Direct Electronics

There is a lot of misinformation today about consumer electronics and how it is treated by insurance companies. Most people I talk to think that if they have homeowners or renters insurance, their consumer electronics are covered.

But they usually find out that their assumptions aren’t true…at claims time.

Sure, some of the property is covered. But there are a bunch of limits and exclusions that will surprise you if you have a loss and file a claim.

Don’t wait until claim time to learn about this important coverage. Read this article carefully and make good decisions about your coverage.

Twenty years ago, consumer computer usage and ownership was not all that common. If you owned a cell phone, you carried it in a bag the size of a small purse. There were few home fax machines. Answering machines were pretty common, but voicemail was still on the horizon. Scanners were non-existent. Printers and copiers were huge and expensive, and you didn’t see them in most homes. If you were the rare person who had satellite TV, the dish was about eight feet across and sat out in the back yard. And Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and MP3 players had not been invented yet.

But today….

In our home we have:
• two desktop computers with monitors
• four laptop computers
• four printers
• one stand-alone fax machine
• one combination fax, scanner, copier
• three TVs
• two VCRs
• one digital video camera with tripod for our home recording studio
• one audio mixing board, one microphone, one amplifier, two external soundcards, and a 500GB hard drive, all for our home recording studio
• two DVD players
• two cell phones, one smartphone, each with voicemail
• one satellite TV system with a 24″ dish on the roof
• two Ipods

Your home may not have that amount of electronics, but then again, you might have more. The way that consumer electronics prices have tumbled over the years makes ownership much easier for more and more people.

But…is it covered? Does your homeowners or renters insurance cover your electronics?

We run three separate businesses out of our home. Most of our electronics are used in our businesses.

Do you have a home business? There are millions of home businesses…everything from home daycare to a service business to multilevel marketing businesses. Many times, those entrepreneurs own office electronics for their home business. Do you use your computers and other electronics for any kind of home business? Even if you’re answering office email on your home computer, it could be considered “business use.”

Are they covered by YOUR homeowners policy?

Are they covered if they are business-related?

What happens if your desktop or laptop computer is stolen, either from home or away from home? Is the theft covered by your homeowners insurance policy?

If you’re carrying your laptop through an airport anywhere in America, your laptop is at huge risk for theft. (See more below) What if your laptop is stolen while you’re in the airport?

Here is the answer to those questions…

MAYBE!!

In the Homeowners or Renters Policy, Coverage C, Contents, there are special limits of $2,500 for “property, on the residence premises, used primarily for business purposes.” The policy says there is a $500 limit for “property away from the residence premises used primarily for business purposes.” Of course, you will have a deductible to pay first, so if your deductible is $500 or more, you won’t get ANY money from the insurance company for this loss.

Are your personal electronics covered? Yes, but only for the following perils:

• Fire or lightning
• Windstorm or Hail
• Explosion
• Riot or Civil Commotion
• Aircraft (not in aircraft, but if aircraft fall on your stuff.)
• Vehicles (not in vehicles, but if vehicles crash into your stuff.)
• Smoke
• Vandalism or Malicious Mischief
• Theft
• Falling Objects (stuff falling onto your stuff)
• Weight of Ice, Snow or Sleet
• Accidental Discharge or Overflow of Water or Steam
• Sudden and Accidental Tearing Apart or Bursting (of a steam or hot water system).
• Freezing
• Sudden and Accidental Damage from an Artificially Generated Electrical Current
• Volcanic Eruption

As I said above, the policy limit for business electronics at the residence is $2,500.

If your laptop or other portable electronics are stolen from your car, there is no coverage under your Auto insurance for the theft.

Also remember, that under Coverage C, Contents, payment is made on an Actual Cash Value basis, not Replacement Cost Value. The only way to get RCV is to add the Contents Replacement Cost endorsement to your policy. It’s not automatic, you have to request it.

How about other kinds of damage that your computer might sustain?

• Accidental damage, such as dropped equipment, falls, liquid spills and auto collisions.
• Water damage

Those kinds of damages are not covered under your homeowners or renters policy.

