Insurance for shipping?
Jun 2nd 2003, 8:04 am
#1
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Insurance for shipping?
Quick question do you have to use the insurance that the shipping agents recomend or would it be cheaper to use an independant company? Or NO insurance atall:scared::scared:
Any suggestions?
And di you just value your stuff yourselves or get someone into do it?
Thanks Tori
Any suggestions?
And di you just value your stuff yourselves or get someone into do it?
Thanks Tori
Jun 2nd 2003, 8:12 am
#2
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Posts: 2,031
hi,
i dont think that you have to use the company recommended, i would reckon that you can get your own in but im not sure about that!!!!...
hmmph,,,,me n hubby were bickering yesterday ...trying to put a value to everything!
how on earth do you put a value to photograph albums..theyre priceless!...would you buy all the cd's again that you have should they be lost??....would you be able to replace the ornament that is a family heirloom?????
oh gawd its a pain in the bootocks!!!!!!
what is everyone else doing..or what did you do?????
i dont think that you have to use the company recommended, i would reckon that you can get your own in but im not sure about that!!!!...
hmmph,,,,me n hubby were bickering yesterday ...trying to put a value to everything!
how on earth do you put a value to photograph albums..theyre priceless!...would you buy all the cd's again that you have should they be lost??....would you be able to replace the ornament that is a family heirloom?????
oh gawd its a pain in the bootocks!!!!!!
what is everyone else doing..or what did you do?????
Jun 2nd 2003, 8:15 am
#3
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Yes more help needed on this topic please..............
Tori
Tori
Jun 2nd 2003, 8:52 am
#4
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You shouldnt have to use the agents insurance. Personally I wouldnt insure and dont, my reasons being the cost of insurance can be as much as the shipping, and supposing the most expensive item got damaged, the chances are it would be cheaper to replace than the cost of the insurance. Worse case scenario the boat sinks, will the insurance cover your loss?
You have to read that small print because clauses dont cover a lot of eventualities.
On saying that, if you have antiques and expensive items that are not replaceable I would suggest taking advice on insurance from an expert and not trust what company tell you.
At the end of the day if the shipping company are any good they will get your goods and shackles to destination with no dramas.
You have to read that small print because clauses dont cover a lot of eventualities.
On saying that, if you have antiques and expensive items that are not replaceable I would suggest taking advice on insurance from an expert and not trust what company tell you.
At the end of the day if the shipping company are any good they will get your goods and shackles to destination with no dramas.
Jun 2nd 2003, 9:41 am
#5
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It is a tough one putting a price on things. We also under valued most things to keep the insurance costs down. Only thing is most of our stuff got nicked before it even got to the container and as our insurance didn't cover anything until it was in the container it was useless! we ended up sueing the shipping company (long story, but it was totally their negligence), and a year later they have finally been ordered by the courts to pay the value we had written down for the insurance, we are just waiting for our money now.
most gutting thing is that one of the boxes they took happened to be the one with all the 'sentimental' stuff in it, thankfully not the photo albums but many other things that were very precious to us.
Well thats put a spanner in the works for you hasn't it! Sorry about that. If we were to do it all again we would go with a reputable well known 'large' company. The company we went with was recommended by a friend, no one had ever heard of it and it did seem a bit dodgy when we took our stuff there!! Still, you live and learn I suppose and hopefully that shipping company will 'go under' after they have paid us off and no one else will suffer as we have.
Mandy
most gutting thing is that one of the boxes they took happened to be the one with all the 'sentimental' stuff in it, thankfully not the photo albums but many other things that were very precious to us.
Well thats put a spanner in the works for you hasn't it! Sorry about that. If we were to do it all again we would go with a reputable well known 'large' company. The company we went with was recommended by a friend, no one had ever heard of it and it did seem a bit dodgy when we took our stuff there!! Still, you live and learn I suppose and hopefully that shipping company will 'go under' after they have paid us off and no one else will suffer as we have.
Mandy
Jun 2nd 2003, 9:55 am
#6
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Location: Angle vale Sth Australia
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Re: Insurance for shipping?
Originally posted by TIZUS
Quick question do you have to use the insurance that the shipping agents recomend or would it be cheaper to use an independant company? Or NO insurance atall:scared::scared:
Any suggestions?
And di you just value your stuff yourselves or get someone into do it?
Thanks Tori
Quick question do you have to use the insurance that the shipping agents recomend or would it be cheaper to use an independant company? Or NO insurance atall:scared::scared:
Any suggestions?
And di you just value your stuff yourselves or get someone into do it?
