[Leica] Stolen Leicas and insurance

[Ken Lassiter <kenlass@gate.net>]

We often see the advice "Get insurance for your Leicas so you don't have
to worry about replacing them if stolen."  I have insurance on my Leicas
and had a Domke 803 bag stolen from my hotel room -- while my wife was
in the room -- in France.  A thief opened the hotel room door, grabbed
the Domke sitting on the bed and her purse and ran out.  The Domke
contained a classic M6, 21mm ASPH, 28mm Elmarit, metal 21mm viewfinder
etc.  The thief did not see a Domke F2 bag filed with R gear behind the
door.  I was out of the room for few minutes at the time.  I believe the
thief saw me leave and assumed the room was empty but after he opened
the door, he grabbed what he could even though he saw my wife there.
The hotel was a charming old hotel, four stars, with the old fashioned
locks that one had to lock with a key from outside and inside.   Neither
me nor my wife locked the room since I was coming back in a few minutes.

This story is about my experience trying to collect from my insurance
company, Clarenden Insurance in Florida.  The camera coverage is part of
my homeowners policy.  The robbery happened on June 12, was reported to
the company on June 16 and I have not yet gotten any money from the
company -- not even for replacing my wife's purse, sunglasses etc.  They
say we are wrong to proceed with replacements until they authorize it
and issue our payment check.  Come on, my wife is supposed to do without
a purse for and sunglasses (in Florida) for months?

When I insured the cameras, they did not believe the values.  I had to
document what I had paid for each piece and the current value by copies
of ads from Shutterbug, etc.  Finally, they accepted the "Insured
values" but I have not been able to get them to believe these same
values when the time came for payment for my losses.

The company says, they estimate cameras depreciate at 7% per year and
will pay replacement cost.  This would make the 21mm metal viewfinder I
paid $160 for in 1980 worthless but it is impossible to replace at
$500!  That is what I claimed but they are balking, saying "How could
this be?"  I paid $1,090 for the M6 in 1986 and they want to pay me
based upon 7% depreciation for 21 years -- in other words, pay me
nothing!  Yet I insured it for $1,500 and they happily accepted the
premium each year.  The 21mm lens was bought used the month before we
left for France and they won't even accept the used price I paid for it
as the current market value!

I asked them to contact Stan Tamarkin in NYC to confirm the loss values
I was claiming and Stan did talk to them and said he agreed with my
claim values.  But so far, no money.

Meanwhile, I took advantage to the Leica rebates and bought a new M6 and
28mm Summicron.  When I tried to list them on my policy, they refused
coverage "until they settle my claim" but meanwhile there is no
coverage.  Now I paid my renewal premium on the first of July including
coverage for the cameras reported stolen on June 16.  So there is
considerable insurance value I have paid for which I have no cameras
covered -- neither the stolen camera nor the replacement.

I would like to switch companies but I am stuck until I can get this
worked out.  I am considering complaining to the Florida State Insurance
Commissioner.  I believe the company is not playing fair.

So insurance is not an easy answer either.  This is my first camera
insurance claim and I have traveled with Leicas since my first M3 in
1953.  I try to be careful and act sensibly but it is impossible to use
your Leicas to make pictures and be invisible or keep the equipment
always out of sight.

And my Domke 803 bag looked valuable enough to steal to this thief.

Life is full of risks and one we Leica photographers have to accept is
the risk of theft.  I know of no way to be absolutely theft proof and
loss proof.   But I learned always keep the door locked. ALWAYS!

Question: Who has had good experience with insurance payment for their
lost Leicas? What company were you with?

Ken Lassiter,
Boynton Beach, FL