And what about the software and sensitive data in your computer? Is that covered, too?

Not likely. In the Homeowners and Renters policies, under the “Property Not Covered” section, “business data, including data stored in computers and related equipment” is not covered.

So, to be fully covered, you’ll need to buy some additional coverage.

COMPUTER AND PERSONAL ELECTRONICS INSURANCE

The leading company in the world for computer and portable electronics insurance is Safeware Insurance. They have programs for students, individuals, small and large businesses and schools at very competitive rates.

Let me take a few minutes and tell you about their outstanding insurance product.

If you own:

• Desktop or Laptop Computers
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• Smartphones
• Digital cameras
• MP3 players
• Scanners/Faxes/Copiers
• Printers
• DVD players
• Flash drives
• Servers
• External hard drives
• Digital camcorders
• Peripherals that connect to your computers through an USB port, Firewire, PCMCIA or another input

All of these electronic products need special insurance coverage not provided in Homeowners or Renters policies.

Did you know these facts about computers?

• Accidental damage is the number one cause of loss
• Theft is number two cause of loss
• Power surge is number three
• Manufacturer warranties do not protect your computer from accidental damage or theft
• Even though some manufacturers do offer special “damage only” coverage, they do not offer coverage for theft, power surges, natural disasters or vandalism.

You already know how easy it is to have electronics with replacement value in excess of $2,500. There are loaded desktops and laptops that easily exceed $2,500 EACH.

So, you have some choices:

1. Call your agent and buy a Personal Property Endorsement to add coverage to your homeowners or renters policy. Downsides to this choice are (a) many endorsements only pay the Actual Cash Value of the damaged property, not replacement cost, and (b) perils like Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills and Auto Collisions are not covered.

2. Buy a custom policy that just adds special coverage for your computers and other electronics, like:

• Desktops
• Laptops and notebooks
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• Smartphones
• Digital cameras
• MP3 players
• Scanners/Faxes/Copiers
• Printers
• DVD players
• Flash drives
• Servers
• External hard drives
• Digital camcorders
• Peripherals that connect to your computers through an USB port, Firewire, PCMCIA or another input

Safeware’s policies cover Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills and Auto Collisions.

Business Electronics

In May 2006, burglars stole a laptop from the home of a data analyst at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The laptop contained the sensitive personal information of over 26 million veterans and military personnel. The FBI said that the laptop was recovered after an informant “snitched,” motivated by a $50,000 reward.

But it’s not just organizations that deal with consumer data that are concerned about thefts. Companies whose employees have laptops are naturally concerned with the value of the computer when it is the company that owns the laptop.

The Ponemon Institute, a privacy risk management think tank, released an extensive study in June 2008 entitled “Airport Insecurity : The Case of Missing and Lost Laptops.” They studied laptop security at 106 American airports and found that there is an average of 12,000 laptops lost, missing or stolen at American airports PER WEEK! The airport with the worst record is Los Angeles International, with about 1,200 per week. The nation’s busiest airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield, was in eighth place with 450 per week.

Further, the study found that only 33% of the laptops within the airport’s Lost and Found Departments are ever reclaimed! That means that the remaining 67% of unclaimed laptops are either sold or disposed of by airport authorities. Can you imagine the amount of sensitive personal and business data contained in those laptops? No one knows what happens to that data, but it is ALL at risk. The Identity Theft risks are astronomical.

Safeware’s policy covers business electronics for the hazards the homeowners, renters or business insurance policy does not cover.

Education Coverage

Students face a higher risk of damage or theft than a normal adult user. Students can experience accidents when they’re putting their stuff into their locker, or accidentally get bumped in a busy hallway, or when they’re running to the bus. A soft drink could be spilled on the keyboard, or they could sit their laptop bag down somewhere and later find it missing.

This policy protects students’ computers against Accidental Damage, Theft, Vandalism, Power Surge, and Natural Disasters at any location within the USA, Canada and while in transit.

Small Business Coverage is for any sized business with electronics property values up to $49,999, covering Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Power Surge and Natural Disasters.

