Shipping guns - Insurance costs
 

Haven't done this for a while. I recently got blind sided by the insurance costs.
USPS. 1st, they couldn't insure for the price I wanted. 2nd, the cost was crazy.
Just wondering how the pros handle this.

If you have insurance coverage through one of the Carriers specializing in insurance for firearms there is a good chance that coverage is afforded to some degree within that policy. Terms will vary from Carrier to Carrier and could be a % of your base amount of coverage as well which could limit it. I insure my shipments for the amount of my deductible and hope to never need it.

I just traded in two guns to Pacific Sporting Arms in California. Fedex GROUND on each gun with $1,000 insurance was $479 each gun. Yes, you read that right. I called Jordon at Pacific and he sent me UPS labels on his dime. It's ridiculous and I'm not sure where this ends. BTW they are a top notch outfit in every way that I've experienced so far.

Call Larry Cushman at Gun and Trophy Ins. You can get full coverage from him at a reasonable price. Billy

That's what I do as well. It has already saved my premium for the year.

Hey guys, I'm going to chime in on this one. I always send firearms through the US Postal Service. I am insured several times over on all of my firearms, but I always purchase the insurance from USPS...........guess I just like being double covered. Sending an item 2 day priority mail to Kansas (Phil you know what this is!!) the insurance for $4,000 was $67.00. I thought it was a pretty good deal................but that's just me.



Bobby

The insurance on the ground Fedex was only $12. I asked how it could possibly be almost $500 per parcel, they were 12 lbs each. She said, "Well, you can drive them there yourself if you like." Little bitch.

So, for me to send (1) shotgun to Kansas, with the $4,000 insurance 2 day Priority was $118.00. That FedEX price seems ridiculous!!!


Bobby

Be careful with Fedex insurance. Firearms are specifically excluded when you read the fine print.

When I lost the Ithaca Knick Grade 5, Fedex excluded/denied the claim. My dealer policy would have paid it out but with the deductible, I didn't bother filing and ate the loss.

My understanding was that the Gun and Trophy insurance covered my guns during shipping. Is that not correct?

I personally have yet to be able to find an insurance company that will cover a gunsmithing business and also include shipping coverage. They all just tell me to purchase insurance through the carriers.
I know that collector policies will cover it. I am talking commercial business policies.

That is correct John, subject to your deductible surely.

John - Gun and Trophy does cover shipping. I confirmed that with Larry Cushman. Billy

Eastern Insurance's Historic Firearms, Collectibles and Sporting Arms Insurance Program which I have a policy under will also cover your firearms if you ship them or guns being shipped to you.

I had Eastern Insurance for a long time. Nice folks but it got to where I couldn't get hold of anybody. Larry Cushman at Gun & Trophy has been great, plus he's a trap shooter. Just say'in.

If insuring Guns ,Classic Cars or whatever it pays to deal with like minded people ! Years ago I bought an High Condition all original PH Grade 20 Gauge ,it came fully insured by UPS ! The guns stock was broken in three pieces when it arrived , after a couple of months of not getting too far with rectifying the issue ,I was contacted by an insurance person that wanted to come see the gun , he did and as luck would have it he was a Colt Collector and totally understood the situation and a check was cut ! Problem was the seller shipped and signed for the insurance even though I paid for the insurance ,he received my check which ended up being a real fiasco ! And way too long of a story to type here !

So, I'm waiting for Brian's reply. Thanks, Brian.

My insurance covers my guns and everything else on my polict through shipping and traveling.





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Insurance Company's cover everything until you have a claim ! My car insurance draged out a 1200 dollar claim when I hit a deer for 18 mons. and then only paid out $800.Our first claim in 43 years with Cincinnati Insurance. Needless to say with another company now.

I don't see the word "FIRE" in any of the Gun and Trophy advertising. What is the deal here?

Bill I'm assuming you are referring to their advertising in Parker pages. You will note that their coverage form is written on an "All Risk" basis as noted in there ad.. This means their policy provides coverage for all forms of loss unless they are excluded in the form. Fire is not excluded. Generally speaking this is the broadest coverage form available for this type of product in today's market, it's a good one. I am quite certain that most other firearms insurance specialty companies use the same form.

I was referring to their description of their coverage on their website, not ours. Still no mention of FIRE. I guess they don't realize that some of us are smarter than others. I guess I'll have to call them.

Bill the answer you seek concerning fire is in my prior response, it's covered.

Is anyone speaking from experience here ? Not trying to be a smart a** just see my post on page 2

I can speak from experience on insurance claims of the past 50 years. From stolen guns, vehicle collisions, vandalism, and burglarizes.
I have been satisfied with the outcome in every situation.
Lucky or had the right companies insuring me I guess.
If you have a number of guns I just can not imagine not having them insured.
Ask yourself if all of your guns were stolen or lost in a fire tomorrow without insurance to replace them.
Would you be able to replace them out of your pocket without a problem?
If the answer is yes than you are self insured and are able to take the risk.

I got an email reply from Cole Cushman. Fire is covered. Thanks.

I don’t think there is anyone around here more knowledgeable on this subject than Randy Roberts.

I'm waiting for Cole to contact me. I don't have a large collection, but replacing what I do have would be a financial hardship for sure. I have a friend with approximately 50 unfired Browning, Winchesters, Remington, all higher grade- all in boxes, plus another several hundred highly desirable guns if you're a Browning collector. All of them uninsured and I can't talk sense into him. His feeling is, "I'm not disclosing what I own, then big brother will find them and take them..." I can see some sense of Chicken Little here, but that's pretty shortsighted. I just wonder if anyone else refuses to insure guns out of paranoia? BTW this is his sole source of wealth, no 401K or retirement plan. Can't fix crazy sometimes.

With Gun and Trophy you only have to specifically list guns valued in excess of $10k.

Same with Eastern. I shipped one gun last year (for repair) and the savings on that alone almost paid my yearly premium.

I think paranoia about people finding out that you have guns is a thing of the past. Wait until that burglar finds out about the shrinking market for vintage guns. He will be knocking at your door wanting to bring them back.

USPS Registered Mail takes a bit longer but the insurance is reasonable and the gun goes from one locked storeroom to the next, so it will get there. As I remember you can insure up to one million dollars in case you want to ship your set of invincibles...

You need to buy some heavy wrapping paper and some paper shipping tape so they can stamp it every 6 inches and over all folds.

My Eastern insurance covers my guns and gun related items against damage or loss while in the hands or posession of a shipper.





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I shipped a gun by registered mail one time. It took about 3 months to go from Georgia to Virginia. I could have delivered it off horse back quicker.

My guess is that you could have walked it there!

Sorry about shipment
 

I can only speak from my limited personal experience of having shipped Parkers and other long guns about ten times, all about 4-15 years ago and all by USPS registered mail.

I have had non-registered experience with tracked USPS mail that has slowed down form previous experience before 2020, but that was seven days for a tracked package to reach NY.

However, I have never had or heard of any USPS registered mail taking three months. Was the address correct? I assume you made a formal inquiry. I do know that the USPS mail service did slow (by several days) after May of 2020.

I am very sorry that you had to enddure such a long shipment time but I hope and believe that is not a typical experience.

Yes, I inquired and inquired and inquired. Gun was finally located in a cage in the Atlanta airport, where it had sat for weeks. It then sat there for a few more weeks waiting for a spot on a plain. It did eventually arrive at its destination. I still use USPS to ship guns, just not registered.