Shipping Insurance


Looking for a third party Insurance Company to cover while shipping equipment from residence to residence. I am not a business. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Fed Ex apparently only covers declared value which is $1.05 per $100.
proclaim123
First, If you care about the item? Do not ship with Fedex. The regional manager here told me he felt sick after I showed him the "Wisdom Audio" line source set they crushed almost flat! His office offered to refund "Half" the shipping cost paid as re-compense!
"There is nothing to make any shipping company pay out a dime unless you go to court. And that's an entirely different can-o-worms as a "Civil" case! The police will never file a report for it so it's just your word against whomever!
Here in the states the really only other choices are UPS or a  private company.. But, UPS won't pay out if there is a problem. Regardless of documentation they just keep changing what they say is their "Company Policy". A policy they make up as they go along. So a private company is the way to go but expensive. "Just make sure that they have good insurance". And contact that company to get the rules, policy etc.
I never had a problem here but way expensive.

 I have used "UShip", also many times. For those times when I had HUGE speakers to ship across the country to big for US and way too expensive for a Prof. shipping Co., Quotes can be $1500 to over $5000 for just a set of speakers that will take up two pallet spaces from floor to ceiling", Because you check the "No Stack" box on the paperwork! "Cross Country", from a private Co. "UShip"? you'll get offers as low as $150 for the same exact requirements on a shipment!. They have differing grades, "If you will" of people and companies that work through them. And once had a guy show up that thought I would let him, "Bungie, a set of mint, Infinity RS-V to the top of his van. (UN-Covered)! For a 2,300 mile ride"! This after a phone call where he stated "His large, (Box Truck) had plenty of room not being used", on this trip!
UPS overall, is best if your cost conscious. But YOU have to pack it so that it is "Bulletproof". And also you need to max out the insurance available that you pay about $70 extra per box for. It is the ONLY thing that these guy's seem to notice. "Fragile", stickers and such actually make them targets. Look that up on google for a quick headache!
 A real shipping company that advertises for, shipping "Audio Gear", is best, IF,  you really care about the gear. And you don't pee yourself when you get the quote.
 I didn't mean to write a novel OR depress you. But that is just my experience. I have moved allot of vintage and also new gear all over the world. I learned to pack all myself. Similar to the way that "McIntosh" used to with their electronics. "Affixed to a plywood base with bolts where the footers go". Nothing ever touches the six-sides in the shipping box.. And the plywood is bolted through special laminated cardboard "Through the inner and outter boxes both"! To the shipping outter box itself with doubled nuts and lock washers.. "I use stainless all thread that I cut to length", The regular mild-steel all-thread rods will bend if they drop or throw the boxes. "And they will"! That's for electronics. Custom built wood boxes with the expanding foam pillows and also "foam peanuts", as needed for speakers, subs etc.  Pass Laboratories and McIntosh Lab's, both have tutorials on boxing you can find on Youtube. 

 If it was me? I take off from work. Pack and load with a helper, paid if needed. And drive myself renting a truck when needed. But I LOVE my rig! It took me forever to build it. And all has been modified, and/ or perfected so nothing much could be simply replaced by cash money!

Again, I do not mean to depress you. And I wish someone had laid this out for me a long time ago. And, I am just being honest with you.
 Good luck.
  Scott
 
Sorry, As to your original question? 
"Lloyds of London" was the ONLY co. willing to do this for me after explaining about hi-end gear. "Other companies say yes but none would actually fully-explain all company policies", for oddball policies.. "Like Allstate and Assurant". It was weird. With Lloyd's, first you have to get at least one appraisal approved by them. "But three I believe were required for full coverage". Approved Appraisal? Meant, "Through them". You actually paid Lloyd's! Which itself was quite costly. Like over $500 per appraisal base cost. And then the rates were truly ridiculous for what they would pay out IF something were to happen. Like a $35,000 rate upfront. 
For something worth $80,000. That at most according to the agent they would "Pro-rate" if totally destroyed and max pay-out would be a percentage equal to $58,000. But they will go to court before paying even that. It was really ridiculous. Call your home insurance company and try. 
. I heard that allot while looking around but that would not work for me. "I didn't fit the guide-lines needed" at that time.
  Again, good Luck!
I actually came across Red Hawk Global. They pick up at your residence with a pallet jack and lift gate and deliver to a residence with the same. Insurance coverage up to $50,000. I recently shipped B&W's 801's over 500 lbs and Richard Gray Power House AC Conditioner at 400 lbs. Pick up and delivery went extremely smooth. Communication was also excellent. Both units were packaged extremely well to insure safe delivery. Rates were very reasonable.