Thanks Tori
MM
Jun 2nd 2003, 12:35 pm
#7
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Posts: 498
The principle I used when valuing my stuff for insurance was to try to think what it was worth to ME. Think about your coffee table for example and then imagine 50 quid say. What would you rather have, your coffee table or 50 quid ? Still the coffee table ? Then how about 100 quid ? Eventually you'll have a value for everything - it should only take about 10 seconds per item. It doesn't matter what you paid for it or what it will cost to replace it.
When it comes to CDs and books etc then think about them en masse. How many people would replace every CD ? Not many I suspect. If you lost all your CDs then how much money would you need in your hand to make you feel compensated? In my case I valued each CD at six quid i.e. I would only replace about half my CDs with new ones if the whole lot was lost.
If you have something that would definately need replacing straight away with a new item and you would buy exactly the same as the one you lost then you should value it at its replacment cost at destination. If you have an item that you are on the verge of throwing out or replacing then value it at nothing.
Another tip is to undervalue stuff that is very unlikely to be damaged by shipping e.g. manual tools, boots, cutlery etc and to overvalue stuff that damages easily such as glassware and electrical goods. That way your whole load averages out at about the right value (should the whole container get destroyed) but you have edged the odds in your favour for loss of individual items.
When we emigrated we had just got married. We valued our wedding albums at what it would cost to get all the prints redone and to buy new albums. The negatives came with us as hand luggage. For all our other photos we packed the prints and negatives in different boxes.
We insured our stuff (2 bed flat) for £35k. The initial insurance premium was £1050 (3% of £35k). BUT, because we had a large proportion of electrical goods and 'high value single items' they added another £350. I think that is a pretty extortionate charge but it was the cheapest I could get and I couldn't afford to lose £35k worth of stuff.
One other point (because I'm a cynical person by nature) - I have a sneaking suspicion that the removals companies take more care of your stuff if they know it is insured. However, we still had £350 worth of damage which we claimed for and received.
Go around your house with a dictaphone and record items on a room-by-room basis and then add them all up in Excel, say. It's the quickest way by far.
I hope this helps.
When it comes to CDs and books etc then think about them en masse. How many people would replace every CD ? Not many I suspect. If you lost all your CDs then how much money would you need in your hand to make you feel compensated? In my case I valued each CD at six quid i.e. I would only replace about half my CDs with new ones if the whole lot was lost.
If you have something that would definately need replacing straight away with a new item and you would buy exactly the same as the one you lost then you should value it at its replacment cost at destination. If you have an item that you are on the verge of throwing out or replacing then value it at nothing.
Another tip is to undervalue stuff that is very unlikely to be damaged by shipping e.g. manual tools, boots, cutlery etc and to overvalue stuff that damages easily such as glassware and electrical goods. That way your whole load averages out at about the right value (should the whole container get destroyed) but you have edged the odds in your favour for loss of individual items.
When we emigrated we had just got married. We valued our wedding albums at what it would cost to get all the prints redone and to buy new albums. The negatives came with us as hand luggage. For all our other photos we packed the prints and negatives in different boxes.
We insured our stuff (2 bed flat) for £35k. The initial insurance premium was £1050 (3% of £35k). BUT, because we had a large proportion of electrical goods and 'high value single items' they added another £350. I think that is a pretty extortionate charge but it was the cheapest I could get and I couldn't afford to lose £35k worth of stuff.
One other point (because I'm a cynical person by nature) - I have a sneaking suspicion that the removals companies take more care of your stuff if they know it is insured. However, we still had £350 worth of damage which we claimed for and received.
Go around your house with a dictaphone and record items on a room-by-room basis and then add them all up in Excel, say. It's the quickest way by far.
I hope this helps.
Jun 2nd 2003, 1:00 pm
#8
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Posts: 378
hi
I'm also in the process of doing an itinery for insurance/shipping purposes.
Small print on removal company states they have a liability for a max of £40 per item/carton or set from when they enter our house to it being delivered to our new house in australia. This excludes loss when it is not in their hands eg on the ship, but does cover breakage when on the ship.
I will be doing a 'priced itinery' for the removal company and a seperate insurance itinery. The removal itinery will contain EVERYTHING itemised and priced, thus if they break or lose items they are liable to pay me up to £40 per item or carton as per itinery.
The insurance itinery will only contain more expensive or fragile items, thus keeping insurance costs down.
Realistically, as you stated, most things are irreplaceable eg photos & heirlooms, or you wouldn't bother to replace them all anyway.
goodluck !
I'm also in the process of doing an itinery for insurance/shipping purposes.
Small print on removal company states they have a liability for a max of £40 per item/carton or set from when they enter our house to it being delivered to our new house in australia. This excludes loss when it is not in their hands eg on the ship, but does cover breakage when on the ship.
