When shipping an item, do you pay for extra insurance (to cover the value of the item)? Or do ask the buyer if they want to pay for the extra insurance.

This isn't related to a recent HB classifieds transaction. I'm thinking online transactions, in general.

I guess it's so weird to me that as a buyer that I have to pay for insurance. Shouldn't the seller pay for it? I've shipped items (between friends and family) and if it is a more expensive item, I'll pay extra and I'll eat the cost. Better to be reimbursed if the package does get lost or damaged then to tell my recipient... 'Sorry, you didn't pay for insurance.'

I would rather online sellers include insurance in their shipping costs and if someone wanted to save money they could request that insurance be removed.

Just a vent. I haven't had packages lost... well, once with Amazon, but they quickly sent me out a replacement. I did some online ordering and would be pretty pissed if my package got lost and they told me I was SOL.