As a professional, you chose Mondial Relay for one strategic reason: to optimize your shipping costs. But in your quest for savings, have you weighed the risk to your margins and cash flow?Mondial Relay parcel insurance, with its apparent simplicity, is an attractive solution. A little too much so.
This article is not simply a guide to rates. It's a strategic analysis that lifts the veil on the false sense of security provided by Mondial Relay insurance. We'll show you, with figures to back it up, why its ceiling and flat-rate structure are dangerous traps for any professional who ships goods worth more than €25.
How does Mondial Relay Parcel Insurance work?
Mondial Relay's system is based on lump-sum insurance, which means that you are not compensated on the actual value of your goods, but on the basis of a lump sum you choose.
- Basic Coverage (included): Each shipment via Mondial Relay automatically includes a flat-rate indemnity of €25 incl. VAT. This is minimal security, but totally disconnected from the value of most e-commerce transactions.
- Optional Levels of Indemnity: For superior protection, you can subscribe to one of 5 additional levels of insurance when you create your label.
Table of Prices and Indemnity Levels 2025
On the face of it, the system is simple and affordable. But it's precisely this simplicity that masks the risks.
The €500 "Glass Ceiling": The Strategic Limit
The first and greatest weakness of the Mondial Relay offer is its absolute ceiling: it is impossible to insure a parcel worth more than €500. For any professional selling electronic products, leather goods, works of art or mixed baskets, this limit is prohibitive.
The €500 ceiling is not a detail, it's a strategic barrier. It positions Mondial Relay's offer as a viable solution for low-value goods only. Using this service for higher-value shipments is like playing Russian roulette with your margin.
The Lump Sum vs. Actual Value Insurance Trap
The second weakness is the very structure of the insurance. Being "flat-rate", it exposes you to losses, even for parcels worth less than €500.
Example:
You ship an item worth €400. The closest insurance level is Level 4 (€375) or Level 5 (€500).
- If you choose level 4 for €6.50, you underinsure your property and lose €25 in the event of a claim.
- If you choose level 5 for €8.00, you're over-insuring your property and paying for cover you don't need.
This tiered system, unlike true "Ad Valorem" insurance (based on actual value), creates constant friction and forces you to make compromises that impact either your coverage or your profitability.
L'Alternative Stratégique pour les Professionnels : Claisy
Faced with these limitations, a modern Ad Valorem insurance solution like Claisy offers an approach designed for professionals.
- Actual Value Coverage: No more tiers. You insure your parcel for its exact value. A €400 parcel is insured for €400. There are no hidden losses.
- High ceilings: Coverage can reach €100,000 and more, allowing you to use the carrier of your choice, even for your high-value goods.
- Tariff below 1%: The cost is a direct percentage of the value, often less than 1%, which is mathematically more advantageous than Mondial Relay's flat rates as soon as the value of the goods increases.
- Extensive coverage: where Mondial Relay imposes restrictions, Claisy covers virtually all goods (luxury, high-tech, etc.) and destinations.
Conclusion: Stop Suffering Packages, Drive Your Margin
Choosing Mondial Relay insurance for its simplicity and low cost means taking a risky gamble on every valuable parcel you send. It means accepting the risk of being subject to tiers, a prohibitive ceiling and limited coverage.
For a professional, protecting shipments is not a cost, it's an investment in customer satisfaction and sustainable margins. Opting for genuine Ad Valorem insurance means regaining control. It means choosing protection that fits your business, not the other way around.