I will be doing a 'priced itinery' for the removal company and a seperate insurance itinery. The removal itinery will contain EVERYTHING itemised and priced, thus if they break or lose items they are liable to pay me up to £40 per item or carton as per itinery.
The insurance itinery will only contain more expensive or fragile items, thus keeping insurance costs down.
Realistically, as you stated, most things are irreplaceable eg photos & heirlooms, or you wouldn't bother to replace them all anyway.
goodluck !
Jun 2nd 2003, 8:11 pm
#9
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Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Angle vale Sth Australia
Posts: 5,353
Originally posted by etlniwd
The principle I used when valuing my stuff for insurance was to try to think what it was worth to ME. Think about your coffee table for example and then imagine 50 quid say. What would you rather have, your coffee table or 50 quid ? Still the coffee table ? Then how about 100 quid ? Eventually you'll have a value for everything - it should only take about 10 seconds per item. It doesn't matter what you paid for it or what it will cost to replace it.
When it comes to CDs and books etc then think about them en masse. How many people would replace every CD ? Not many I suspect. If you lost all your CDs then how much money would you need in your hand to make you feel compensated? In my case I valued each CD at six quid i.e. I would only replace about half my CDs with new ones if the whole lot was lost.
If you have something that would definately need replacing straight away with a new item and you would buy exactly the same as the one you lost then you should value it at its replacment cost at destination. If you have an item that you are on the verge of throwing out or replacing then value it at nothing.
Another tip is to undervalue stuff that is very unlikely to be damaged by shipping e.g. manual tools, boots, cutlery etc and to overvalue stuff that damages easily such as glassware and electrical goods. That way your whole load averages out at about the right value (should the whole container get destroyed) but you have edged the odds in your favour for loss of individual items.
When we emigrated we had just got married. We valued our wedding albums at what it would cost to get all the prints redone and to buy new albums. The negatives came with us as hand luggage. For all our other photos we packed the prints and negatives in different boxes.
We insured our stuff (2 bed flat) for £35k. The initial insurance premium was £1050 (3% of £35k). BUT, because we had a large proportion of electrical goods and 'high value single items' they added another £350. I think that is a pretty extortionate charge but it was the cheapest I could get and I couldn't afford to lose £35k worth of stuff.
One other point (because I'm a cynical person by nature) - I have a sneaking suspicion that the removals companies take more care of your stuff if they know it is insured. However, we still had £350 worth of damage which we claimed for and received.
Go around your house with a dictaphone and record items on a room-by-room basis and then add them all up in Excel, say. It's the quickest way by far.
I hope this helps.
The principle I used when valuing my stuff for insurance was to try to think what it was worth to ME. Think about your coffee table for example and then imagine 50 quid say. What would you rather have, your coffee table or 50 quid ? Still the coffee table ? Then how about 100 quid ? Eventually you'll have a value for everything - it should only take about 10 seconds per item. It doesn't matter what you paid for it or what it will cost to replace it.
When it comes to CDs and books etc then think about them en masse. How many people would replace every CD ? Not many I suspect. If you lost all your CDs then how much money would you need in your hand to make you feel compensated? In my case I valued each CD at six quid i.e. I would only replace about half my CDs with new ones if the whole lot was lost.
If you have something that would definately need replacing straight away with a new item and you would buy exactly the same as the one you lost then you should value it at its replacment cost at destination. If you have an item that you are on the verge of throwing out or replacing then value it at nothing.
Another tip is to undervalue stuff that is very unlikely to be damaged by shipping e.g. manual tools, boots, cutlery etc and to overvalue stuff that damages easily such as glassware and electrical goods. That way your whole load averages out at about the right value (should the whole container get destroyed) but you have edged the odds in your favour for loss of individual items.
When we emigrated we had just got married. We valued our wedding albums at what it would cost to get all the prints redone and to buy new albums. The negatives came with us as hand luggage. For all our other photos we packed the prints and negatives in different boxes.
We insured our stuff (2 bed flat) for £35k. The initial insurance premium was £1050 (3% of £35k). BUT, because we had a large proportion of electrical goods and 'high value single items' they added another £350. I think that is a pretty extortionate charge but it was the cheapest I could get and I couldn't afford to lose £35k worth of stuff.
One other point (because I'm a cynical person by nature) - I have a sneaking suspicion that the removals companies take more care of your stuff if they know it is insured. However, we still had £350 worth of damage which we claimed for and received.
Go around your house with a dictaphone and record items on a room-by-room basis and then add them all up in Excel, say. It's the quickest way by far.
I hope this helps.
MM
Jun 2nd 2003, 9:18 pm
#10
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Location: Tahmoor NSW - Southern Highlands
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Re: Insurance for shipping?
