Postage Insurance on High Value Items

[Orsenfelt]

I am looking into setting up a new venture, selling professionally built, high value computer systems.

The problem is, I have no idea what the best way to go about insuring the packages is. What I send out now is generally low value and I tend to cover any loss myself. Most products will be over £1000 worth and from my experience you can only ever pick up £500 or so insurance from the couriers, even then it costs a small fortune in itself.

I'm assuming I need a 3rd party insurer that would cover every package I send out?

Any help appreciated =)

[Michelle_HLD]

The answer is to use a decent courier. I'm afraid it is simply trial and error finding one that works for you.

I have shipped antiques for personal use to buyers and Royal Mail will 99% of the time NEVER pay out any insurance claims. They have extensive T's & C's that state all sorts of crazy packaging is required for the littlest thing and this is how they cover their backside.

Like I said i would use a courier but from my knowledge you can only get around £500 insurance anyway. I only ever get that when I ship using couriers of with Freight handlers when exporting pallets of goods. (Not antiques).

THe goods I sell on my website are around the £1000 mark and my view is if you pay for a decent courier (not always the cheapest) you should be fine.

You should always calculate some damage or loss into your P&L anyway!

[consultant]

Also look at getting a separate insurance cover package.

[KidsBeeHappy]

With our website, there is additional insurance up to £1000 available for £15. But if you talk to Declan about trade account rates, and what you're sending, he made be able to put together some terms for you.

Re comments about packaing. This is key. The parcels all go through automated sorting hubs similar to an airport luggage handling systems. So pack your products for that. You should be prepared to hold your item out at waist height, arms length and drop it. If you're happy to do that, then you know you've got it right.