Best HVX Insurance

O

omiemac

Active member
I just bought an HVX 200 and I am looking at getting the best insurance and Extended Warranty... I will like to know what's the best insurance and warranty to have this baby fully cover.

Thanks

I have heard of Mack 4-Year Extended Warrant for $300, is this good or is there better?

Thanks again!
 
omiemac said:
I just bought an HVX 200 and I am looking at getting the best insurance and Extended Warranty... I will like to know what's the best insurance and warranty to have this baby fully cover.

I have heard of Mack 4-Year Extended Warrant for $300, is this good or is there better?

Thanks again!
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That's the one I bought.
 
You need to distinguish between whether the camera is going to be for personal or commercial use. If personal, renters insurance or homeowners is an excellent choice. Most policies do not require the scheduling of electronics and you will be fully covered for theft and fire minus your deductable. If you are a AAA member, they have good rates.
 
Renters insurance only covers video gear up to a certaain amount. You can get a policy called "personal articles" through State farm like I did in San Diego, problem is that when i broke my DVX_100 in two, they covered it after lots of hell raising and me producing the broken camera to them, then promptly dropped me and I was unable to get homeowners insurance for two years. (This is the ONLY insurance claim I had EVER made!) Now that policy stated that no matter what happend to it, it was covered. I was in a helicopter and it got slammed to the floor and broke. Moral of the story is this: cough up the dough for real equipment insurance. Check out the Hays group of Kansas City, they are not cheap, but you will be covered AND they offer liability insurance for you when doing a gig and cover any rental equipment you might use. They are VERY reputable and I am in the process of having a policy written for my new HVX and other gear. Jim Koenigsdorf is the guy, his number is: (816)-474-3535
Good luck.
 
tco said:
Renters insurance only covers video gear up to a certaain amount. You can get a policy called "personal articles" through State farm like I did in San Diego, problem is that when i broke my DVX_100 in two, they covered it after lots of hell raising and me producing the broken camera to them, then promptly dropped me and I was unable to get homeowners insurance for two years. (This is the ONLY insurance claim I had EVER made!) Now that policy stated that no matter what happend to it, it was covered.
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yeah, state farm is the worst insurance company out there..they always drop you after you file a claim, no matter how many years you've been loyal to them. i had to sue their asses last year after they refused to pay me when one of their people totaled my car (even though i had a witness, they said "we don't believe him, sorry")...so yeah, stay away from state farm.
 
One more thing... I talked to Jim Koeningsdorf of hays companies this morning, in order to get equipment insurance through them, you MUST be a member of NPPA. national press photographers association. That costs about 90 bucks a year. I know most people on this board are not news types, but NPPA does have good benefits to anyone who shoots professionaly. The 90 bucks a year may not be worth it to some however. I got a quote for $790 a year with a $1000 theft deductable, and a $500 anything else deductable. And that means ANYTHING else. If I drop the cam in the water, my house burns down, a meteor hits it, a dog chews it up, ANYTHING. that policy covers up to $15,000 a year at the rate of $49 per $1000 of equipment up to $15000. From $15000 to $25000 the price goes to $33 per $1000 of equipment. It also covers the entire planet including warzones and New Jersey.
 
This is some great info.... I'm finally at the point where I can afford the insurance.. I know... that's kind of counter-productive as I should have got it for the HVX right away just for this reason... but. Now I'm ready.


I was wondering if anyone has a good place to check for insurance of more than just the HVX. I wanted to get insurance on all my cameras, post equipment, duplication equipment and all that. I need about 75k in coverage...

Thanks all!
 
Great information guys! If I give my camera to friend to make a short film, how can I insure it & at what cost?
 
sandesh said:
Great information guys! If I give my camera to friend to make a short film, how can I insure it & at what cost?
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The thing about the Hays company insurance is that it covers your gear NO MATTER WHAT. I would call them and get all the details, but for me around $800 a year for 16 grand worth of coverage is a bargin, AND if you make money off of your gigs, you can deduct that off your tax return. That's what my accountant says anyhow. And remember this: if you use a rider on your homeowners policy, or renters policy and they find out that your camera is a "pro" model, I flat out gauruntee that they WILL NOT COVER IT. Trust me, I went through this. Just get the real deal insurance through any reputable company and you'll have peace of mind and not have to worry about your stuff.
 
It really depends on the nature of your use of the equipment. If you are regularly using the camera for a commercial purpose (commercials, weddings, long documentaries) than the insurance tco mentions seems like a good way to go.

If however, you plan on making one feature and have the camera for largely personal artistic use than renters or homeownres is a less expensive option. (fire theft, some damage) Not all companies have a limit on personal electronic equipment, so shop around. When it comes time to make your feature, you can get production insurance that will not only cover equipment, but also liability for injury to person/property and workers comp. There are companies that specialize in this, 1 mil in liability, 75k in equipment and workers comp should cost arround $1200 for a 12 day shoot.

Sorry to here about the State Farm experience, they sound like a horrible company from these stories.
 
:beer: Thanks TCO & Bosindy....

We are ALL Indies (Pros please excuse "ALL") here. So even if I have one camera it is not possible to make a movie you need more people and equipment. I am trying to form a group here in NYC-CT-NJ area so we can share resources. That's why I put my question.

Also 16 grand =$800 So is
5 grand = $250 ?
 
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Yes, I believe so. But I think there is like a $7000 minimum, I'm not sure. Just call up Jim Koeningsdorf, he's a really nice guy and will explain all the details, see the number in my previous post.
 
Justyn said:
This is some great info.... I'm finally at the point where I can afford the insurance.. I know... that's kind of counter-productive as I should have got it for the HVX right away just for this reason... but. Now I'm ready.


I was wondering if anyone has a good place to check for insurance of more than just the HVX. I wanted to get insurance on all my cameras, post equipment, duplication equipment and all that. I need about 75k in coverage...

Thanks all!
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Hi Justyn,

Your neighbor in Tampa here. From what you told me about the types of jobs you are doing, you should consider proper production insurance. A good producer package will include liability, errors and omissions, film and tape loss, and coverage of gear on and off location--including rental. We use Tannenbaum Insurance out of Miami. If you want more info call me at the studio: 813-258-6867.

Randy
 
Thanks for reminding me.
We are going on a 4 state shoot next week and after 2 months, I hadn't placed the HVX on my insurance.
How stupid of me!!!! I just did it now.
Thanks again.
 
tco said:
Moral of the story is this: cough up the dough for real equipment insurance.
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The real moral of the story is to never trust a word from any insurance company. Ever. Get it in writing, and even then, understand that you may end up having to hire a lawyer to get them to honor their word.

Mathematically, it is physically impossible for insurance to EVER be a good investment. Why? Because by definition they have to charge the "actual statistical probability of loss" (ie the statistical expected value) plus the overhead and operating cost of those hundreds of thousands of employees out scurrying around.

That said, sometimes it is not optional. At which point, you basically look for the lowest price that meets the stated requirements and pray (to whatever god might actually like you) that you never have to deal with a claim.
 
omiemac said:
Thank you all,

Have you guys heard of a company call safeware.com

Thank you for all your help.
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i've used them in the past - but for my Laptop (a knee jerk reaction after getting my old lappie stolen).

I cancelled after 1-2 years, I felt stupid insuring my laptop based on one careless theft.
 
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