Klarinet Archive - Posting 000494.txt from 2003/03

From: Elgenubi@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Fight to the death for your Buffet
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 12:57:08 -0500

Paul Ebersman wrote,
"Get real instrument insurance. It's pretty cheap. Check out both of these;
coverage differs and one may be better for you. Prices are similar:

Clarion <http://www.clarionins.com/>

Heritage <http://www.heritage-ins-services.com/national.htm>

It's something like $30/year + $0.30/$100 covered. They also cover books,
stands, PA gear, cases, etc. It's pricey for a $300 instrument
but well worth it for any instrument you cherish. If you're in the
musician's union, they have even better deals on insurance."

And David Niethamer added,
"Actually, the AFM does *NOT* have better coverage. If you are a member of
Chamber Music America or National Flute Assn., you can get coverage with
Clarion, which last I knew was a bit cheaper than their regular rates. I
don't have any affiliation with Clarion except as a long time customer."

So I have gotten my $2100 clarinet added to my homeowners for about $30, and
as long as don't earn money with it I am covered and there is no deductible.
I understand that if I use it to earn money, I'll need professional
insurance. I have just called Heritage (the phone number is on their website
listed above) and was told that their basic protection for this sort of
situation was about $150. (Clarion quoted me a somewhat higher price the
other day, but I'm not sure I asked exactly the same questions.)
Professional insurance seems better in a number of ways, including that they
will reimburse for depreciation from a repair, where homeowners will not, and
that they will be quicker, and that one doesn't want to make claims on
homeowner's anyway (my opinion). Ellis Hirschman at Heritage was very
helpful and said he wouldn't mind if I reported our conversation here, though
of course I'm not explaining as clearly as he did.

And as I write, I realize that I haven't dealt with my case, tuner,
metronome, and glasses, another $250, so I have another call to make.

---------------------------------------------------------------------