position like that the other day, but I was the receiving customer. I'd bought a supply item that I needed urgently and then it never showed up. In the UK it takes almost a month before you can declare an item as lost with royal mail. I went to the post office multiple times after my work and there was nothing there.

The lady form the place where I ordered from told me the same thing - she wouldn't sent out another one or refund until it's turned up or I can prove I haven't received it...??

I'm sorry but if someone is desperately waiting for something I would hope they would send me a replacement - not assuming I'm being dodgy. BTW she refunded me eventually and the package still hasn't turned up.