Tempest -Shipper flooded it in 2 feet of water!! UPDATE.

[andrewb]

All of the electronics are salvageable. Water doesn't ruin most electronics if they aren't powered.

Honestly, if it were mine, I'd just take it as-is, find a new wood cab, and rebuild it. Less hassle than fighting insurance companies (who will likely take the cab and trash it anyway.)

 

[mattmatt]

Get your estimates off eBay. They will be high.

Cassies estimates are in the middle.

How did someone let this thing get that far under water? Did they park the truck in Florida during a hurricane?

I think these uship guys will do loops and out and back runs. I think they offload cargo to store or transfer to partners in order to make a given route more profitable. My guess is this was in a low lying storage unit when one of those tropical storms or hurricanes hit. I have video/photos from the pickup from the seller showing it is in good shape. This is why it is so irritating that they don't just pay me out without jumping through hoops.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

I think these uship guys will do loops and out and back runs. I think they offload cargo to store or transfer to partners in order to make a given route more profitable. My guess is this was in a low lying storage unit when one of those tropical storms or hurricanes hit. I have video/photos from the pickup from the seller showing it is in good shape. This is why it is so irritating that they don't just pay me out without jumping through hoops.

Insurance companies make money by making you jump through hoops for claims. Outwork them.

My home was struck by lightning. We had State Farm homeowners insurance, so it's supposed to be pretty good.

It hit the antenna, jumped from the antenna amp to the electrical system and by proximity, to the phone system.

It blew up a ton of electronics, including a PC clone, stereo receiver, reel to reel, equalizer, VCR, - the list goes on.

The insurance agent (STATE FARM) came out to settle. He offered us $250 for our $1000 VCR (it was a VCR which you could disconnect the recorder from the receiver - two units, and use the recorder when connected to a hand-held camera).

I looked at my wife, and told her "Get the receipt." She did.

The tune changed at that point. Plus, I fixed all the phone problems (the jacks were welded to the cables) myself, and didn't bring in a commercial electrician, which would have cost at least $400 to $600. He gave us what we asked for. We replaced our equipment and moved on.

A few years later, I dropped State Farm.

 

[firehawk618]

Isn't it on THEM to get an estimate for repair / replace at their discretion then it would be on YOU to dispute that estimate should you deem it low?

Maybe go that route and see where it leads you.

 

[alfonzotan]

Isn't it on THEM to get an estimate for repair / replace at their discretion then it would be on YOU to dispute that estimate should you deem it low?

Maybe go that route and see where it leads you.

Under normal circumstances yeah, but this is a very niche item. It's unlikely anybody at the insurer knows how to price the loss.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Isn't it on THEM to get an estimate for repair / replace at their discretion then it would be on YOU to dispute that estimate should you deem it low?

Maybe go that route and see where it leads you.

I wouldn't suggest that. Who knows who they will go to. You lose all control.

Seriously, start with eBay - look for original games which have sold or are for sale. Put together 3 to 5 different examples which support your cost. Provide them and then wait for depression to set in, when they finally issue the price.

This game is a rare and hard to find antique. It's 40 years old, using technology that is no longer produced, and they put this someplace where it received water damage. If they want the original unit to try to fix or sell for parts, no problem. They owe YOU a game that is in equivalent condition to the one that was damaged by their NEGLIGENCE. Because that's what this is folks - NEGLIGENCE. They did not treat your property with appropriate care.

This isn't some couch from Ashley Furniture for goodness sake - it's a piece of HISTORY.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Under normal circumstances yeah, but this is a very niche item. It's unlikely anybody at the insurer knows how to price the loss.

Or they'll say "Yeah, it's worth around $400, here is your check." Because they found a 1Up version.

 

[KaBoom1701]

Pull numbers from the Banning CA auction. Lol

Or that cracker from the Pacific Northwest

 

[alfonzotan]

Or they'll say "Yeah, it's worth around $400, here is your check." Because they found a 1Up version.

Right. Gives them a ready excuse to go lowball.

 

[GothGirl]

For others considering this situation I would recommend getting specific coverage for collections and/or collectables. I used to be in a touring band and we had a specific insurance rider for our equipment both inside and outside the home. This was a life saver. Most better insurance companies can do the same for collectables against all sorts of things. I would be willing to bet most of the fine folks on this forum have games on the lowest level of their home which would be the most likey to flood if something terrible happen(s). Plus with the right kind of rider, if something terrible happens to your Computer Space while at a gaming con it can often be covered as well.

 

[tstone]

I wouldn't suggest that. Who knows who they will go to. You lose all control.

Seriously, start with eBay - look for original games which have sold or are for sale. Put together 3 to 5 different examples which support your cost. Provide them and then wait for depression to set in, when they finally issue the price.

This is exactly right.

I was happy when the guy asked me to demonstrate to him how much the games were worth. As mentioned, I found some high (sold) prices on ebay and he paid out. I was in control.

