Some eBay sellers are now switching to a new scam ... and getting away with it!

    For example, I just bought a $32 HP Laserjet 2100 printer for $32 + $29 shipping (Item #110209139610) from e-recycling-mart (98.4% positive rating on 120 transactions).
    The red flag comes up when you discover they want to charge $49.95 additional for insurance. That's more than the darned thing cost! That in itself is not a scam, but what IS a scam is the realization that UPS Ground shipments (which this was) is FREE for up to $100. I called the local UPS store to confirm this).
    This seller has just more than DOUBLED what you would pay for your printer - and it is all pure 100% profit that cost him absolutely nothing. A check of his store shows this is common on just about every physical item he sells.

    After writing this guide, I got this e-mail from the seller above, saying it was just a mistake, not deliberate. At any rate, watch out for this sort of thing, mistake or not!

Dear online_editor,

Hello. yes, it is a mistake obviously. i meant to have the $49.95 as the
insurance value of the item (not the cost of purchasing insurance).

-e-recycling-mart

    Now, what about the Post Office (USPS)?

    If you ship (or recieve) Express Mail, that also includes free insurance for up to $100 of contents. With Priority Mail that same $100 contents can be insured for only $2.05, according to USPS website. Here are the USPS insurance rates:

Merchandise Insurance
Coverage Desired              Fee
$0.01 to $50                      $1.65
$50.01 to 100                    $2.05
$100.01 to 200                  $2.45
$200.01 to 300                  $4.60
$300.01 to 400                  $5.50
$400.01 to 500                  $6.40
$500.01 to 600                  $7.30
$600.01 to 5,000              $7.30 plus $0.90 for each $100 or fraction over $600 in declared value (maximum liability is $5,000).

    If you have a choice between Priority and Express delivery, choose Priority (with insurance) - it's much, much cheaper!