When everything gets more expensive, shipping hurts first
Every year brings another round of carrier General Rate Increases, new surcharges, and higher costs. Add in
tariffs, taxes, and supplier price hikes, and your shipping P&L starts to look worse - while customers still
expect fast, cheap delivery.
- Carrier base rates, surcharges, and Declared Value charges keep creeping up
- Tariffs and taxes increase landed cost, but you still feel pressured to offer free or low-cost shipping
- You absorb the cost of replacements, reships, and refunds when packages go missing or arrive damaged
- Passing everything through to the customer isn't realistic without hurting conversion
You can't simply "stop shipping." You need levers that reduce cost and generate offsetting revenue without
degrading the customer experience. Shipping insurance is one of the easiest levers to pull - and most
merchants underuse it.
See how U-PIC changes the math →
Cut your coverage cost without changing carriers
If you're relying on carrier Declared Value or their built-in insurance, you're almost certainly overpaying. U-PIC gives you licensed shipping insurance at rates
designed for ecommerce shippers, not walk-up counter customers.
Replace Declared Value with U-PIC
-
Lower cost per $100 of value
- Swap carrier Declared Value/insurance for U-PIC's DVU-based pricing and typically save 50-90% on coverage, shipment after shipment.
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All carriers, one program
- Cover UPS, FedEx, USPS, regionals, and cross-border shipments under a single policy instead of a patchwork of carrier rules and fees.
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Same operations, less spend
- Your team keeps using the same labels, platforms, and carriers. You just stop paying carrier DV rates and report shipments to U-PIC instead.
Predictable protection
- Clear, consistent rules across carriers
- Fast claims handling so you're not stuck waiting on a carrier decision
- Data you can use to negotiate and fine-tune your broader shipping strategy.
Before you cut service levels or add more fees, start by replacing one of the most inflated line items in your shipping stack: carrier
Declared Value.
Compare U-PIC vs your carrier DV costs →
Let customers opt into protection - and turn it into revenue
Lower insurance costs are one lever. The other is giving customers who want extra peace of mind the option to pay for it at checkout - while
you turn protection into a new revenue stream instead of a pure expense.
- You insure every parcel
- One low rate per $100 of order value, typically 50-90% less than carrier insurance
- No checkout line item; coverage stays behind the scenes
- Best if you want a simple "we always take care of you" promise and tight CX control
- Customers fund protection at checkout
- Optional add-on in cart or checkout
- Opt-in orders cost you $0 in insurance premium
- U-PIC pays you for covered losses
- You earn a service fee per protected order
- All parcels are insured with U-PIC
- Non-opt-in orders are covered at your low Merchant-Pay rate
- Opt-in orders billed to the customer
- Service fees often offset most or all non-opt-in costs - sometimes leaving profit on top
See what checkout protection could add per month →
FAQ
Q: Do we have to change carriers or platforms to work with U-PIC?
A: No. You keep your current carriers, labels, and ecommerce platforms. U-PIC replaces the insurance/Declared Value piece and, if you choose,
powers an optional protection toggle in your checkout.
Q: Are U-PIC's rates really lower than my carrier's Declared Value?
A: Yes. Our programs are built specifically for parcel shippers, not walk-up retail customers, so the cost per $100 of declared value is typically significantly
lower than carrier DV or standard insurance. We'll run a side-by-side comparison using your actual shipments.
Q: How does the service fee on checkout protection work?
A: When a customer opts into shipping protection at checkout, they pay the fee. U-PIC assumes the risk on covered loss/damage and pays you on valid claims.
We also pay you a service fee per protected order, which becomes incremental revenue for your business.
Q: Will offering protection at checkout hurt conversion?
A: Properly presented, it shouldn't. Customers like having the choice to protect their order and the majority of them prefer it, especially for higher-value
baskets. We provide best-practice copy and placement guidance to keep the experience clear and reassuring.
Q: Can we start with just rate savings and add checkout protection later?
A: Absolutely. Many merchants start by replacing carrier DV to capture immediate savings, then layer in cart insertion once they're comfortable and see the
opportunity to offset more of their shipping cost.
Offset rate hikes without sacrificing your customer experience
Replace expensive carrier Declared Value with lower U-PIC rates, then let customers who want extra protection fund it at checkout - while you earn service
fees and protect your margin.
- Save vs carrier DV across all carriers
- Turn optional protection into new revenue
- Use both levers to blunt GRIs, tariffs, and rising operating costs
Share a few details about your shipping profile and we'll
come back with a clear, numbers-based view of what U-PIC
can do for you.
Get my savings & revenue impact report →