Taking an expensive camera... insurance?

[Ryan]

I'm sorry that you didn't take our advice in the spirit that it was offered. You say that you are "not a dimwit desperately in need of your financial expertise", but in the absence of the full story, thats what someone with a camera that could be sold to provide over 10 years of insurance sounds like. Rather than fixate on travel insurance, which is likely not the most cost effective way of doing what you want, and certainly not the most beneficial way of spending your limited funds, other suggestions were provided.

I may have to look into a securing a policy again temporarily just for the trip if there is no other option available/financially viable.

This like likely your best and most cost effective option if you feel you must have insurance. Once again, if you travel responsibly (I travel with nearly as much camera gear as you, and when you add in everything else I travel with I'm sure I'm carrying more than $5000 in electronics) I seriously doubt that you will have a problem.

Good luck in your search, and I do hope that you stick around if you can settle down. No offense was meant, take a minute to think about it from the other perspective and you'll likely see why you got the reaction that you did.

 

[MiRider]

Hi there

I was going to reply at the beginning of this thread and now I'm sorry I didn't.

I'm new here too and there are quite a few judgmental people here to say nothing of those that think they're *first class* because they choose to waste money on sleeping accommodations.

I don't let that stop me from posting because I enjoy this forum and even find the special people here entertaining.

Traveling in coach is not scary or dangerous - it's my preferred mode on the train - I haven't had a bad experience yet (keeping my fingers crossed).

I always enjoy the camaraderie of coach - it's fun!

Just keep your valuables with you at all times - I always have a tote that I keep at my feet and that's where I keep my goodies.

It's easy to take my tote with me to the lounge and diner too - I also never leave anything valuable in a hotel room either

With your resolve to make things work, you're going to have a great time.

Make sure you report back about your trip - I'm interested in knowing how it all goes.

Enjoy and welcome to the forum!

 

[amamba]

sandypier - I would encourage you to stick around and keep posting! Sometimes it helps to lurk for a while before posting. I think most posters are genuinely helpful and love trains. As long as you love trains, you will be fine posting her. This is the internet, so just ignore what folks say that is mean. It doesn't have to affect you personally.

 

[lthanlon]

Here's a solution that I've used when traveling in coach with my Canon DSLR and its three lenses. I bring on two bags. One is a small soft-sided bag that contains clothes and the wide-angle and telephoto lens. A smaller bag holds the DSLR and its normal lens, plus spare battery, charger, and my iPhone and its accessories. I leave the larger bag stowed above my seat, but keep the smaller bag at my feet while seated, and carry that bag with me when I visit the Sightseer Lounge or Dining Car.

I've never had any problem, but I figure that if my larger bag and its lenses were stolen, at least I'd still have the DSLR and normal lens to use at my destination.

I would also encourage you to stick around -- and to let us see some of the great photos I know you'll take on your Amtrak trip.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

This forum is where the experts on Amtrak's customer facing operation can be found, and in that regard our bench is about as deep as it gets for a public forum. We also have several folks who are familiar with the technical and operational background functions. However, with regard to more conventional trip advice, such as purchasing and using travel insurance, our cumulative experience is relatively thin. There probably aren't enough of us that have gone through the process of purchasing and making a claim against multiple travel insurance policies to have a strong recommendation in mind. For something like that you might want to ask a much larger travel related forum that is not limited to folks focused on passenger rail. If it were me I might try a forum called Flyertalk. Instead of tapping the views of maybe a couple hundred active posters you'd be privy to the knowledge of thousands of heavy travelers. I'd link to it but I think that domain is prevented from hotlinking on here.

 

[sandypier]

Ryan, I didn't have an issue with the suggestion that I should have renter's insurance. I know I should have renter's insurance and I fully plan to re-acquire it when it is reasonable to do so. That doesn't offend me at all.

I had an issue with the comments suggesting that I must be a financially irresponsible moron for having a $5000 camera if I couldn't afford a sleeper or insurance. I had an issue with the assumptions about my character and integrity based on no more than a few lines of information.

Yes you were going based on the information provided, but even after I explained that the camera is for my job and it was purchased with an inheritance several years ago and doesn't reflect my financial situation, you still had judgmental comments about how I had misaligned priorities and should downgrade the camera, etc. I asked about travel insurance and you and others took it upon yourselves to paint me as a moron who wastes her money on toys instead of taking care of her responsibilities. There was no reason for it, it's none of your business even if I was.

