Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,890
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on May 17, 2013 13:59:02 GMT
Which couriers specifically insure/cover musical instruments against loss or damage?
I've sent a fair few before, but never anything that might need to insured for a lot of money.
I've been advised Parcelforce don't cover guitars, so I wondered which couriers are best for insured instrument delivery?
|
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,546
|
Post by davewhite on May 17, 2013 14:21:11 GMT
Martin,
You have to read the small print very carefully indeed with the couriers insurance and get it in writing that they will cover a custom made guitar and in what exact circumstances etc. I suspect that most will exclude custom made guitars. Also beware paying extra to them for "extra value covered" as if they exclude custom made guitars this is worthless. Personally I'd be tempted to get a quote for all risks insurance in transit from a musical instrument broker or Lloyd's underwriter separate from the courier. Hiscox (not the case makers) may be a good one to ask and if not they'd probably point you in the right direction.
|
|
|
Post by peterh on May 18, 2013 7:11:33 GMT
Hello Martin,
I've send a guitar a couple of times to Fylde, for a refret , and Roger Bucknall always suggests Interlink. They do seem to be changing their terms a bit, and it might be worth ringing tour local office, but insurance was just an addable extra.
Hope that helps, regards Peter
|
|
Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,890
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on May 18, 2013 17:37:21 GMT
Thanks for the information Dave and Peter
|
|
|
Post by soundout on May 22, 2013 22:37:34 GMT
Hello all. The goalposts do keep shifting regarding insurance of valuable instruments in transit, with the large courier companies seeming to dodge the issue one after the other. I've posted/couriered many guitars in recent years and have found out a very valuable piece of information. If you approach, say, DHL directly, they will refuse your shipment. If you go to a broker or consolidator, not only will your shipment be accepted, but it will be cheaper. These consolidators operate their own insurance schemes and some will accept instruments for a slightly higher premium. In this way I was able, just 3 weeks ago, to have a valuable guitar shipped fully insured from Northern Ireland for just £39. The company was www.wedelivertheworld.comTheir restricted items page on their website did not list instruments, so I booked it online. I then got an apologetic phone call saying that their new website omitted this restriction, but that they did not refuse to take instruments, they just required an extra insurance premium of £5, which I was glad to pay. They were glad to send me an additional email to my booking confirmation which stated in words of one syllable that I was covered. The item arrived in perfect condition via DHL. To sum up - use a consolidator, not the courier company itself. Then get email confirmation that you have paid the insurance surcharge for instruments in transit. OR if you are a Musicians' Union member, as I am, you are automatically covered for £2000 which also includes instruments in transit, without having to specify exactly which instrument you are transporting. If you have purchased a guitar and have a receipt to show it's yours, you are covered. Once again I OK'd this by phone with Hencilla, the MU insurers. Hope all this helps. Alistair Russell
|
|
|
Post by soundout on May 24, 2013 9:17:24 GMT
Another piece of info just popped into my head. On the wedelivertheworld website, there is a space when giving dimensions and weight to describe the packaging. It is important to do this in case anything goes wrong, then you can prove they had the packaging description before they accepted the shipment. For example, I put "acoustic guitar, padded inside its own hard case, then case padded inside cardboard shipping carton". If, on other courier sites, there is no dedicated space for describing the packaging, there is usually somewhere at the checkout stage for notes to driver etc. Just put your packaging description there.
|
|
Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,890
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on May 24, 2013 9:56:39 GMT
That's a really good point Alistair - hadn't considered that, but yes the opportunity to tell them up front about the item and the packaging would be very useful in case of a claim.
|
|
|
Post by soundout on May 24, 2013 15:54:03 GMT
I had a guitar shipped from USA via US Postal service. Despite impeccable packaging, it arrived with the neck broken off clean. The maximum compensation did not fully cover the cost of the item but luckily the seller was co-operative. In the end the guitar was fixed good as new and there was still some compo money left over. Customs also refunded my import VAT as the guitar was officially a write-off. But it took months, and the co-operation of the seller, to make all that happen. So I ended up with a great guitar for very small money - albeit worth less if I ever re-sell because it has been repaired. If the seller had opted for, say UPS with full compensation, the shipping cost would have been impractically high. So we are lucky here in GB, to have these consolidators who are prepared to take on the insurance themselves. For how long, I ask myself?
|
|