those are where the crooked politicians live, oh wait isn't crooked politician redundant?

Politicians maintain their residence in their home state. Virginia has no more representatives than any other state its size. the wealth is from the abundance of DoD IT contracting jobs.

Amazingly enough there are a substantial number of thieves of large farm equipment too! Bolt cutter, large flat bed, and even the largest piece of equipment can be taken in a matter of minutes. If it has value, there is someone out there who will take it.

Of course, but they all have places out east for the rare times they are required to attend sessions.

sure, and the crooks even gave themselves a tax rebate for it. but they file their taxes in their home state like everyone else. the point is politician income isn't inflating northern VA's wealth stats.

(edit: changed "pay" to "file" ... big difference, hah)

Lol.

No reply or update from the OP, so I will add my two cents about the tangent topics-

Over the last 15 years, I have had 3 major insurance losses in my life-
1) Moving company truck (18-wheeler type) burned to ground when I moved.
2) House took direct hit by lightning, resulting in losing all electronics, HVAC, computers, etc.
3) Hurricane/Hail damage to house, which required roof replacement

Perhaps I am in the minority, but all were resolved successfully, no insurance hassles, and "Replacement Value" basically replaced old with new. It took a lot of work, patience, and documentation, but at the end of the day I was more than satisfied. So I will disagree that all insurance companies and their agents are terrible.

Biggest lessons I learned, especially after #1:
1) Document all purchases. I charge EVERYTHING I can now, so I have a formal record of everything purchased, and when it was purchased. Credit card annual spending reports are also backed up offsite. I also photograph stuff periodically (mostly before hurricanes).
2) Periodically reevaluate your policy.

On a separate note, is it really a surprise that an insurance company will not scratch a $20,000 check for a pinball machine, when they didn't even know that the OP owned one? See #2.

Looking forward to an update from OP.

Again, to clarify, I have never said insurance Agents are scum. Insurance companies are another matter.

Oh if an agent says "It's covered." IT IS. Even if the insurance company denies the claim, his statement about coverage is DEFINITELY enough to get him on the hook through his agency Errors and Omissions policy. My agents never say those dreaded words, "it's covered" because once they say it, it is covered, even if out of their own pocket! Totally hypothetical and does not apply here in any way.

If insurance companies are not a person how can they "want" anything?

"If an Insurance COmpaNy fails in the woods, does anyone care?"
Deep thoughts by jack handey.

jack-handey-1.jpg

Don't you have to be a person to have good hands?

good hands.jpg

That isn't Jack Handy, that's Stuart Smalley.
Stuart.jpg

ohhh yeah
I think Allstate dropped me on my head a few times as a baby.

also.......a politician.

Uh... We have cars... And teeth... And shoes.... And pinball... Just wanted to clear things up here.

Did the OP find his pin?

Fighting it out with insurance co I guess

My Insurance Agent's response to my question; "Are my games covered"?

BTW: I too would like to hear an update from the OP on his BBB game. I also think this "insurance" discussion is appropriate to this BBB thread... as the OP indicated he has only been offered $3600 for his BBB by his insurance company.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Kerry,

All the pinball machines will be covered by your personal property
Portion of your homeowners.

State Farm will be the replacement cost coverage at the time of the loss in the future.

That would be a negotiation between you & the claims adjuster. I feel that you
Would get the fair market value at the time of the loss.

I hope that answers your question.

Feeeeeel.

That sounds very bad.

Might I suggest you change your policy to a pre-determined value payout?

Also referred to as "contents" coverage. Of which you can always raise or lower the amount. For each acquisition I make, IE: home electronics, pinball's, furniture, etc, I always revisit the contents coverage to see that it is enough for my needs. Recurring appraisals of select valuable contents items are always recommended too.

You guys have disappointed me. My state is the obvious target here.

What is their definition of "fair market value"? If one beater BBB sold for $4000, is that FMV to them? Or is it an average selling price. Definition with big companies can be very tricky. They often times do not mean what you think they mean.

A good indicator of replacement/fair market price would be ebay prices!!

Excellent example. Beef labeled "grass fed only". You'd think they only ate grass until they were butchered...wrong!!

The stuff I buy is.

Ready for your mind to be blown. Corn is a type of grass.

Unless you have below average condition pins. If you have a bunch of mint, HUO pins and they want a fair market value I am sure it will be less than what it would cost to replace HUO MINT. DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. May I even suggest an appraisal provided by someone in the business of selling pins like The Pinball Company etc.

any updates ?

find it, insurance cover it?

I would think replacement cost would mean that if your raven was stolen the insurance would buy you a new stern. This would only apply if you treated it as a game like a pool table not a collectible. Sadly the BBB would get replaced with the same NIB stern.

Pfft, Raven it worth 2 NIB Sterns.

It used to be. But, quoth the raven: nevermore.

I have been following this post from the beginning and basically keep checking in from time to time to see if OP lets us all know how he made out. Reading through 2 things really amaze me about some of the replys.

First off a good many people question why he would leave his best machine behind instead of moving that early on. I think I would have done the same thing if I was moving. Logically the guy was moving from where he lived and felt safe into a new environment - logic would tell me I am safer somewhere I have been a while than someplace new. You know you neighbors - know the neighborhood - etc. So why would he move the most expensive stuff to the new house first?

Second - insurance companies - everyone has had different experiences with them but bottom line until you have a claim you really have no idea how things will be handled. From my experience insurance companies love getting your money but they are hell to get money out of when you have a claim regardless of type of insurance or what an agent tells you.

Bottom line is this guy lost a very expensive pin and no one will know how things turn out until he settles with his insurance company or pin is recovered (which seems highly unlikely). My bet is it became scrap metal (really sad!).

In any event hopefully OP will update us at some point. I wish him well and feel very sorry for anyone who has to deal with a loss like this.

I can't give an opinion on a stolen game, as I have not personally experienced it. But, I can give firsthand experience on dealing with loss with an insurance company.

A broken water supply line caused a flood into my basement that totaled about 8 arcades, a shuffleboard, Valley dart board, air hockey table and a couple of pins. My insurance company paid me the amount I estimated for replacement on all items with no hassle. I showed ebay listings and/or KLOV/RGP/Pinside posts for all items as an accepted market estimate. Not one ounce of pushback on any estimate. And this was for normal homeowners insurance with full replacement value.

My agent said an additional rider wasn't necessary, as these weren't used for any commercial purposes and essentially were the equivalent to another person's high-end home theater, etc.

Insurance companies aren't out to screw you for the most part. They are on the lookout for those that want to screw them with bogus claims and falsified losses. A police report filed on a stolen pin should be enough to get full replacement with reasonably good insurance.

Wow...that's an insurance co. that I would actually WANT to do business with...care to mention their name?

I experience the same thing. I had three machines in my garage and a waterline pipe above them burst. The insurance company (Progressive) paid out on them with no issue at all. I provided them with Boston Pinball ebay prices information as well as using the Price Guide book. I received more than I anticipated and they paid me to haul the machines away! They did not argue or try to negotiate anything. He took pictures and the information. Agent even then went on and gave me additional money for the ruined insulation which I completely forgot about.

who was the insur comp?

Update?

yes please let us get off the insurance conversation

State Farm insurance...not he cheapest, but I guess you get what you pay for

Was there any follow-up from Houston PD?

There's no follow up from OP, so who knows

Tim

he said in an earlier post that its not even on the radar for the Houston P.D

of course not. real police aren't like law and order. they are more like:

I keep checking this thread hoping to hear some good news.

me too

Me 3..............Joey