Stolen Clubs

[Cup13]

My car was broken into last week and my bag and shoes were stolen. $500 deductable and automatic 20% rate bump for 3 years. Good news, new clubs, bad news, a lot of time spent dealing with this and now starting all over with new gear.

Question...has anyone ever suspected an outlet for hot clubs - beyond pawn shops? My point is that anyone buying from these types perpetuate the petty theives that supply this market.

I will keep an eye on ebay for a while, but my beloved irons were Tommy Armour forged v25's if anyone runs across an offer for these hard to find clubs.

[Rocknronny]

Man thats sh!@#$

[mirak]

I hate insurance companies, they pay you the claim, but then they make the money back with increased rates !

[Grass Roots Tour]

That sucks. One set of mine were stolen from the hatch of an old car years ago. I did put mine through insurance and I didn't notice a rate jump. Mind you, that was 7 years ago.

I've heard of people even having their stuff riped at the golf course while they were in buying beers and stuff.

I always make sure my gear is in sight or locked up, now.

[Rule35]

Its quite simple. Your insurance is one price with no claims, and your price goes if if you have a claim. Seems fair to me. Especially since 99% of people who have their clubs stolen always say they had top of the line stuff. Having worked briefly on both sides of the equation, I can tell you that no one ever claims an 11 Piece steel ProSelect set.

[tjhayko]

That sucks. Why do people have to do this kind of stuff?

[klink1983]

i know how to solve that problem. dont store your clubs in your car, thats why you have a house, or apartment.

[wayland]

Just curious but for someone like me who buys most stuff used and online with no receipts. How do I prove that I have what I have in the awful event this were to happen to me?

[goodfellow]

Its quite simple. Your insurance is one price with no claims, and your price goes if if you have a claim. Seems fair to me. Especially since 99% of people who have their clubs stolen always say they had top of the line stuff. Having worked briefly on both sides of the equation, I can tell you that no one ever claims an 11 Piece steel ProSelect set.
You'd be simply amazed how many people spend $5000 on a set of clubs ! Particularly when they only have a $2000 car to carry them to the course !

[iyell4]

Just curious but for someone like me who buys most stuff used and online with no receipts. How do I prove that I have what I have in the awful event this were to happen to me?
you should at least have a PayPal record when you payed for the stuff, that's a start. Although not sure if an insurance claims adjustor can tell if that $3,000US was for a set of clubs or for a pristine Gordie Howe rookie card.

[Cup13]

I understand the insurance game, however, I actually lost Taylor Made, Hogan, Armour, Izzo, so I truly had a very high claim. My beef with insurance is 13 years of car/house claim free, now a victim and treated like I am trying to scam them. But the issue that I am more concerned with is, what does a thief do with 2.5K worth of forged blades, stiff shaft drivers etc? If this is a growing theft ring, someone ultimately is buying this stuff and creating demand.

[noback]

Just curious but for someone like me who buys most stuff used and online with no receipts. How do I prove that I have what I have in the awful event this were to happen to me?
Take pictures:D

[iyell4]

Take pictures:Dyeah, put lots of folks here post pix of their gear 'in the bag' either here or somewhere on their websites ... what's stopping a scammer from grabbing those pix and submitting it to the insurance co. for compensation saying ... 'this was my beloved golf gear'.

for every 1 true sad story i hear, i also hear a dozen scam stories.... from real peeps .... i'll gripe about them driving up overall insurance rates for everyone, but i sure ain't gonna call their insurance provider to rat them out.

[laxgolf]

Take pictures:DYup. That's what I was told to do because I asked specifically about my set of clubs when setting up my policy on my house. They told me that if the set is less than $3000 I don't need anything special and my insurance would cover it. It was funny because the guy setting up my policy is a golf equipment fanatic and we talked about gear for about 30 minutes after we were done.

Excuse this exercise, but I've actually never sat down to figure out the overall cost to replace.

To replace with new gear (taxes in):

Cleveland Launcher - Aldila NV - replace with Comp $450
TM 200 Steel 3W - Irod - probably can't replace would go with V-Steel, stock shaft OK - $225
Mizuno MP001 5W - Irod - $250
MP30's - would get combo MP32/MP60 - $1300
Mizuno MP 52 - $160
TM RAC Y-Cutter 56 - tour issued, not really replaceable but Y-Cuts coming to market - $200??
Cleveland RTG 60 - $140
Odyssey DF Rossie II - $20 but really irreplaceable
Sun Mountain Bag - $175
Balls - $50

Of all that the only clubs I'd buy new are the irons and wedges. Everything else would be used.

