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Had a buyer a while back who asked about shipping insurance. I advised I include insurance in my price and it’s not on the buyer. The reason for my theory and practice is because the gun is on the seller until it arrives. So if the buyer says I never received the item or it’s damaged etc, only the seller can query the item as they’re the vendor/sender. Just because you’ve been paid, doesn’t mean you’re exempt of responsibility to ensure that item has been received. So to alleviate any questions or apprehension with the buyer and myself as the seller, I always include insurance in my pricing. Just wondering what others feel about this practice? Not trying to start a heated debate, just I actually had somebody one time selling a gun say… once he receives the money and he has shipped it, the deal is done. ??♂️
RickC
I see a lot of seller’s quote a shipping price and specify that the buyer can add insurance, if they want to pay for it. Sometimes it is specifically stated and sometimes it is implied, but the idea here is once the seller can prove they actually made the shipment (e.g. provide the tracking number), they are off the hook.
This is one of those areas where often the agreed upon specifics are left vague on the front end. This can really cause problems when there is damage, theft, etc. My advice is to take the time to discuss the various potential problems before the package is shipped. Optimists generally ignore this advice 😉
RickC said
Had a buyer a while back who asked about shipping insurance. I advised I include insurance in my price and it’s not on the buyer. The reason for my theory and practice is because the gun is on the seller until it arrives. So if the buyer says I never received the item or it’s damaged etc, only the seller can query the item as they’re the vendor/sender. Just because you’ve been paid, doesn’t mean you’re exempt of responsibility to ensure that item has been received. So to alleviate any questions or apprehension with the buyer and myself as the seller, I always include insurance in my pricing. Just wondering what others feel about this practice? Not trying to start a heated debate, just I actually had somebody one time selling a gun say… once he receives the money and he has shipped it, the deal is done. ??♂️RickC
I agree with you Rick and IMO it’s the way it should be.
I have my collectables (guns/knives) insured via https://collectinsure.com/guns at a very reasonable price and are fully insured whether in my home, at a show or in transit to or from wherever. And they have a reputation for being very fair paying claims.
Some years ago I picked up a custom knife at the American Bladesmith Society Show in Reno NV that I had been waiting for a ABS custom knifemaker to create for almost 4 years. Packed it in my checked luggage and it was gone upon my arrival home. CIS payed off within 30 days, not just what I had paid for the knife but the knifemaker’s current price for a like knife. His prices has gone up substantially over the 4 years.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
May 3, 2020
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I don’t know how it works in the US but in the UK , distance selling rules state the Seller is responsible for the delivery until it’s delivered in the condition it was purchased.
so it’s prudent to insure for your own safety in the UK
BASC member
I guess the practice is pretty much agreed here.
In Canada, you can only buy insurance up to $5k @ $22.50 per $1000 so it’s $112.50 for the max amount of $5k. Although this doesn’t cover a gun over $5000, something is better than nothing & still worth it imo.
And damage is not covered, only lost or stolen. The postal service will not cover shipments that they do not pack.
RickC said
I guess the practice is pretty much agreed here.In Canada, you can only buy insurance up to $5k @ $22.50 per $1000 so it’s $112.50 for the max amount of $5k. Although this doesn’t cover a gun over $5000, something is better than nothing & still worth it imo.
And damage is not covered, only lost or stolen. The postal service will not cover shipments that they do not pack.
So in Canada, if you want to ship your rifle insured, you bring it into the postal service office and have them pack it?
I’m wary of insurance. That is, that it will work like it is supposed to if you need it. Some people insure things very high – and think that their item is insured for that amount. Maybe not. For example, you can have a $100 item and they will let you buy $1000 insurance for it. That doesn’t mean it is insured for $1000. Proving what a item is worth is another matter. New guns, for example, there is little problem. Provide them with an invoice for the same firearm from a firearms distributor and that’s likely enough. A collectable is another matter. Printing out the gunbroker auction pages is not likely to be enough. A recent appraisal by a someone with adequate credentials would help.
I often laugh when I see the TV program, “Antiques Roadshow.” Values are discussed and often I’ll hear one of the, “experts” or appraisers say something to the effect, “It’s worth 8 to 10 thousand but for insurance purposes I’d put a value of $15 thousand on it. I wonder how the insurance company feels about that?
steve004 said
So in Canada, if you want to ship your rifle insured, you bring it into the postal service office and have them pack it?
No sorry Steve I’ll rephrase that, they don’t pack shipments & that’s the reason they don’t insure against damage.
steve004 said
I’m wary of insurance. That is, that it will work like it is supposed to if you need it. Some people insure things very high – and think that their item is insured for that amount. Maybe not. For example, you can have a $100 item and they will let you buy $1000 insurance for it. That doesn’t mean it is insured for $1000. Proving what a item is worth is another matter. New guns, for example, there is little problem. Provide them with an invoice for the same firearm from a firearms distributor and that’s likely enough. A collectable is another matter. Printing out the gunbroker auction pages is not likely to be enough. A recent appraisal by a someone with adequate credentials would help.I often laugh when I see the TV program, “Antiques Roadshow.” Values are discussed and often I’ll hear one of the, “experts” or appraisers say something to the effect, “It’s worth 8 to 10 thousand but for insurance purposes I’d put a value of $15 thousand on it. I wonder how the insurance company feels about that?
Good point Steve. They might like the extra premium being paid but not what they pay out for an over inflated value. But then again insurance banks on the 80%+ who never file a claim.
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steve004 said
I often laugh when I see the TV program, “Antiques Roadshow.” Values are discussed and often I’ll hear one of the, “experts” or appraisers say something to the effect, “It’s worth 8 to 10 thousand but for insurance purposes I’d put a value of $15 thousand on it. I wonder how the insurance company feels about that?
Theory may be that the ins. adjuster will do everything possible to beat down the value, so start high, like the personal injury lawyers always do.
I have probably sold and shipped 600+ guns over the last 35 years or so. I always pay for the insurance. I have only had to make a couple claims over that time. If you don’t pack well the carrier won’t pay, so pack well. I ship alot of custom muzzle loaders and always make a wood box to ship them in and use pink insulation as padding. I have had my boxes arrive with fork truck tracks on them, foot prints are common.
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