Commercial Coverage is a group plan for organizations that have electronics property values in excess of $50,000. Coverage can be one of the following: Comprehensive (Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Power Surge, and Natural Disasters); Theft ONLY, or Accidental Damage ONLY.

The Commercial policy can benefit organizations such as:

• Schools and colleges that want to make their student’s notebook computers more safe and less at risk.
• Corporations issuing notebooks and laptops to their workers, and wishing to minimize their risk of capital loss.

In these organizations, the equipment is owned by the corporation or school and used by the employee or student. Experience has shown that if an individual does not own the computer, he or she is likely to take less care of the item than if they owned it themselves. Schools and businesses need to insure their equipment against the perils that could turn their expensive equipment into unusable junk.

Safeware Insurance policies do not depreciate for age and condition of your electronics. If you have a claim that requires replacement of your equipment, they pay for like kind and quality of the equipment you had. That’s a HUGE difference from the Homeowners and Renters policies, and could mean thousands more dollars to you in a claim.

Worldwide Coverage is an endorsement that adds global coverage to your policy for a very low price. Standard coverage is for the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Mobile Advantage insures PDAs and smartphones. You likely purchased your unit at a big discount when you signed up for a service plan. If your device is damaged or stolen, you’ll have to pay full retail for another unit. However, with Mobile Advantage, you’re only responsible for the $50 deductible per incident to get a brand new device.

For more information about Personal Electronics Insurance for your student, yourself, your business or your school, contact Safeware Insurance at: safeware.com

LAPTOP RECOVERY COVERAGE

Can you get your stolen laptop back?

There is a way that you can protect your laptop, and then retrieve your laptop after it’s been stolen.

Three burglary suspects were arrested on February 1, 2008 by Albuquerque police, thanks to a stolen computer loaded with tracking software. The software is called LoJack for Laptops™, developed by Absolute Software. The tracking software told the police exactly where to find the suspects. The police were also able to recover thousands of dollars in other stolen property at the location.

Absolute Software is the leader in Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking™ solutions. It works this way: You install the LoJack for Laptops™ software and register it at the LoJack website. If the laptop is stolen, you notify your local police and notify the LoJack Recovery Team. The next time your computer is connected to the Internet, the laptop secretly notifies the Monitoring Center of its whereabouts. The Recovery Team can track its location, and provide police with the information they will need to get a search warrant and recover your laptop.

Pricing for LoJack for Laptops™ starts at only $39.99 per year.

My friend here in Atlanta, Cole Harrison, had his laptop stolen from his car recently. He had the Lojack system on the laptop, and notified them immediately when he discovered the theft. Lojack located the laptop the next day…in Thailand.

If you want protect your laptop so you can get it back after it’s been stolen, contact Lojack for Laptops at: www.lojackforlaptops.com Lojack boasts a 90% recovery rate for stolen laptops.

CONCLUSION

For only a small price, you can have the proper coverage you need to protect all your personal and business electronics. Be the smartest person on your block with the right protection. Be the hero to your business with the best coverage. YOU CAN DO IT!!

The world is developing faster than ever before, with rapidly changing technology and lifestyles. New inventions, new products and improvements for existing products are created everyday. In recent years, the consumer electronics segment has undergone a tremendous transformation. All this has contributed to a new way of life. Miniaturization and integration are the key factors that have fueled the tremendous growth of portable consumer electronics technology. The introduction of wireless devices and the trend towards digitization continue to accelerate the field of portable consumer electronics.

From analog to digital, consumer electronics are now evolving with WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) technology. Applications such as Voice Over IP (VoIP), web surfing, MP3 play back and movie play back are some of the most desirable convergence applications implemented in portable consumer electronics. Wi-Fi and HDD, with their origins in the PC world, are being rapidly adapted by the portable consumer electronics market. More and more portable electronic products are appearing in the market everyday.