Originally posted by mr mover
Go to your local video store, get a copy of "THE PERFECT STORM",then think about this ,because your HHG [HOUSE HOLD GOODS] containers are light ,they are always at the top of the stack,....yes i know i exaggerate , ..but it do,es happen... MM
Go to your local video store, get a copy of "THE PERFECT STORM",then think about this ,because your HHG [HOUSE HOLD GOODS] containers are light ,they are always at the top of the stack,....yes i know i exaggerate , ..but it do,es happen...
MM
This is actually the complete opposite of what one of the reps told me (I can't remember which one I wish I could) but as it was a man it is not one of the companies I may choose.
He said that the containers you see on the boats are all empty and are just ballast the full containers are below decks.? Why would he say that
Jun 2nd 2003, 9:34 pm
#11
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Nick thamk you so much for your detailed reply.
Guess thats my weekend planned out then
Thanks again
Tori
Guess thats my weekend planned out then
Thanks again
Tori
Jun 2nd 2003, 11:15 pm
#12
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Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 343
Insurance itinerary?
What a pain in the arse that is!
My pants & socks are priceless!!
According to the small print from PSS (and I'm still reading it now, trying to make sense of it!)
They don't cover for "consequential loss of any kind" what the **** does that mean?
It s all bollocks to me!!
Only 3 weeks now, NZ yer we come!!
Just get my bike there safely please!!!!
We are having a party a week Saturday & you're all invited!!
What a pain in the arse that is!
My pants & socks are priceless!!
According to the small print from PSS (and I'm still reading it now, trying to make sense of it!)
They don't cover for "consequential loss of any kind" what the **** does that mean?
It s all bollocks to me!!
Only 3 weeks now, NZ yer we come!!
Just get my bike there safely please!!!!
We are having a party a week Saturday & you're all invited!!
Jun 2nd 2003, 11:22 pm
#13
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 498
Originally posted by garrisondamn
Insurance itinerary?
What a pain in the arse that is!
My pants & socks are priceless!!
According to the small print from PSS (and I'm still reading it now, trying to make sense of it!)
They don't cover for "consequential loss of any kind" what the **** does that mean?
It s all bollocks to me!!
Only 3 weeks now, NZ yer we come!!
Just get my bike there safely please!!!!
We are having a party a week Saturday & you're all invited!!
Insurance itinerary?
What a pain in the arse that is!
My pants & socks are priceless!!
According to the small print from PSS (and I'm still reading it now, trying to make sense of it!)
They don't cover for "consequential loss of any kind" what the **** does that mean?
It s all bollocks to me!!
Only 3 weeks now, NZ yer we come!!
Just get my bike there safely please!!!!
We are having a party a week Saturday & you're all invited!!
Jun 2nd 2003, 11:51 pm
#14
Non-addicted member!
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 343
Thankyou Nick! You're as mad as me!
So if my bike goes swimming, I can't claim for losses as a consequence of not winning the World Superbike Championship again!?
I think I get it now, cheers.
So if my bike goes swimming, I can't claim for losses as a consequence of not winning the World Superbike Championship again!?
I think I get it now, cheers.
Jun 3rd 2003, 1:26 am
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Parkdale/Melbourne
Posts: 277
Hi Tizus!
We shipped everything we owned in a 20ft container from london to Melbourne.
We decided not to bother with insurance and just take a chance. Our man at the shipping office said in over 30 years in shipping, he's only known one ship to sink! and that the bonding agents they use here in Mel. are very reputable and never have goods lost or damaged whilst in their care.
We just hoped our ship wouldnt be the second to sink !! As said in previous posts, our stuff arrived at our new house in tact. when unpacking i discovered a wine glass broken, which cost about £1.50
So for us it payed off and we were £1.50 out of pocket instead of hundreds!
Ive heard stories of peoples stuff being damaged on arrival and goods go missing from bonding warehouses, that have had real trouble trying to claim from their insurers!
So i suppose it comes down to how much of a gambler you are?
Good luck with your move!
Cheers
We shipped everything we owned in a 20ft container from london to Melbourne.
We decided not to bother with insurance and just take a chance. Our man at the shipping office said in over 30 years in shipping, he's only known one ship to sink! and that the bonding agents they use here in Mel. are very reputable and never have goods lost or damaged whilst in their care.
We just hoped our ship wouldnt be the second to sink !! As said in previous posts, our stuff arrived at our new house in tact. when unpacking i discovered a wine glass broken, which cost about £1.50
So for us it payed off and we were £1.50 out of pocket instead of hundreds!
Ive heard stories of peoples stuff being damaged on arrival and goods go missing from bonding warehouses, that have had real trouble trying to claim from their insurers!
So i suppose it comes down to how much of a gambler you are?
Good luck with your move!
Cheers