doodle Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 When selling to a buyer outside the UK, say in Ireland for example, does anyone have any recommendations of courier services that offer good insurance on the value of the instrument. I note that Parcelforce don't seem to want to give musical instruments any cover beyond their basic service (£50) and so an instrument of value - £5000 - seems hard to get covered. I guess that members do send instruments both for sale and repair away to different locations, do you generally just 'hope for the best' or who do you go to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Tims Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Yes, this is certainly a problem and even if you can find insurance that is acceptable it is terribly expensive. I have more or less given up now and retreated to the 'hope for the best' approach, paying careful attention to the packing. For sure a number of luthiers in the Concertina, Accordion, Melodeon and Hurdy Gurdy areas seem to do the same, as do many retailers in UK, France and Germany (e.g. Thomann). Quite scary really in view of the money often involved. Over many years of domestic buying and selling our various instruments (more years and instruments than I care to admit to), mainly to and from Uk/Europe and once to Australia, (but never Canada or the States) we have been very lucky and without any incidents. In the main we have used ParcelHero / DPD but on occasions ParcelForce too. On the other hand we have one friend who imported a beautiful new Frans 'Van der Aa' Melodeon at the time when Frans was making them in Colombia and it did suffer some serious cosmetic damage. (Van der Aa are now back in Holland I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodle Posted August 12, 2017 Author Share Posted August 12, 2017 Thanks Robin, not the news I'd hoped for, but valued advice nevertheless. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hulme Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Tony, Chris Algar told me about this company, https://www.larkinsurance.co.uk/ who will cover instruments in transit, and cover them properly. I send instruments all over the world, and they need full cover. Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodle Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Thanks Mike This looks like a solution for saving my anxiety - most grateful. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_holden Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Thanks Mike This looks like a solution for saving my anxiety - most grateful. Tony Can you let us know how you get on please, Tony? I have an interest in this topic too as I will soon need to ship an instrument overseas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 I have an interest in this topic too as I will soon need to ship an instrument overseas... Maybe not viable for outside a continent, but have any of you considered the possibility that with cheap airfares and an instrument in carry-on, hand-delivery might be cheaper than insurance? Could then be negotiated whether the buyer or seller takes the trip... with maybe a day or two of holiday into to bargain (not to be included in the "shipping" price). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Weinstein Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 (edited) I use Heritage Music Insurance (http://www.musicins.com/) for my instruments, but they only cover the instruments once I have them. However, I have been able to purchase specific riders from them (inexpensively) that specifically covered the instrument in transit (whether to me, or off and back for maintenance). (I have fortunately never had to make a claim, I was pointed in their direction by a local luthier) Edited August 13, 2017 by Dave Weinstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodle Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Alex - I will post my experience here for all to see, hoping to sort it out in the next couple of days with shipping UK to Ireland. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodle Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Alex, following a quick call, Lark insurance tell me they only insure shipping items if you already have an account as a policy holder with them. They seemed very helpful, however and maybe a good source for instrument insurance, but as I'm not with them, it didn't work out. So, I'm shipping with UPS, who do a declared valuation charge of 1% of the value + shipping fees up to a declared value of £5000. Hope this helps. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_holden Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Alex, following a quick call, Lark insurance tell me they only insure shipping items if you already have an account as a policy holder with them. They seemed very helpful, however and maybe a good source for instrument insurance, but as I'm not with them, it didn't work out. So, I'm shipping with UPS, who do a declared valuation charge of 1% of the value + shipping fees up to a declared value of £5000. Hope this helps. Tony UPS have a clause that worries me slightly: they say you are prohibited from shipping, "Articles of exceptional value (eg, works of art, antiques, precious stones, gold and silver)" but I couldn't find a clear definition of what that means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodle Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Yes, I saw this clause - wouldn't mind betting they'll try to invoke it, too should a claim be made! Hey Ho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now