Protecting your collection

[xelement5x]

After reading the thread from Mathius about having had many games stolen from him, and having a forest fire raging about 10 miles from my house, I was wondering what people do to protect their collections?  Many of us have games that might be nominal in their individual values, but the overall collection can be quite large in its replacement cost.  Especially for those that collect odd/expensive things like arcade PCBs, Neo Geo, LaserActive and other stuff.  Heck, every console has its own super rares that are way beyond the cost of a common.

Does anyone here have a specific insurance policy or something to cover their games?  If so how did you get the dialog started with your insurer?  Did you need to have a catalog of stuff and define their value or what?

[RoyVegas]

Not sure about the insurance route.  My collection is protected by bars on the windows and guns.   Granted, neither of those things will help in the event of a flash flood, water or fire damage.............  I may have to rethink my plan. 

[jeffhlewis]

Beyond 10 large Ster-a-lite bins under my bed and a few boxes in my storage, the only protection I have is my apartment's water sprinkler system a prayer.

In all seriousness though I'm going to be upping my renter's insurance to account for the potential loss of the collection (based on estimated total value) just in case.

Should be interesting trying to explain to USAA Insurance why I want a 5-figure insurance policy on old video games.

[turboswimbz]

Beyond 10 large Ster-a-lite bins under my bed and a few boxes in my storage, the only protection I have is my apartment's water sprinkler system a prayer.

In all seriousness though I'm going to be upping my renter's insurance to account for the potential loss of the collection (based on estimated total value) just in case.

Should be interesting trying to explain to USAA Insurance why I want a 5-figure insurance policy on old video games.

I was reading that for large and rare collections, although be it the internet article that was on action figures, cars, ect. and not video games, That insurence companies will work with you and some have forms and rules for such things now, since more and more people have been insuring "collections".  So it might not be as hard as you think.

That being said, I have a lock on the front door . . . :/  perhaps I should consider adding something. . . 

[Tatsujin]

I only fear fire and quakes.
Rest should be absolutely no problem.

[SignOfZeta]

I live in Michigan where natural disasters are virtually non-existent.

That's pretty much it. I have insurance but don't plan on using it because, realistically, nothing is going to happen to it and I'm not crazy enough to think that it is.

I do advise cataloging everything in advance though.

[vestcoat]

A friend lost some of her rare vinyl collection and renter's insurance was pretty good about covering it after she proved what was lost.

Keep a list and save receipts. Make a separate email folder for winning ebay emails and online receipts. Photos and videos probably don't hurt.

[vestcoat]

Also, be smart about social media: don't post your address next to pictures of your collection, don't broadcast vacation plans on facebook, etc.

[bartre]

strange that i just came across this.
i had a rather close call the other day - my dog decided my closet was the best place to relieve herself.
the closet is also where the bulk of my collection is currently stored, in largely cardboard boxes.
luckily, nothing was damaged, but i do believe that it doesn't hurt to be prepared, i think i'll switch over to something waterproof from here out

[Flare65]

I'm a gun owner. 

[roflmao]

I keep all of my snes/genesis/sms carts in big plastic bins, my hucards and gb games in 3-ring binders with baseball card pages, and my disc-based games in large CD binders. If there was ever an emergency, I could quickly toss my collection in the trunk of my car, though I'd lose the boxes/cases and manuals. 

[Tatsujin]

I'm a gun owner. 

[SignOfZeta]

I'm a gun owner. 

That's not what he means. What he means is that if someone breaks into his house to steal his games the he'll finally have a legal excuse to do something he's always wanted to do: murder another human being. The pleasure of killing will far outweigh the value of any video game, the cost of cleaning brains out of the carpet, etc.

Being able to kill someone is basically like Christmas for many Americans. No, more like The Rapture. They wait and prepaid their whole lives for it, generations even. Of course they are statistically 20 times more likely to blow their own brains out in a fit of depression than they are to stop the "home invasion fairy" but hey, there's always a chance, right?

[majors]

A local buddy just starting investigating the same renters insurance thought. He told me the same thing turboswimbz said about working with insurance companies. They want your money, and collectors are usually somewhat OCD and take care of their shit, especially if they want insurance on it. My buddy already has a spread sheet with games and he is using that to get a quote. If I talk to him this wknd, I'll ask if he has any more details.

I, myself, have a meager collection and nothing in the Magical Chase range of rare/pricey. It would be a  sad day if a tree fell on my place or flood in the basement (where I keep my cabs) but the month premiums at this point in my financial life would not be worth it to me.

[RoyVegas]

That's not what he means. What he means is that if someone breaks into his house to steal his games the he'll finally have a legal excuse to do something he's always wanted to do: murder another human being. The pleasure of killing will far outweigh the value of any video game, the cost of cleaning brains out of the carpet, etc.

Being able to kill someone is basically like Christmas for many Americans. No, more like The Rapture. They wait and prepaid their whole lives for it, generations even. Of course they are statistically 20 times more likely to blow their own brains out in a fit of depression than they are to stop the "home invasion fairy" but hey, there's always a chance, right?

Spoken like a good gun control puppet.  Some people live in a wonderful bubble where crime doesn't exist and violence solves nothing.  Reality shows differently.

Ever been the  victim of a violent  crime  Zeta?  Ever had a gun to your head?  Ever been shot at?  Have you ever watched someone you love take several bullets and fight for their life just to breath another breath?   Of course you haven't,  if  you  had you would understand why some of us carry guns daily but one day it may happen, and if that day comes,  you'll  be a gun owner too.  Until then,  enjoy your bubble.