Posted October 5, 200915 yr So I had a Nikon D3, two lenses and a flash unit stolen Friday -- which I won't go into details here. Can anyone provide some tips for dealing with an insurance agent? Here are details of my policy: 1. Covered on my Renter's Insurance Policy. 2. Personal Property with Replacement Cost: $15,000 3. Deductible: $500 (fine with that) 4. Scheduled Items: Camera $4,800 limit The costs of my items: 1. Nikon D3: $5,000 2. Nikon 20mm f/2.8: ~$600 3. Sigma 105mm macro: $410 I will be calling my agent in the morning. How long is the turnaround? I have some assignments that are coming up, so I'll probably be renting a D3 and some lenses for the time being. Thanks for the help!
October 5, 200915 yr I haven't dealt with having a camera stolen, but I had my laptop stolen last year and it was covered under my renters insurance. I had to file a police report and get a case number to give to the insurance company before they would do anything. Then, instead of sending me a check for the value of the computer minus the deductible, the sent me one check for the depreciated value of the laptop and a second check for the remaining amount after I sent them the receipt for the replacement laptop. I don't know if they would do something similar for a camera, but I would guess that they would.
October 5, 200915 yr The faster you call it in and pay your deductible the better. It took me about two weeks I recall when I broke my ipod back in 2004. Sorry about your loss. Incredibly frustrating. Join the club since I had my bike stolen a couple weeks ago. Despite it being fully insured it was 25 yrs old and wasn't valued much, I didn't bother and just bought a new one. It's a pain in the ass setback when these things happen. But you were responsible and had it insured and that's all that matters.
October 5, 200915 yr That's what they said, basically. I'm going to file a report with D1 in the morning. I do have the original D3 receipt, and can provide current prices for all of the items. The D3 and the lenses really don't depreciate. Even for used.
October 5, 200915 yr The D3 and the lenses really don't depreciate. Even for used. Good luck telling your insurance company that. I would come prepared with some type of "blue book" assesment on the "market" value of your camera at the time it was stolen.... meaning, if you would have put it and the lenses on Craig's List what could you have "reasonably" expected to recieve.
October 5, 200915 yr ^Oh yeah, I hadn't planned on doing that. I filed a report this morning and have a copy of what I authored, along with the officer's name and badge #. The official report comes out next week. I called the agent today and she was very sympathetic, and told me that the adjuster would call me Wednesday.
October 5, 200915 yr Lil Sherm, I'm so sorry about your lost and I hope you'll be able to replace the items. I hope this wasn't an in home robbery or something where you life was in jeopardy. I'm just happy your OK and here posting. :) Having said that, off topic, but I feel this is important. All of you kids should have renters insurance with full replacement value (and a little something extra) and a list of all valuables stored in a safe place. Today, we all have successories as KOOW would say. Make sure you take a minute today to creat a list of your valuables. Your TV, Stereo, hand held devices, clothing, car, appliances, furniture, etc. The list should include the following information: Model/Manufacture with picture Date purchased Where purchased Serial number Price Keep receipt (if possible) Keep this list in a safe place, electronically for easy access and a hard copy with your insurance policy.
October 5, 200915 yr Well, I think I am going to buy the Nikon D700 FX today. Full-frame, just like the D3, but with a smaller capacity battery (I'll get a grip for this) and 1 CF slot. It does have a sensor cleaner, that both the D3 and D3X lack, which is a huge plus, and is only $2300... which allows me to buy my lenses. That gets me back on the road for this weekend, which I have a photoshoot for.
October 5, 200915 yr Sherman, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It's easy to form an attachment to good hardware that goes beyond just the money you shelled out to buy it. I like my D700; it serves me well. At first I was concerned about how rapidly the EN-EL3e battery discharged, but it took just a few discharge-recharge cycles to condition it. Now, I can get 200 or more RAW shots to a charge. Unlike some of my previous cameras, too, the battery-charge indicator in the LCD screen gives a pretty good indication of its status. I don't change lenses often and have only had to use the sensor cleaner once, but it absolutely did the job on the first try.
October 5, 200915 yr Just 200??? Holy crap. I'm used to backpacking out in the middle-of-nowhere for three days and coming back with a 50% charge leftover on the D3's EN-EL4a battery. I know that with the D700, that I'll have to buy a battery pack. The camera is coming in tomorrow, but I'm renting two lenses for the weekend. I can't wait to get reimbursed; the D700 is $2700 cheaper than the D3, which should allow me to purchase back the lenses I had and then save the rest up.
October 5, 200915 yr I haven't actually tracked it. It's at least that, but could be a lot more. I do carry a fully-charged extra, anyway. I can't remember how much they wanted for a car charger, but it was excessive. I carry an inverter in my car that I can plug into the 12V power outlet and use my regular 110V chargers for any of my gadgets.
October 6, 200915 yr The D3 and the lenses really don't depreciate. Even for used. Good luck telling your insurance company that. I would come prepared with some type of "blue book" assesment on the "market" value of your camera at the time it was stolen.... meaning, if you would have put it and the lenses on Craig's List what could you have "reasonably" expected to recieve. What? noooo. That's absolutely not how it works with expensive electronics, unless you have a very shady insurance company. You can make it pretty clear cut by putting a rider on very expensive electronics if you become paranoid. I did that for my computer. So if it becomes stolen 5 years down the road, I'll receive the exact amount I paid for it when it was new.
