Hello Mandolin Cafe members,
Last August I purchased a 1920’s Gibson F4 mandolin, serial number 66824, from Drum & Strum, a music store in Warrenton Virginia. It arrived safe and sound and, besides worn frets, the instrument was in great shape and sounded really good. I immediately added it to my Clarion Instrument insurance policy.
In October I decided to get the frets replaced so I shipped it to Danny Roberts in Tennessee to get the work done, as I had used Danny before on new frets for another mandolin and he did a great job. The work was completed and the mandolin was shipped back to me, via UPS, but it was never delivered.
The tracking showed it left Murfreesboro and arrived at its first stop in Nashville but then it did not move. After 3 days of no movement I contacted my Clarion insurance Rep who suggested I give it a week and then file a UPS claim to get them motivated to find it, which is what I did. Once I filed the UPS claim the status changed to under investigation. After 1 month UPS closed the claim and essentially said the package was lost. Both Danny and I were totally shocked when this happened.
My options from Clarion were to wait to see if the mandolin was found or the other option was to file a insurance loss claim. If I filed a loss claim, Clarion would send me a check for the insured value of the mandolin, less my deductible, and if the mandolin was recovered they would own it but I could purchase it back from them for the same amount that I was reimbursed. I chose to file a loss claim, get my money, and let Clarion worry about finding the mandolin.
All the while in this ordeal I thought Clarion was actively working with UPS and that they were going to collectively find the mandolin. When I inquired with Clarion in mid January of the status, I was told that there was nothing new. After that call I decided to move on and, since then, I purchased a 1922 Gibson F4 mandolin that was for sale on the Cafe.
At the time that UPS closed the claim, the shipper notified me that UPS was authorizing them to reimburse me $100 for the lost package, all I had to do was send them a receipt showing the value of the package. I informed Clarion of this and they told me that was standard UPS procedure and that the check needed to be made out and sent to them since they now owned the mandolin. I did all of that and just last week Clarion informed me that they had finally received the $100 check from UPS.
I don’t know if there is a stolen instrument database system that vintage instrument stores keep, but if there is please let me know so this Gibson F4 mandolin, serial number 66824, can be added to that list. If it ever shows up please contact me or Clarion insurance for directions on how to proceed, as Clarion now owns the mandolin, and I still have the option of buying it back from them if it’s recovered.
Also, as an aside, if anyone is considering buying instrument insurance for their instruments, I highly recommend it. I sure am glad that I had it.
Thanks
Alan Epstein
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