FedEx isn't that more expencive but sometimes cheaper than UPS and their service is much more reliable. The dowside is that FedEx doesn't have any option for COD. It is easy to fool arround with COD by placing bricks or something instead of component inside the package. FedEx is considered to have a "shortest path" service which means that your package doesn't go trhough the bunch of scanning stations instead of going non-stop directly to the destination. I always use FedEx. Yes it is always possible to insure the item for more than you've sold it.
I need shipping advice
I have a very heavy item to ship to CA. The item is only selling for $150.00. The item weighs in at about 100Lbs packed. UPS is the least expensive shipper. From the east it will cost about $80.00 to ship COD per the buyers request. We have talked and I have good references on him. The item is crated well enough to survive, I hope. The problem is how can I insure this package to protect me from loss of the item plus shipping? Can I insure for more than a COD amount on an item? I'm guessing that I would need to cover the cost of the item plus shipping both ways. That's $310 of insurance on a $230.00 COD. Or is the easiest way around this to just insist on prepayment and insure to cover my butt? Or does UPS pay for the return?