I didn't have any special insurance, just normal homeowner's insurance (Progressive), and the process was simple.

 

[firehawk618]

Don't be chicken shit of the insurance company. So what if they lowball you? You aren't accepting that unless you sign on the check and cash it.

Do people really think that by the OP coming up with some estimates of this priceless piece of art that they're not going to come back and lowball?

 

[journeymandt]

@mattmatt Did the carrier try to deliver the game like nothing had ever happened? Or did you get notification that something had happened in transit? Just curious... I should hope they didn't try to play it off as "we picked it up that way"

D

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

For others considering this situation I would recommend getting specific coverage for collections and/or collectables. I used to be in a touring band and we had a specific insurance rider for our equipment both inside and outside the home. This was a life saver. Most better insurance companies can do the same for collectables against all sorts of things. I would be willing to bet most of the fine folks on this forum have games on the lowest level of their home which would be the most likey to flood if something terrible happen(s). Plus with the right kind of rider, if something terrible happens to your Computer Space while at a gaming con it can often be covered as well.

Yep, already did that. We have a special electronics rider for damage like that.

I have flood sensors at all water intrusion points in the basement. They'll ping my phone and watch if we get a leak (it's already helped once, I was able to keep the water from reaching the carpet with my wet vac). Plus I upgraded my "pit door" drain - we have an outside door to the basement to move things in and out, and it previously had one 1 1/2" drain line. Now it has a LOT more - we had a company dig up the floor, replace the drain tile, and another company come in and de-silt the existing drain tile. I now have 3 x 1 1/2 inch drains, and around 40 drains in the bottom of the drain trough to go to the tile as well.

 

[GothGirl]

Yep, already did that. We have a special electronics rider for damage like that.

I have flood sensors at all water intrusion points in the basement. They'll ping my phone and watch if we get a leak (it's already helped once, I was able to keep the water from reaching the carpet with my wet vac). Plus I upgraded my "pit door" drain - we have an outside door to the basement to move things in and out, and it previously had one 1 1/2" drain line. Now it has a LOT more - we had a company dig up the floor, replace the drain tile, and another company come in and de-silt the existing drain tile. I now have 3 x 1 1/2 inch drains, and around 40 drains in the bottom of the drain trough to go to the tile as well.

I recently bought my first house and having those flood sensors all over the house was a great piece of advice from a friend. They are dirty cheap and worth it for the piece of mind alone.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

I recently bought my first house and having those flood sensors all over the house was a great piece of advice from a friend. They are dirty cheap and worth it for the piece of mind alone.

The first time they went off, the condensate drain line off the furnace/AC unit had plugged. No major water damage, but close to the games, so dodged a bullet there.

The second time was during a storm at 4:00 am and my FitBit vibration with the flood alarm woke me up. I looked it it, said "****, basement door flood sensor just alarmed and was downstairs in less than a minute with towels. I saw the extent, dropped the towels (to stop the progress) and ran up and in 5 minutes, changed over the shop vac from dirt to water, and was down there cleaning it up.

Those shop vacs work wonders - I had the large and small squeegee attachments, and we got almost all of the water up with those. I had to empty the container around 6 times, and the water (while not deep) was around 6 gallons collected all told.

I love those Orbit flood sensors. I might buy a UPS to keep the router point running, but then I'd need a UPS to keep the WiFi up too... Decisions, decisions.

 

[mattmatt]

@mattmatt Did the carrier try to deliver the game like nothing had ever happened? Or did you get notification that something had happened in transit? Just curious... I should hope they didn't try to play it off as "we picked it up that way"

D

Yes, delivered shrink wrapped, not a word. My wife had him put it in the garage. I came home, opened it and had the proverbial oh Sh!@# moment.

 

[Scott C]

Only partially related, but...

If you like and trust your insurance agent, invite them to your house for an insurance review. While there, invite them into the arcade with the games on. While my agent is a friend, they told me everyone should do this since it makes it harder for the insurance companies to deny what you have, especially in case of fire.

Clearly pictures also help, but them actually seeing and playing is powerful evidence. Did I mention my insurance agent now has two games, a pinball and DK.

Scott C.

 

[tstone]

When the adjuster came over to assess my damage, he said the games were covered under my normal homeowner's policy just like almost anything else.

He didn't bat an eye at a couple thousand per game.

Small crap for him, given the amount of $ for floors, kitchen cabinets, etc.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Only partially related, but...

If you like and trust your insurance agent, invite them to your house for an insurance review. While there, invite them into the arcade with the games on. While my agent is a friend, they told me everyone should do this since it makes it harder for the insurance companies to deny what you have, especially in case of fire.

Clearly pictures also help, but them actually seeing and playing is powerful evidence. Did I mention my insurance agent now has two games, a pinball and DK.

Scott C.

Well done!