To the people b*tching about the premium increase, a 20% increase in insurance premiums isn't too bad when you consider the new gear you're getting.

[wayland]

To the people b*tching about the premium increase, a 20% increase in insurance premiums isn't too bad when you consider the new gear you're getting.
Then that isn't insurance IMO. You pay premiums for how long without a claim and then when you make a claim it gets jacked? That is not protection. As it relates to cars, I'd rather not buy insurance other than liability. Think about how much you pay for collision and comprehensive. If you don't get into an accident for 10yrs, how much have you paid? Yet once you get into one accident, there's no sympathy. The agent doesn't say "Hey you know what? We made so much money off your spotless driving record for the last 10yrs, this one's on us".

Remember that the 20% hike isn't simply for one year. You have no control over how many years they continue to show up at your bedside with a tub of vaseline.

As to pictures, I guess it's reasonable but IMO very susceptible to fraud as well. Anyone have spare time to goto GT with me while I pose with my set of equipment? Just take a few pics please. ;)

[putmedownforasix]

I had a set of Tommy Armours stolen from my car (which was valet parked) down in Niagara Falls a few years ago...I found the insurance company very helpful - they didn't ask too many questions, and I didn't have to provide any receipts. The thing that really sucked was that I also lost my grandfather's putter that was probably worth 10 bucks, but priceless as a memento. I used it on particularly slick greens, but that was the only keepsake I had from him.

To the OP's original question, my brother, who is a police officer out in Kitchener, told me that Play it Again sports is a real hot spot for stolen clubs. I'd check the stores closest to you.

[Cup13]

After all of this time, I just got my reimbursement from my insurance company. Quite the process. Naturally I have had lots of opps to talk about all my new golf gear, but I had an interesting chat with a pal from California who says that clubjacking is all the rage there. One story about a guy who is joined by a single on a cart, plays the 1st. and says he left his wedge by the practice green...you know the rest of the story.

I am still unnerved by how long it is taking me to get used to a new putter and the distances on my beauty Titleist forged irons.

My car was broken into last week and my bag and shoes were stolen. $500 deductable and automatic 20% rate bump for 3 years. Good news, new clubs, bad news, a lot of time spent dealing with this and now starting all over with new gear.

Question...has anyone ever suspected an outlet for hot clubs - beyond pawn shops? My point is that anyone buying from these types perpetuate the petty theives that supply this market.

I will keep an eye on ebay for a while, but my beloved irons were Tommy Armour forged v25's if anyone runs across an offer for these hard to find clubs.

[iyell4]

I hate insurance companies, they pay you the claim, but then they make the money back with increased rates !
i love the commercials for insurance companies.
you know, the ones that portray them a compassionate angels there to help you in your time of need. ... we're there for you. .... you have other things to take care of we make it easy for you to get back on your feet ... :)

[iyell4]

One story about a guy who is joined by a single on a cart, plays the 1st. and says he left his wedge by the practice green...you know the rest of the story...
he plays the rest of his round one club short and plays his 9-iron open for pitch shots?:)

[iyell4]

Remember that the 20% hike isn't simply for one year. You have no control over how many years they continue to show up at your bedside with a tub of vaseline.:eek: funny but so true that it is sad!:rofl:

[jmr73]

he plays the rest of his round one club short and plays his 9-iron open for pitch shots?:)
Not sure if you were being sarcastic. I think he is saying that the single drove off with the other guys bag attached to the cart. Pretty brave move.

For the cost of a green fee with cart, he ends up with someone else's clubs, bag and whatever else is in it (wallet, keys to his car?)

[Rule35]

You guys are killing me on this one.

If you have insurance,

and you have been with a company long enough,

and you get your clubs stolen,

YOUR PREMIUM WONT GO UP!!

Your company should be able to set you up with either payment , or new gear within 72 hours.

IF not, you are with the wrong company!!

[Rocknronny]

You guys are killing me on this one.