Not knowing all the details isn't a reason to have at it and judge someone to your heart's content. It's a reason NOT to judge them because you don't know them.

Anyway, I'm going to choose to just move on and try to ignore the people who think a little too highly of themselves and their opinions. I'm choosing to see the fact that there were more helpful and non-judgmental posters in this thread and hopefully this is the case throughout the board.

Thank you those who offered suggestions and advice. I'm going to give the forum another chance because I really was excited to learn more about traveling by rail. It's nice to hear from some of you about traveling coach being a good experience, I am looking forward to meeting people and having fun on our short trip.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I can't speak for the other posters, but I know that I will sometimes post after reading a post without having read all the follow-up posts. So, it may be the posts you read that "ignored" your explanations (re how you aquired your camera, who's paying for your trip, etc) were posts that were made before the poster read your explanations.

I hope you'll hang around AU. I've gotten great information for my first LD trip (which I took almost two weeks ago). I know guys/gals, I need to post my trip report...just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[gswager]

I do have Canon SLR camera with extra lens. As long as you don't showing camera in front of everyone and making a fuzz about it, you'll be fine. Keep your lens & other electronics that you won't be using out of sight in your baggage. Take camera with you all the time, as poster Ithalon do.

 

[RRUserious]

Um, OK. But OP definitely sounds like someone who is uncomfortable with expensive baggage on coach. I'm not uncomfortable in coach, I don't even take out insurance. But I also don't lug along anything that would spoil my life terribly if stolen. So it seems your argument is with the OP, not with the rest of us. We seem to have made all the necessary adjustments and adaptations to be able to relax no matter what type of ticket we buy. If OP resists all these adaptations, then it seems to me that the coach is going to be more scary. What people are recommending are what experienced people think common sense dictates. Advice can only be offered. Then if it is rejected, the person who won't take it can only blame themselves if something goes wrong. All this "shame shame" stuff seems defensive to me.

Hi there

I was going to reply at the beginning of this thread and now I'm sorry I didn't.

I'm new here too and there are quite a few judgmental people here to say nothing of those that think they're *first class* because they choose to waste money on sleeping accommodations.

I don't let that stop me from posting because I enjoy this forum and even find the special people here entertaining.

Traveling in coach is not scary or dangerous - it's my preferred mode on the train - I haven't had a bad experience yet (keeping my fingers crossed).

I always enjoy the camaraderie of coach - it's fun!

Just keep your valuables with you at all times - I always have a tote that I keep at my feet and that's where I keep my goodies.

It's easy to take my tote with me to the lounge and diner too - I also never leave anything valuable in a hotel room either

With your resolve to make things work, you're going to have a great time.

Make sure you report back about your trip - I'm interested in knowing how it all goes.

Enjoy and welcome to the forum!

 

[MiRider]

I can't speak for the other posters, but I know that I will sometimes post after reading a post without having read all the follow-up posts. So, it may be the posts you read that "ignored" your explanations (re how you aquired your camera, who's paying for your trip, etc) were posts that were made before the poster read your explanations.

I hope you'll hang around AU. I've gotten great information for my first LD trip (which I took almost two weeks ago). I know guys/gals, I need to post my trip report...just haven't gotten around to it yet.

That may be true AB but it's one of my pet peeves with a lot of posters on a lot of forums - there's a response out there for the kinds of posts that are made without joining the conversation - RTFT

My feeling is that forums and the threads within them are conversations and should be treated as such - otherwise, it would be like ask.com or yahoo answers - JMO.

Take lots of pics, Sandypier!

 

[MiRider]

Um, OK. But OP definitely sounds like someone who is uncomfortable with expensive baggage on coach. I'm not uncomfortable in coach, I don't even take out insurance. But I also don't lug along anything that would spoil my life terribly if stolen. So it seems your argument is with the OP, not with the rest of us. We seem to have made all the necessary adjustments and adaptations to be able to relax no matter what type of ticket we buy. If OP resists all these adaptations, then it seems to me that the coach is going to be more scary. What people are recommending are what experienced people think common sense dictates. Advice can only be offered. Then if it is rejected, the person who won't take it can only blame themselves if something goes wrong. All this "shame shame" stuff seems defensive to me.

Hi there

I was going to reply at the beginning of this thread and now I'm sorry I didn't.

I'm new here too and there are quite a few judgmental people here to say nothing of those that think they're *first class* because they choose to waste money on sleeping accommodations.

I don't let that stop me from posting because I enjoy this forum and even find the special people here entertaining.

