| Author | Message | ||
| white_cloud
Senior Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 430 Registered: 11-2007 |
Well fellow Alembic lovers - the time has come..the custom built bass I have had to built to my very specifications  by the great young Italian luthier Armando Pugliese (former club member/owner of a series1&2!) is virtually complete and we are talking shipping to the UK. The thing is do I take out the optional insurance for shipping or not?? In principal insurance makes complete sense - but I have read on this forum before that the reality of insurance is that the insurance companies usually have a certain unwillingness to pay out..making it a waste of money  I am in a bind and dont know what to do - ANYONE here got good advice on this subject?? John. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1224 Registered: 6-2002 |
I think i would be tempted to compare the cost of insurance and shipping with travelling to collect it in person. Insurance I have it for all my stuff. The reality is that it won't buy you back the instrument you have, but at least you will get something back to help fund a replacement. Fortunately I haven't had to make a claim. Jazzyvee | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 403 Registered: 9-2002 |
Not a bad idea, but good luck collecting should something happen. I had items stolen from me in january, and I am still doing alot of back and forth with the insurance company. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 553 Registered: 11-2004 |
white cloud..I agree with jazzyvee, if the cost is comparable to going to get the bass yourself then it is a major consideration plus you get to see where it was made. Insurance companies are very willing to accept our renewal payments but can be reluctant to pay out when the need arises.(although if you get lost in a canoe you have a better chance) | ||
| goop
New Username: goop Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2008 |
speaking of insurance, check this out. http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/msg/783745035.html iggy's truck was swipped. | ||
| white_cloud
Senior Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 431 Registered: 11-2007 |
Thanks guys, The problem is to ship from Italy to the UK we are talking around 40-50 euros, to go out and collect it I am talikng god knows how much+the time it would take (Im very busy-as usual!) Man, I hate the thought of my "beast" being shipped by couriers but it looks to be the only real option John. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2000 Registered: 3-2004 |
With the variance in prices between US and Europe and the weakness of the US currency, we have people traveling to the US to buy things. If you were buying a $10,000 bass, you might save more coming to the US to make the purchase and carrying it home than you would pay to come here for a long weekend vacation. | ||
| garethnh
Junior Username: garethnh Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2008 |
White Cloud... I would insure. I know I felt 'safer' doing that when my Exploiter was shipped from NY. I reckon it's better to have some insurance and hence a little peace of mind than none. That's my opinion anyway! Enjoy the bass! | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1907 Registered: 2-2006 |
I've dealt with UPS and Fedex in items that were damaged and insured and NEVER had any problem getting reimbursed. I'm sure I would insure, because I'm sure if I did not insure it would surely get damaged. OO | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3198 Registered: 7-2004 |
If the shipper also does packing (like UPS) I'd pay the extra to have them package the instrument. UPS squirms out of a lot of claims by contending that the packaging wasn't adequate or the shipper used a previously used box. If they package it, they can't blame you as an excuse. Another benefit is that they might actually know what they're doing when it comes to adequate packaging. Bill, tgo | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1909 Registered: 2-2006 |
I concur Bill. OO | ||
| white_cloud
Senior Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 432 Registered: 11-2007 |
Its insured folks - turns out it was only 5,68 euros (about $8!) for the optional cover!! I feel embarrassed that I started this thread now that I know the cost Sorry folks, spot the loony (as they say here in Scotland) John. | ||
| speicky
Advanced Member Username: speicky Post Number: 311 Registered: 3-2005 |
hold your head up, John, you might miss the arrival of your new baby pics please ! have fun, Christian | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 511 Registered: 8-2005 |
How did you go about insuring something from someone else John??? P S Did you get my E Maial about the system for sale?? Enjoy your new baby!!!! G | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 353 Registered: 5-2002 |
The *best* time to get insurance coverage for shipping is when you first buy the instrument. At that point, with a fresh new receipt in hand, you'll get no hassles with regard to the valuation of the instrument. Although insurance fraud at this point isn't unheard of, if it's a regular sort of transaction I don't think the insurer will question what you paid as the market price replacement value. Then minute you own the instrument and are shipping it to yourself, you're in for a much harder time it's much harder to authenticate your claimed value, especially on high dollar instruments like these. You may have paid $8000 for an instrument when it was new 10 years ago, but you may be in for a debate as to whether it's worth $4000 now or $10000. The problem is that it's not the insurer's job to establish or verify the value of an instrument - the shipping agent will gladly take your word for it and sell you the insurance, but that doesn't guarantee that the adjuster will pay you the amount of insurance you purchased if there's a claim. Furthermore, there's a much better chance of your instrument getting damaged than destroyed, and you may have to go around in circle to have a discussion about the cost of repairs and the effect on the value of the instrument if it is repaired. If you buy a Mexican J-bass for $300 and love it more than your pre-CBS Jazz that's appraised at $10,000 that's great for you, but if you try to insure the Mexi-J for $5000, you're probably in for an unpleasant shock if you have to make a claim. David Fung |
