Shipstation Shipping Insurance: What You Need To Know

are packages shipped with shipstation insured

ShipStation provides its users with a few options to insure their packages. The platform offers Carrier Insurance, Shipsurance (a third-party partner), and other insurance options. Packages shipped with ShipStation can be insured through these options to protect against loss or damage during transit. Users can also set up automation rules to add insurance to orders that meet specific criteria, such as order value or shipping location. Additionally, some carriers offer their own insurance coverage, which can be added on top of the default coverage provided by ShipStation's insurance partners. It is important to note that insurance claims may require documentation, such as shipping labels, proof of value, and photographs of damaged items.

Characteristics Values
Insurance Options ParcelGuard (for US-based accounts), Total Shipping Protection (for UK, Australia and New Zealand-based accounts), Shipsurance (a third-party provider), Carrier Insurance (insurance from the service provider)
Insurance Criteria Order value, shipping location, recipient address
Insurance Claims Claims can be filed with the insurance provider. Claims require supporting documentation, including shipping labels, proof of value, invoices, photos of damaged items, tracking numbers, dates of shipment, and recipient addresses.
Insurance Cost The cost of insurance depends on the provider and the value of the shipment. Some carriers include insurance in the shipping rate for packages up to a certain value.

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ShipStation insurance options

ShipStation provides several options for insuring your shipments. You can add insurance to a single order or multi-package shipments. You can also create automation rules to add insurance to orders that meet specific criteria, such as order value or shipping location.

Carrier Insurance

Many carriers include insurance in their shipping rates for packages up to a certain value. For packages above this value, you can purchase additional insurance from the carrier, which will increase the shipping rate. The default coverage and maximum insurable value vary by carrier. For example, USPS Priority Mail includes insurance up to $100 for domestic shipments, while UPS Ground provides default coverage of $100 per package for shipments within the United States.

Shipsurance

Shipsurance is a third-party shipping insurance provider partnered with ShipStation. It works in conjunction with the default insurance coverage offered by your shipping carrier. Shipsurance covers the declared value of the shipment beyond the carrier's default coverage. For example, if you insure a shipment for $300 and UPS covers the first $100, Shipsurance will cover the remaining $200. Shipsurance requires a minimum purchase of $10 in funds, and all funds are managed within ShipStation.

ParcelGuard

ParcelGuard is a shipment insurance option available to US-based ShipStation accounts. It protects your shipments from loss or damage during transit. The cost of ParcelGuard coverage is calculated based on the amount entered in the "Insure Amt." field when configuring your shipment. The coverage rates depend on the carrier and service chosen and whether the shipment is domestic or international. All ParcelGuard fees are deducted from your ShipStation balance, which can be funded at any time.

Third-Party Insurance

If you have insurance with a third-party provider not available in ShipStation, you can indicate which shipments this insurance covers by selecting "Other" from the Insurance drop-down menu. This is for record-keeping purposes only, and you would need to file any claims directly with the third-party insurer.

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Third-party insurance

ShipStation offers a few options for insuring your packages, one of which is third-party insurance. If you have purchased third-party insurance outside of ShipStation, you can indicate this per shipment. This option is available so you can identify that you purchased insurance for a specific declared value. However, this option does not provide any additional access to file an insurance claim or allow you to enter the name of the insurer.

It is important to note that you should not dispose of any shipment materials or goods before the claim is complete. Also, make sure to keep a record of product costs, including invoices, receipts, or appraisals, to support accurate valuations.

ShipStation's insurance partner, Shipsurance, provides insurance directly through the platform. Shipsurance will cover the declared value of the shipment beyond the carrier's default coverage. For example, if your shipment is insured for $300, UPS would cover $100 of the insured value, and Shipsurance would cover the remaining $200 of the shipment.

Another option is ParcelGuard, which is available for all US-based ShipStation accounts. ParcelGuard offers protection for your shipments from loss or damage during transit. The cost of coverage depends on the carrier and service chosen for your shipment and whether it is domestic or international.

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Insurance claims

ShipStation provides several options for insuring packages, including Carrier Insurance, Shipsurance, and ParcelGuard. It is important to note that not all carriers provide default coverage or the option to purchase additional insurance.

When it comes to insurance claims, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, accurate product valuation is essential. Overvaluing or undervaluing items can cause issues when filing claims, so it is important to keep records of product costs, such as invoices, receipts, or appraisals, to support accurate valuations. Secondly, it is crucial to maintain proper documentation of the shipping process. Taking photos or videos of the packaged items before shipping can provide valuable evidence when filing claims and proving the condition of the items beforehand.

