What Do You Think Of This Ebay Question?

Yes I am currently paying my consignor for several items that were unpaid, very annoying!

Better to buy the stamps or covers outright from reliable sources but only if room left to profit. I had sold one expensive stamped letter penny black for someone before. It went missing in the post. I had already taken my % and paid the consignee. Then buyer raises claim 1 month later. Consignee will not honour case of theft in the mail or by the buyer whc can lie and say not received. The problem was the tracking said ' We've got it' went no further than the day I sent it. Post office could not locate it. So buyer could have had it and claimed not received. Lost 150 pounds sterling on it. Plus the amount paid to consignee, shipping and fees. Never again!

You should have insured the shipment. That's why there's insurance: to protect the seller, not the buyer.

If you can't use USPS insurance because they won't insure 1st class international, then use a 3rd-party insurer. I use Shipsaver and insure 1st class international shipments at $0.79 per $100 of coverage. Well worth it.

Different story here in Oz, more pricey. But I learned my lesson. Tracked from here in a small packet rate starts at $25 and up. Insurance available but cost more yet again.

Ahh, sorry, my mistake. I didn't see that you are in Australia. Here through USPS you have to use Priority Mail or higher in order to get insurance, which effectively means US$25 or more. Not feasible for single-stamp/cover shipments, as buyers won't pay for it.

However, there are 3rd party insurance companies (Shipsaver, Shipsurance, etc.) that you can sign up with that don't have the same limitations. They will insure international 1st class shipments, as long as there is tracking.

I would assume (perhaps erroneously) that there are also 3rd party insurance companies in Australia? They really give sellers more flexibility and protection. At the end of the day you have to protect yourself, as ebay and PayPal sure as hell won't...

Australia:

Free: Possible Insurance for any article $50 subject to each individual claim

(Domestic) Optional Insurance $2 per $100
https://auspost.com.au/business/shi...ras-domestic

The problem is buyers get upset at the other end if value declared. When insurance used the value is then declared then buyer can be hit with customs charges. I take risks mailing single lots in stamped envelopes for $3. Anything else expensive packet just goes tracked zero value no insurance. In nearly all tracked cases its been fine even to India, China etc, touch wood. Except the time the consignment item was not delivered.