October 6, 200915 yr Looking over my policy, my per-item limit is $1000. Thankfully, I had my camera scheduled for a maximum of $4800. Here is why you should schedule anything of value: http://www.allstate.com/home-insurance/scheduled-personal-property-coverage.aspx
October 6, 200915 yr I've never had renter's insurance, but this is opening my eyes. You need to call an insurance company NOW.
October 6, 200915 yr Just renewed my renters insurance. I should itemize all of my expensive possessions soon.
October 6, 200915 yr I've never had renter's insurance, but this is opening my eyes. You need to call an insurance company NOW. Renters' insurance is one of the requirements stipulated in the lease on my rental property.
October 6, 200915 yr I've never had renter's insurance, but this is opening my eyes. You need to call an insurance company NOW. Renters' insurance is one of the requirements stipulated in the lease on my rental property. I thought that most landlords would have that written into the lease, I'm surprised he's never been required to have RI.
October 6, 200915 yr All my landlords required you to obtain renters insurance (and show proof) within the first few weeks of leasing. Some people attending college may have their possessions covered under their parent's homeowners insurance though, meaning no need for renters.
October 10, 200915 yr My reimbursement check is coming in on Monday for over $5,000 -- a week's turnaround which is very good. No hassle and polite conversations all around -- not all insurance companies are this good. In addition, $417 of my $500 deductible was also absorbed as the replacement cost of the camera exceeded the scheduled amount. I also have $116 in recoverable depreciation that I am owed. One of the lens, valued at around $250 two years ago, was discontinued and replaced with a model that is $650 today. That said, having my items stolen was a huge wake up call -- be sure to watch your items carefully because in a matter of minutes -- as in my case, it can disappear without a trace. Be sure to have your camera gear insured -- and scheduled individually. I cannot stress that enough.
October 10, 200915 yr A few years ago I got a wakeup on a South Shore train. Most of the riders on those are regular commuters, and the trains don't carry passengers between points in Chicago's urban area. I always felt like the trains were just about the safest environment anywhere. I always carry my stuff in an old backpack when I go to Chicago; camera, lenses, foul-weather gear, etc. Sometimes I put my checkbook in it, too, although I always keep my wallet in my pocket. I was in the habit of leaving my backpack on my seat when I got up to walk to the front of the car; there's a glass in the door that separates the operator's cab from the passenger compartment, and sometimes one can stand up there and get a good view of the track ahead. After a stroll to the front, I came back to my seat and my backpack was gone. I looked under and around the seat and didn't see it, so I walked up and down the length of the car looking at overhead racks, seats, and the floor under seats. I found it under the seat behind me, and the guy sitting there was watching me out of the corner of his eye. I just reached in from behind and took it, and gave him a look that at least tried to say, "Don't give me another excuse, you SOB." Earlier in the ride he had been asking questions of the conductor, and was most concerned about how soon the next train returned to Chicago from Michigan City. He may have been going to Michigan City to pick up drugs; on previous rides I had seen a guy on the front steps of a house near the railroad, flashing what I assumed to be gang signs as the train passed. Maybe a connection there? The contents of the backpack were all still intact. I chose not to make a scene about it, and I sure learned a lesson about keeping track of my stuff even where I thought it was perfectly safe. Now, even if I have to go to the restroom on the train, the backpack goes with me.
October 10, 200915 yr I dont leave anything "sitting". I usually have my backpack or manbag when I fly since I have the need t carry luggage. Once when I was going from NYC to CHI I left my bag on my seat and when I came back the woman next to me was damn near in my bag. When I gave her the "mean black man look" she claimed she was just admiring my bag as she was a big fan of this designer and had never seen that bag before. I said to her, "You're not leaving this plane until I verify that all my belongings are accounted for, if one things, even a tic-tac is missing, I'm going to wax your ass." When the plane landed I made it impossible for here to leave. and looked at every thing. Come to find out she had taken the extension wallet, it matched the bag she was carrying. I let her have it. The flight attendants' were cracking up. I told the GA that the woman was a thief and that they better lock the plane or she might steal it. They asked if I wanted to call the police and the woman was screaming that she was sorry. I made an example out of her. That was fun.
October 11, 200915 yr These stories remind of an incident my housemates went through in Italy. They were on a bus when some teenage punk stole brand new tennis shoes off the back of a backpack. He tried to push his way up to the front of the bus, but my housemates and friends had the guy sandwiched. They and other passengers asked him several times (in Italian) to give the shoes back but he wouldn't and tried to get the bus to stop so he could get off and run. So.... They and a few other passengers began turning him into a human punching bag. 10 against 1. The driver nearby just let it all play out. The thief left the bus a bloody mess.
October 11, 200915 yr ^It's what I call grass-roots justice. No sense waiting for government to do something at taxpayer expense, when you can take care of the problem yourself. :clap:
October 11, 200915 yr ^It's what I call grass-roots justice. No sense waiting for government to do something at taxpayer expense, when you can take care of the problem yourself. :clap: It's fun and a stress reliever at the same time.
October 11, 200915 yr Anyone ever see that show Bait Car? The excuses people have..... Yes, I love tacky late night reality TV.
October 15, 200915 yr DAMMIT! Nikon just released the FX D3s, which is pretty much everything that I ever wanted all within the D3 body.
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