If a package is insured with a third-party provider, the claim must be filed with them, and this will require paperwork from the carrier that shipped the package. Most providers will require documentation and information related to the shipment and any damaged or lost items. This may include the shipping label, proof of value or invoice for the items, photos of the damaged items, and any other supporting evidence. The tracking number, date of shipment, recipient's address, and a detailed description of the loss or damage may also be required.

For Shipsurance claims, all funds are managed within ShipStation, and the process can be started within 120 days of the ship date. The funds are deducted from the payment method set up in the ShipStation Subscription settings. The Shipsurance link can be found in the Shipments tab, and onscreen instructions will guide the claim process. If a physical form needs to be sent to the customer, it can be downloaded from the same page.

ParcelGuard is available for US-based ShipStation accounts and offers protection against loss or damage during transit. The cost of coverage depends on the carrier, service, and whether the shipment is domestic or international. All fees are deducted from the ShipStation Balance, which can be funded at any time. When filing a claim with ParcelGuard, it is important to keep all packaging and damaged goods, as photographs may be required. Certain types of goods, such as perishables, cash, documents, and electronics, cannot be insured by ParcelGuard.

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Default insurance coverage

The default insurance coverage offered by ShipStation is determined by each carrier and varies across carriers. For example, USPS includes free insurance coverage of up to $100 for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, while UPS provides default coverage of $100 per package for UPS Ground shipments within the United States. Similarly, FedEx International Priority and FedEx International Economy have a default coverage of around $100 per package for international shipments, depending on the destination.

If you are unsure about the default coverage provided by your chosen carrier, it is recommended to review their help centre or get in touch with their support team. It is worth noting that not all carriers provide default coverage or the option to purchase additional insurance.

ShipStation offers its own insurance options, such as ParcelGuard, which is available to US-based accounts and covers loss or damage during transit. The cost of ParcelGuard coverage depends on the carrier and service chosen, as well as whether the shipment is domestic or international. ParcelGuard is known for its affordability, saving users up to 67% on shipping insurance. Another option is Shipsurance, which is available for US-based accounts that use the Legacy version of ShipStation. Shipsurance works in conjunction with the default insurance coverage offered by the carrier, covering the declared value beyond the carrier's default coverage.

It is important to note that certain types of goods, such as perishables, cash, documents, and electronics, may have specific insurance requirements or may not be covered by default insurance policies. It is always recommended to review the terms and conditions of the insurance provider to understand the specific coverage, restrictions, and requirements.

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Insurance automation rules

ShipStation provides a few ways to add insurance to your shipments to protect you in case your packages get lost or damaged en route to your customers. You can manually add insurance to your parcels when configuring your shipment or have ShipStation add it automatically with an Automation Rule.

Automation Rules can help automate many order management-related tasks in ShipStation to reduce the time it takes to create labels. To create an Automation Rule, you must know what action (or actions) you wish to perform on an order and what order criteria you want to use to trigger that action.

  • You can create an automation rule so ShipStation will automatically add insurance to orders as soon as they import if the orders meet specific criteria. The rule criteria can be anything you choose. For example, the rule applies ParcelGuard if the order ships from a specific location, has a recipient address in Boston, Los Angeles, or Chicago, and has an Order Total greater than $100.
  • If you have an account with an insurance provider not available in ShipStation, you can indicate which shipments this insurance covers by selecting the "Other" option from the Insurance drop-down menu. This is for record-keeping purposes only.
  • You can also create an automation rule that will add insurance to shipments when the orders import and meet the rule's criteria (e.g., the order contains a specific item, exceeds a certain value, or ships to a specific location).
  • You can use order tags as rule criteria if the tags have been added to the order before the rule runs. For example, automatically add dry ice as a shipping option if an order contains a product you've previously tagged with a "Dry Ice" tag.

Frequently asked questions

No, insurance is not included for all packages shipped with ShipStation. You can, however, add insurance to your shipments.

There are a few ways to add insurance to your ShipStation shipments. You can add insurance to a single order when configuring the shipment, add it to multi-package shipments, or create an automation rule that will add insurance to shipments when they import and meet the rule's criteria.

The insurance options available for ShipStation shipments include Carrier Insurance (insurance from the service provider) and Shipsurance (a third-party ShipStation partner). Some carriers also offer their own additional insurance coverage, which you can add if your shipment exceeds their default coverage amount.

To file an insurance claim for a ShipStation shipment, gather all the necessary documentation and information related to the shipment and the damaged or lost items, including the shipping label, proof of value, and photos of the damaged items. You can then submit the claim through the carrier or insurance provider, depending on who provides the insurance coverage.

It is important to ensure that the declared value of your products accurately reflects their worth. Overvaluing or undervaluing items can lead to issues when filing insurance claims. Keep proper documentation of the shipping process, including photos or videos of the packaged items before they are shipped. Communicate clearly with customers about the shipping insurance coverage and any additional options available to them.

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