Portable consumer electronics are sufficiently compact, lightweight and easy mobility. There are handheld and battery powered portable consumer electronics gadgets. The typical life cycle of a portable consumer electronic product is much shorter than that of other market segments. The market for portable consumer electronic devices is changing rapidly with continuous research in this area.

The driving factor in electronic product miniaturization primarily comes from the consumer, who constantly seeks more and more convenient features and functions. These variables continue to drive advances in design and manufacturing process technologies.

Products such as Portable Media Players (PMPs), Smartphones, and GPS-PDAs are just a few of the hottest convergence products in this segment. Other portable electronic devices are laptop computers, hand-held devices such as cellular telephones, personal media devices including the iPod from Apple Computer, and compact disc players.

If you are planning to start up your own electronics business as a wholesaler, you can easily do this through dropship wholesalers. This opportunity is now made available among those who want to build their own business especially in the electronics industry. Nowadays, a wholesale business is made possible through the process of dropshipping. This allows a number of technological and electronic products to be transferred from their respective warehouse factories onto a strategic marketing location where consumers have easy access to.

Looking for a Certified Wholesaler

If you want to start an electronics business, you will find that there are lots of ecommerce businessmen who can help you out. However, you should be mindful of the partnerships you enter into. After all, electronic products can be highly sensitive, and the last thing you want to experience is having a lot of disgruntled customers coming back to you because of product defects. This is why finding the right supplier becomes extremely important.

You should consider the background of the person before you go ahead and buy products. Is the company already in the wholesaling for over a long period of time? How many shipments were they able to make and who are their current clientele? Even if you are simply starting, you should not be intimidated in dealing with a distributor no matter if they present to you a portfolio of popular clients. You should assess their credibility for yourself.

Research the background of your distributor, especially when it comes to how they ship their products. Some businesses have their own modes of transportation for shipping electronic products to ascertain its safety and security.

Getting the Best Deals from Dropship Wholesalers

Your key to getting the best deals would be to buy bulk orders across varying products. This assures your distributor that you are interested to make further purchases. You will also get more discounts this way because you have plenty of purchases made. Some freebies that may be included could be free or discounted shipment of all the products you have bought.

You can also ask for a brochure from your supplier so that you can keep track of the new products that they will offer in the future. At least you can already give yourself some lead time to budget your profits for these future electronic products that can really spell some more customer base for you. This is also lets your seller feel that you will be a loyal customer for their own business.

Those who are interested in the field of electronics will benefit from vocational electronics training. Quality electronics schools teach methods of installation, repair and maintenance of electronic devices and equipment, as well as industry safety standards.

Electronics schools can help future electricians prepare for positions that deal with anything having to do with electronic systems technology, such as automotive, household, mechanical, and business electronics; computers, fiber optics, and telecommunications; and more.

Coursework may include the subjects of installing, adjusting, testing, trouble-shooting, and repairing electrical equipment. Students also learn to design simple circuitry in electronic equipment, devices, and systems, as well as in business and computer operations. Electronics training from trade schools and vocational schools can lead to certificates or Associate Degrees.

Those who have completed electronics training can apply for positions that are wide and varied; electricians are in demand in nearly every form of business or commerce. Professions may include acoustic technician, construction electrician, electrical engineer, electrical installer, service technician, theater and stage technician, computer technician, telecommunications specialist, or electronics educator, to name just a few. The median salary for an electronics professional with an AS degree is approximately $35,000 per year. Advanced degrees and extensive experience in the field can net even higher salaries.

If you would like to learn more about Electronics Training, or even Online Electronics Schools, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Living in the modern world, you have probably figured out that we are deeply integrated with electronics on a business and personal level. A great way to tell others about your business is through promotional items with an electronics edge. Use small items such as a USB Flash Drive or a MP3 player to advertise your business at a trade show. Or give away radios, clocks and cameras as prizes. All you have to do is have your company name, logo or motto imprinted on the item to get instant advertising.

Have you ever sat down with a client only to find that you couldn’t communicate because they brought along a young child who doesn’t want to sit through a meeting? Try holding a coloring contest where the winner wins a prize every month. The prize can be a watch or an MP3 player with your company logo printed on it. The child will most likely be happy coloring for the contest, and you and the parent can hold your meeting undisturbed.