Traveling in coach is not scary or dangerous - it's my preferred mode on the train - I haven't had a bad experience yet (keeping my fingers crossed).

I always enjoy the camaraderie of coach - it's fun!

Just keep your valuables with you at all times - I always have a tote that I keep at my feet and that's where I keep my goodies.

It's easy to take my tote with me to the lounge and diner too - I also never leave anything valuable in a hotel room either

With your resolve to make things work, you're going to have a great time.

Make sure you report back about your trip - I'm interested in knowing how it all goes.

Enjoy and welcome to the forum!

Dude.... R....RUserious?

You sound like an engineer and not the train kind.

I have no *argument* with anyone but, like some out there, you assume that an opinion that differs from yours or anyone else's, for that matter, is an argument. sigh.

BTW, the OP has never been in coach so how could she be uncomfortable with it? RIF

 

[Ryan]

Not knowing all the details isn't a reason to have at it and judge someone to your heart's content. It's a reason NOT to judge them because you don't know them.

Like I said, I'm sorry that you didn't take the comments in the spirit that they were offered. They were nothing more than a simple attempt to help find the best possible outcome for your current situation based on the information available at the time.

 

[Peter KG6LSE]

Sandy

Welcome !

I ride in coach . Poor College kid here

I have had some what similar worries with my 1D ..

So I know how it is to tote a big cam..

As far as my gear on the train ..... Like wads of Franklins .

Keep the toys in the bag ,,

And not a cam bag . it looks too inviting .

If you can put a cap on the body and carry it ON you .. I do that with the 1D all the time..

also lock your bag shut and to a leg ..

Also If you want Pro coverage insurance the NPPA has a deal with Hays .

I have very good renters so travel is not a issue ... so I dont need Hays .. I shure love the other discounts the membership has tho ..

Something to look in to

Peter...

 

[abcnews]

I don't think Renters Ins will cover the $5,000 camera - if it is with you on a trip. I do photography and I have to purchase equipment insurance - it's about $200 per year for $10,000 coverage. I do not insure any of my cameras at full value - just looking to have a fallback - in the event of a theft. Plus - my gear devalues rather quickly, due to heavy use, etc... In fact, I prefer to replace cameras after about 3 years. So I don't worry too much about having the full coverage - I look to get about 2/3rds or so of the replacement costs.

I have had 2 cameras stolen on 2 different occasions - both while on assignments. Also had a tripod stolen at UNC Kenan stadium once. So you never know about those things.

My home owners has coverage for professional equipment - but, it is limited to $250 or so per claim. Thus I also got equipment insurance, so between the two I have decent protection, without spending too much on insurance.

**You could ship the camera - and pay for insurance, and pick it up upon arrival. When I travel with gear I usually have a roomette or bedroom. That too is much safer. ON NEC I always get business class, just seems safer - plus no private rooms are available on (most) NEC trains.

 

[The Chief]

Here's a graphic of the reception a few members gave newbie sandypier here,,,

One

and this one which I like especially because it has the Railroad Crossing crossbuck sign.

You know who you are. Just as those stalwarts who tried to help her know who they are.

Her sister JoanieB has some stones for standing up for Sandy. I — as many other AU vets — welcome some distaff representation here.

Also, I compiled a Top 10 List of the most sardonic comments she received; PM me if you'd like to enjoy it.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I thought this thread had already resolved itself with everyone getting a chance to either explain themselves and/or agree to disagree or whatever. So why would anyone want to start this ball rolling all over again? I almost never condone forced thread locking but in this case I think it might be time to make an exception. Actively dividing ourselves into separate groups and attacking each other would seem rather counterproductive to the goal of ensuring a more welcoming and inclusive forum, would it not?

 

[SarahZ]

Sandy: if you don't want to lug it around with you, which I understand, I would suggest getting a combination or key lock for your camera bag so you can lock the bag itself. Then, get a bike lock or something similar to lock the bag to your foot rest. There is *plenty* of room on the floor in Coach for your feet and the camera bag, and you could even tuck it under the seat ahead a little bit.

I really wouldn't worry too much. I've left my laptop at my seat before, and nobody touched it. People are very aware of who is sitting where and who should be touching what, since you're staring at the people around you for umpteen hours. ^_^ I've never seen any monkey business involving personal belongings.

Also, you probably already know this since you're a photographer, but I've found that when I want to take pictures from the moving train, it's best to point the camera at a 45-degree angle to the window instead of straight at the window. It helped quite a bit with glare/motion.

I hope you enjoy your trip!