Violin insurance question
I am a violin maker and like most instrument makers shipping can sometimes be an issue.
I need help finding an insurance policy that covers my violins against loss or damgae during shipping.
Currently I insure each violin with the carrier, FedEX, UPS, USPS, at the time of shipment.
Some locations around the world have limits on the amount of insurance you can purchase which is much less than the value of the violin.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Have received one return phone call from an agent who wanted $2,500.00 USD annually!!!!!!!!
Replies (7)
What's the mean selling price for one of your instruments and how many do you generally sell in a year?
Love the Francais story. It was not helpful but it was hilarious.
Did you try Chubb?
ps Jacques Francais wouldn't let me mail a bow to him that I needed his opinion on. I had to drive from Philly to NYC ...and park my car in NY. which almost cost me as much as the bow (only kidding)...and bring the bow to him in person.
Just a though...I don't know where you live, but when I lived in Philadelphia, it cost almost $5,000.00 per year to insure my car. $2.500/yr to insure however many violins you wish to ship, sounds like a pretty darn good deal to me...
We use Total Dollar.
$5000 per year for auto insurance covers one for the damage the vehicle can do to others, as well as risk of damage to the vehicle.
I shudder to think of the kind of damage that a violin in the wrong hands can inflict on innocent bystanders.
Heritage is who I went with. they specialize in insuring makers and music dealers.
Great folks and really easy to work with.
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June 22, 2010 at 12:10 AM ·
Barry,
I remember a number of years ago playing a beautiful modern Italian at Jacques Francais, and he refused to ship it so I could try it at home (it had to be hand-carried back and forth). He kept saying something that sounded like "Ees two whisky, ees two whisky!"
I think he meant that he would ship it for 3 whiskies, I'm assuming a Lagavulin or Johnny Walker Blue. So I'd say offer your insurer 3 shots in place of the $2500.
Did that help?
Scott