Promotional items in the electronics field vary in price range from under two dollars up to approximately one hundred dollars. These prices include a choice of one color and one imprinting on location. Items in the higher range are wonderful gifts that show appreciation for your team.

Award a team member’s sales record with a web camera so they can hold web meetings in company style. Send other team members on the road with a Cuvette Mobile Phone Holder. Show customers you appreciate them with unexpected gifts like a flashlight keychain clock. This shows them that you appreciate them and their business and also gives a message that you want to continue working with them in the future.

Another great way to show customers your appreciation is with simple gestures like having pens with clocks on them available in your office. Consider your audience and match an appropriate promotional item with something they would enjoy. Go to a college fair and distribute little flashlights or USB Flash Drives to the students. Go to an automotive shop and distribute electric tire air pressure gauges.

As you prepare your logo or wording for printing, keep in mind that you want to create an image or thought that makes customers want to do business with you. Let the electronic promotional products help you do this.

Christmas is a time of giving. This is the time when we exchange gifts with one another as we remember Christ’s act of giving His own life so we can live. But wouldn’t it be nicer if we fulfill each other’s Christmas list by giving the perfect gift they are waiting and praying for? This Christmas, it is such a nice act to give but it is a nicer act to give what your loved ones really want so do a better act. Check out our Top 10 Electronic Christmas Gifts for 2008:

1. Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black). This electronic gadget can hold up to 60 minutes of HD-quality video on its 4 GB built-in memory. You can carry it anywhere you go with its super slim and ultimately sleek design perfect for your pocket. You can also plug in your flash drives and automatically launch built-in FlipShare software that allows you to store and organize your movie clips and video clips.

2. Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation). This is oftentimes being confused with an Apple iPhone but don’t be because this is an iPod touch that gives you the awesome chance to have as many as 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos, or 10 hours o video. If fully charged, you can use this for up to 36 hours of listening to music or 6 hours of watching your favorite video on its 3.5-inch widescreen.

3. Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player. With its precision cinema progressive HD, this Blu-ray Disc player is the perfect gift for your father or brother. With its full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema Video Output, they cannot say no to your request right after!

4. Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation). An unbelievable capacity of 3,500 songs, 10,000 photos, or 20 hours of video, this 16 GB iPod touch from the 2nd generation is a must give for your growing kids aged 12-15 y/o.

5. Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom. Suited for everybody this holiday, capture the magical moments with this 8.0 mega pixel digital camera that allows you to go further with its 4x optical image-stabilized zoom. You also do not need to worry of getting low batteries and has no outlet to recharge because this is powered by AA batteries.

6. Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator. If you are thinking of a gift to your adventurous father or sibling, this is the one you are looking for! A compact 700 MB GPS navigator with an amazing MP3/audiobook player, photo viewer, and world travel clock, this will definitely give them the right directions without the hassles. You can simply place this on your vehicle windshield with included suction cup.

7. Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation). Oozing with thousands of songs, photos, or videos, this 120 GB iPod classic from the latest 6th generation is best for your kids aged 18 and above.

8. Apple iPod touch 32 GB Black (2nd Generation). For youngsters aged 12 to 15 years old, this 32 GB capable of storing up to 7,000 songs, 10,000 photos, or 40 hours of video is certainly the one on top of their Christmas list.

9. Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black). Perfect for the whole family, this digital camera has an astonishing 12.2 mega pixel CMOS sensor that totally brings pictures to real life. It also has a hefty 3.0-inch display that is LCD and improved Auto focus and framing rate.

10. Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue). For those who just love taking pictures anywhere and anytime, this one is for you! A very handy and lights digital camera with 8.0 mega pixel CCD, face detection, and a motion detection technology that automatically saves your pictures from being blurred.

So if you want to give this Christmas, make sure that you will give only the best because your loved ones deserve only the best this holiday! Hurry and choose from our Top 10 Electronics Christmas Gifts for 2008!