Online Shopping Return Insurance: Is It Really Worth Buying?

First question: When shopping online, do you habitually check that ‘shipping insurance’ box?

I used to always check it, thinking a few cents for peace of mind. But last month I did the math and realized it’s not that simple.

Let’s talk numbers

I looked through my orders from the past six months—87 items purchased, roughly 60 with shipping insurance. How many did I return? Eight.

Shipping insurance averages 0.8 yuan per order, so 60 orders = 48 yuan. How much did I actually get back from returns? 32 yuan.

Lost 16 yuan!

Where are the pitfalls of shipping insurance?

First, it only covers ‘first-weight shipping’—usually 8-12 yuan. But if your return is overweight or going to a remote area, you pay the difference. Last time I returned a throw pillow, insurance covered 10 yuan, but I paid another 6 yuan out of pocket.

Second, the more you return, the more expensive insurance gets. I noticed some shops charge 0.3 yuan for insurance, others over 2 yuan. Why? High return rate at that shop means insurance companies raise prices. The more you buy and return, the higher the per-unit cost.

Third, some situations aren’t covered at all. Like returns outside ‘7-day no-reason’ policy, or using your own courier instead of the platform’s recommended channel.

So should you buy it or not?

My advice:

• High-value items with uncertain sizing, like appliances and furniture—buy. One return saves hundreds.
• Clothing and shoes—check shop ratings. Low ratings with many reviews saying ‘sizing is off’—buy; otherwise skip.
• Daily necessities and food—generally don’t buy. You’re not returning a pack of tissues, right?

Money-saving tips

1. For large items, first ask customer service ‘Is no-reason return supported?’ Some shops list 7-day no-reason returns but make you pay return shipping.
2. When returning, compare several courier channels—sometimes the platform’s recommendation isn’t the cheapest.
3. If you bought the wrong size but quality is fine, consider reselling or gifting—sometimes more cost-effective than returning.

My current approach: add to cart first, sleep on it overnight before deciding. Less impulse buying means lower return rates, which means less need for shipping insurance.

Tested and proven—this money is well spent.