How do you catalog and insure your collection?

jhpfunk

I originally signed up for VCP so that I could input my collection and have a printout of what I had so I could start exploring insurance options. Unfortunately, although it's helpful for figuring out values from auction sales, they still haven't added the options they promised so that you can input serial #s from graded card holders or sort the collection once you've inputed a player's name. I'm not sure if there are other programs out there that do a good job? What do you guys do?

I've been chekcing out insurance options. I spoke to my AAA agent and she told me that I would need to have a respected dealer appraise the collection. I also spoke to a collecibles insurance agent at the National show who gave me a brochure, but did not seem 100% legit. He just didn't need a lot of information about the collection that I though he would given it's value. Who do you guys use? What do they require? How much does it run?

shagrotn77

I use Collectible's Insurance Agency. It sounds like you have their brochure. It's true that they don't need a lot of information about your collection in order to insure it. I also found that odd, but I've heard nothing but good things about them before I signed up and in the 2 years since.

leathtech

wouldn't your home owners insurance cover the colletion in case of fire or flood or something?

jhpfunk

According to my AAA rep, the homeowner's policy would only cover a very minimal amount. I think only up to $1000.

cravetopps

you can get a homeowners policy to cover $100K with proper docs. You would also need to prvide them with a list of your cards and the value. It would not have to be appraised so SMR would be fine. Some will aski if you have them in a fireproof safe. CIA is a reputable alternative if your collection is valued higher than $100K. They have been around for a long time.

BeanBone

I work for a company called iTaggit and our site lets collectors upload items to private or public collections (even wishlists). You can then print out all of your information for insurance/appraisal purposes, share your collection on our site or in your Facebook profile, and post items to eBay and Craigslist (without having to re-eneter all the pictures and information).

We have partnerships with What's It Worth To You? and CollectInsure, but we do not really offer the comprehensive insurance solution you're looking for yet.

I'm in charge of the data field structure. As a card collector, I built what I feel is a pretty good list of data fields for sports cards, but I value my fellow collector's input. I can add fields such as "Graded Serial Number" if collectors think they are warranted.

Here are the fields we currently list for Sports Memorabilia>Baseball Memorabilia>Baseball Cards:

General (PUBLIC if item is public):

YearCompanySetSub-setCard numberPlayerPlayer's positionTeamLeagueCard typeConditionVariationProfessional gradeProfessional certificationBook valueStorage methodRookie cardAutographedAutograph informationMemorabilia cutoutMemorabilia informationDimensionsPeriod/ClassCountry/Region of originQuantityASIN

Asset Management (ALWAYS PRIVATE & standard to every category):

Date acquiredAcquisition costAppraisal dateAppraised valueInsurance policy numberInsurance policy expirationRestoration dateRestoration notesSold toLoaned toLocationUser tracking ID

Service Information (PUBLIC if item is public):

Acquired fromAppraised byInsured byRestored by

As I said, I can change/add fields based on demand.

Mikesc98

Cornell and Finkelmeir insurance also has a very good reputation and I believe they cover cards, comics, autographs and memorabilia. You need to keep an up-to-date inventory and possibly to have an appraisal or some sort of documentation for individual items worth over $5,000 each.

stown

As cravetopps said, you can get coverage for over $100K. Just ask your favorite insurance agent and they can give you the details.

As for my policy, I'm probably 90% covered for actual "worth". I have majority of my cards cataloged in an excel file (which is updated at work and home, just in case) and have pictures of the rest, including memorabilia.

Good luck.

rube26105

all of my cards and miltary stuff is under homeowner as well, ya just gotta get the right policy

BobbyVCP

FYI you do have a note box now so you can enter the serial numbers for all your card. And when you download or print out your My Collection it will be there as well. To add something you need to go to your MC and view the cards in your group, then click edit and there is a NOTE window. This was added a few months ago..

jhpfunk

Thanks for all of the help. Bobby, are you able to sort the names now too? It's kind of a drag to enter names alphabetically and then miss one and have to put it at the bottom of the list. Also, what about modern cards?

BobbyVCP

We are working on the sort features now..

RoarIn84

worked for me a while back. my car got broken into just before i was gonna set up for a card show. they took everything. turns out all i had to do was make a list of everything i had stolen, add it up and tell them. they reimbursed everything. actually, i think i got more out of them than i would have selling the stuff at the show!!! (don't be getting any ideas about those 50 unsold cases of 88D!!).....dunno if it's that easy anymore...

Carew29

I have my list on Excel along with photo's of the cards in my gun safe as well as my two vault boxes.

rube26105

<gun safe>
a man after my own heart lol- i got 2of those huge one that weigh thousands of pounds,i never want to have to move on one of those stupid things again lol-they are rediculous,one with guns ive engraved like i do my knives , other with cards i dont want to lose in the black hole of the mancave