Rebuilding a cabinet after a flood - Insurance value!

[Animeka]

Ok... I got flooded this summer and my cabinet took a hit (7 inches of water). Now, replacing the cabinet is kind of hard, and I have no intention of having it rebuilt. However, the insurance company still owes me $$ for the repair (whether I do it or not).

This is my cabinet.

http://www.subnet192.com/?page_id=5

What do you guys think I should ask for monetary wise as compensation? Basically, both sides, front lower panel and rear are to be replaced. This means, labours, parts (mdf, t-molding, side art). Electronic seems fine.

I can't honestly ask them to buy me a 3000$ cabinet to replace it, however I am entitled for compensation.

Thanks for your input!

Marc

[shardian]

I've seen other folks who get flooded that take a percentage value salvage settlement, then keep the machines. Normally the salvage settlement is more than you paid for the game.

[Animeka]

I've seen other folks who get flooded that take a percentage value salvage settlement, then keep the machines. Normally the salvage settlement is more than you paid for the game.

That's sort of what I'm hinting at, however, they're asking to come up with a value lol...

10k$ sounds fair

I sent them quote for ready built cabinets at 3-4K$ to give them a ballpark price for a full replacement, I'm waiting to hear an offer back, but I'm trying to figure out what would be a good offer on their part.

[Malenko]

uuuhhhh $50?

[Animeka]

You would honestly take 50$ to repair hundreds of dollars of damages (parts & labour)? Your insurance company must love you...

[DeLuSioNal29]

I would ask for a big amount.  Calculate how much the parts cost and AT LEAST ask for that (the whole thing).  Your time and effort is also worth money.  When you get into a car accident do you buy the parts and repair it yourself?  No, you take it to a body shop and the insurance company pays the bill for not only the parts, but the labor.  Period.  The purpose of an insurance company is to replace what got damaged.  What would it cost to replace it?

D

[DrumAnBass]

Send your insurance company to:

http://www.mameroom.com/ArcadeSystems.asp

http://www.dreamarcades.com/vision29.shtml

http://store.dreamauthentics.com/dreamstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=101

[Malenko]

You would honestly take 50$ to repair hundreds of dollars of damages (parts & labour)? Your insurance company must love you...

none of the expensive stuff was damaged, just the wood. In the end you aren't duping your insurance company, you're going to pay it all back and then some in rate hikes and increased premiums

[ChadTower]

Seriously, your insurance company doesn't give a crap about how many hours it took you to build.  If you can't sell it for labor cost then labor has no monetary value.  The thing is worth either cost of materials or potential sale price on the private market.

[shardian]

Seriously, your insurance company doesn't give a crap about how many hours it took you to build.  If you can't sell it for labor cost then labor has no monetary value.  The thing is worth either cost of materials or potential sale price on the private market.

Well he could always get a quote from another local collector. Or get a quote from a local woodworker.

[ChadTower]

Well he could always get a quote from another local collector. Or get a quote from a local woodworker.

Getting a quote from a woodworker probably isn't valid unless it was built by a woodworker or if he has a professional woodworker's skills.  If he has a pro woodworker's skills he could bang out another cabinet in a weekend anyway.

I say it's not really worth the questionable ethics.  If it's a mostly standard build, and all that was damaged was the cabinet itself, count yourself lucky and claim the cost of an empty replacement cab plus whatever artwork you'd need to make it comparable.

[Malenko]

I say it's not really worth the questionable ethics.  If it's a mostly standard build, and all that was damaged was the cabinet itself, count yourself lucky and claim the cost of an empty replacement cab plus whatever artwork you'd need to make it comparable.

aka $50 

[ChadTower]

aka $50 

Depends on the artwork, of course.  Artwork can be spendy.  I haven't seen his cab.  If he had a standard painted cab all he has really lost is $50 here.

[Animeka]

I linked to the cab in the first post. It's an original cab converted to mame, with some modifications to it and new side art (golden axe).

The poster who said labour is not factored in and getting a quote from a cabinet maker isnt valid is wrong.

If you built it yourself, the insurance still has to replace it the way it was, i.e. by any means necessary so buying pre-made, or having it custom built. In most cases, pre-made is cheaper, but for custom stuff like this, I would be entitled to have it redone by a cabinet maker.

In any case, they gave me an offer of 500$ today and I accepted it. I had cabinets redone for my laundry room for less than that, so that's more than fair.

Marc

[ChadTower]

See, that's just grey ethically.  It was a used empty cabinet to begin with.  Don't even try telling us you paid $500 for the empty cabinet.  Replacement value for a similar item is $50 as stated above.

[Swatwolf]

Could always use e-bay or craigslists and have them see if there are similar cabs to what you lost.

[mvsfan]

I've seen other folks who get flooded that take a percentage value salvage settlement, then keep the machines. Normally the salvage settlement is more than you paid for the game.

That's sort of what I'm hinting at, however, they're asking to come up with a value lol...

10k$ sounds fair

I sent them quote for ready built cabinets at 3-4K$ to give them a ballpark price for a full replacement, I'm waiting to hear an offer back, but I'm trying to figure out what would be a good offer on their part.

why dont you send them a quote for a kit that comes to your door in a box similar to "ready to assemble" furniture that many places sell?

that would be more likely that the would approve it and you still get your cabinet.