wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

neither do i, Mark. used to do some work for them in the '70s, met my late spouse there and have always had their insurance. great claims departments in their branches.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

So telling the agent what to cover - with all the details - will result in better coverage with a moderate increase in the premium. Is that about it?

David Verch

Thanks, I appreciate you comment because I added my Nikon to my Nationwide h/o policy, but I was limited to theft, not damage. I will revisit this subject again. Dave

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I have good experience with using the Home Owners policy coverage. I loaned my daughter my Nikon N4004 and a Sigma 18-200mm zoom lens for a European trip. Somewhere in Italy, while she was sleeping in her compartment, someone stealthily entered and took her backpack with the camera, the lens, her lunch and other personal stuff. The policy replaced it all, camera and lens with the later models. No muss, no fuss, just had to send it the original and replacement equipment receipts and the check was in the mail. Message here: Keep all your receipts! By the way, I had to get my original camera body receipt fro B&H, they have the records and will help you out! Great people!

David Verch

I would really appreciate knowing the name of your insurance company. Thank you, Dave

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I insure my gear thru my homeowner's as well. It should be a no-brainer, in my opinion.

PHOTOAL

The Inland Marine policy is actually an endorsement to your current Homeowners policy, at least in Wisconsin. When I write policies for my clients it is just added as an endorsement, not a second policy.

paulhw Loc: Los Angeles

My experience is that the only thing that is expensive to cover on personal items is jewelry. Cameras (lenses,etc.), golf clubs, art, etc. are very cheap considering what you get for the money. If you travel, it's a must. I also have made a list of the travel cameras and lenses, complete with serial numbers, which I laminate and take several copies of with me, just in case something happens.

paulhw Loc: Los Angeles

Typically, if you provide an amount for the item you want covered, there is no deductible, as you have paid for the covered amount. You must cover them individually though. It's still cheap. I never have been questioned on the covered amount. Be reasonable. Look at the list annually and if there has been a substantial change in value (usually downward); change the coverage. You usually can't hope to replace a 5 year old camera with the new model without expecting to spend something. There is some value in having and using the old camera for years which I don't expect the insurance company to pay for.

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

I am currently looking into insurance for a very unpleasant reason. My monopod head came loose and my Nikon Df fell to the ground. Sent it to Nikon repair in NY and they returned it today with a letter saying "Beyond Repair". You can't see a scratch on the body. Now I have a $2000 paperweight.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That hurts!! Sorry you had that happen.
Mark

cpkeith

I have USAA home and car insurance and asked them for a quote. Because I have $13,000 in camera gear and shoot professionally, USAA mandated that I would have to take out a commercial policy as a rider on my gear. Yes, I could have insured it as valuable property under the home if I wasn't shooting professionally (have a business). The cost of that rider was approximately $650 per year with a $500 deductible and the gear is always valued at a depreciated value. Instead, I chose to insure with Hill & Usher under the Hartford Insurance company. Hill and Usher specialize in insuring photographers, videographers and film makers. The annual cost is $513 with a $250 deductible and gear valued at replacement cost. The policy covers everything from filters, laptops, cameras, lenses, tripods, triggers, everything! Protection is for fire, theft, accidental damage, etc. within the U.S.
They include contract protections in their policies (called Errors and Omissions) so that you are protected for $1million in the event of a contract law suit and you also get $1million in liability insurance. Service is quick and easy and updating your list of equipment is an on-line function.

So, do I recommend Hill & Usher? Depends. If you have $5,000 or more in gear and gadgets that you want to insure and photograph as a business (sole proprietor or even as a hobby), then I would recommend Hill & Usher. Remember, the annual cost depends on the value of the items insured but there is a $500 minimum annual fee. I you photograph as a hobby, don't engage commercially (sell photographs or services) and have a smaller collection of gear, your homeowners policy is probably the best value.

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

Thanks for mentioning Hill & Usher.

I read a number of reviews on Hill & Usher most were not very complementary. I chap had been calling for three weeks without a response.

Their policy looked pretty good, but the proof is in the service when you have a claim. Have you been in actual verbal contact with them and how would you rate the service provided you?

Happy Shooting

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

True value = purchase price (receipt price) less depreciation. If they reimburse on current (true value), then there will be a depreciation rate, which you use to calculate the value from the original price paid. It is possible that a $2000 camera after depreciation is only worth $400 after 5 years.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

I use them too! What a coincidence. I have always been very happy with their service. >Alan