In the past when I shipped wine from the UK to USA, I have always bought insurance. I do have a wine insurance policy from Chubb, which provides coverage during transit. But I never felt confident about relying on this policy and always took out a marine freight insurance via CID.
Andrew, who ships more frequently than I do, would rely on his annual wine insurance policy. I finally via my insurance broker reached out to Chubb just to have them provide in writing that the insurance is covered during transit. Good news is they did.
I vote for no insurance. The percentage of wine bottles damaged/destroyed in shipping is far less than 1%. I think I’ve lost 1 bottle out of thousand+ shipped over the years (it could be several thousand). Most of my shipments are probably in $500 range. But even if it was most expensive shipment I ever had (I think about $3K), and every bottle lost, it would suck but it wouldn’t make a material difference to my life. So I’d prefer the option that leaves me with more money over the course of years.
I’m a strong believer in adequate insurance for the things that would alter my life (health insurance, home insurance, liability/umbrella), but not for things that would be disappointing.
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