If you have insurance,

and you have been with a company long enough,

and you get your clubs stolen,

YOUR PREMIUM WONT GO UP!!

Your company should be able to set you up with either payment , or new gear within 72 hours.

IF not, you are with the wrong company!!I dont have insurance but I always keep one eye on my clubs.And YOU DONT want to even think about it cause I WILL hurt you...:nono:

[SW20 MR2]

Unless you make a lot of house insurance claims, there is no reason why your insurance rates should go up. Auto claims are quite common since people are quite likely, relatively speaking, to get into accidents or have their cars damaged. However, how often do you file a house insurance claim? Once every 10-20 years (unless you live in a ghetto)? My car was broken into a few years ago, and they stole my stereo and laptop. That was the first house claim that we had ever filed in probably 30 years.

[Big Shooter]

This thread should serve as an eye-opener for a lot of people...

...there is No HONOUR among thieves, and especially with High-priced golf equipment!:eek: :eek: :eek: :(

one suggestion I have, is to keep receipts handy for any purchases you make with Credit Cards...they have some sort of "loss" insurance up to a certain amount of time/dollar amount...might be worth looking in to?!!!

[iyell4]

This thread should serve as an eye-opener for a lot of people...:eek: :eek: :eek: :( definitely.
i would never knowingly purchase stolen golf equipment. but most of my equipment is previously-enjoy. most purchased off ebay or forums.

vehicles have VINs. i notice that alot of clubs have serial no. on them. is there a repository of 'hot' serial numbers?
what if i take my set of used Pings into a pro-shop for some adjustments and they tell me that this serialized set is flagged as being 'stolen'? (again, would they have access to that info?) would i be sol? would my loving/caring insurance co. compensate me for a set of clubs i bought on-line that turn out to be stolen and are seized by RCMP as evidence? :confused:

[intherough]

I had all my gear stolen earlier this summer as well (which is why I have all new gear as of last month). Basically, I was cleaning out my garage, and had all the contents of the garage on the driveway... I went into the house to pay the pizza guy for my kids, came out 20 minutes later and my bag was gone. I hate thieves. :mad: They are the lowest of the low...

Anyways, while it took a bit longer to settle the claim than I would have liked, I am satisfied how it all worked out in the end. Basically, I gave the Claims Adjuster a list of what was stolen, and what the replacements would be today. They got a quote from Golf Town for the replacements, subtracted my deductible and wrote me a cheque for the balance. I got pretty much equivalent clubs to what was stolen, and my broker has advised that the only hit I should take is the loss of the 5% no-claims discount for the next three years.

[iyell4]

my broker has advised that the only hit I should take is the loss of the 5% no-claims discount for the next three years.
If your deductible was $500 ..
and your annual rate is $1,000
and it goes up by 5% for the next three years because you lose that 'claims-free' discount ($50 more per year x 3 years = $150) ...
they you essentially got all new gear for $650.
you've come out ahead ...:)

Now, as for the irreplaceable memento putter passed down to you from your grandfather, no $$ can replace that.:(

[duffer_devon]

definitely.
would my loving/caring insurance co. compensate me for a set of clubs i bought on-line that turn out to be stolen and are seized by RCMP as evidence? :confused:If you have any stolen items in your possession your insurance company would not be obligated to replace it as you were not the rightful owner of the property. Even if you did not know it was stolen. I'm an adjuster and this happens more often than you want to know.

Imagine buying a $10,000 car only to have it repossessed by the police and returned to the rightful owner because it was stolen. There is no recourse for you unless you sue the person who you bought it from.

[Big Shooter]

bump, 'cause I really want everyone to read this thread!:)

[Cup13]

Sorry, after re-reading my post I didn't realize that the scam wasn't obvious. Indeed, taking off in a cart would require a cold heart and nerves 'o steel, but with the cost of gear being upward of $3K +, it is likely worth it. My replacement cost was almost $4K with tax.

Bottom line...be vigilant with your gear. I also heard about linking your carry strap to your partners bag when you leave your gear unattended. This causes a real commotion if someone was to try a quick grab and dash.



Not sure if you were being sarcastic. I think he is saying that the single drove off with the other guys bag attached to the cart. Pretty brave move.

For the cost of a green fee with cart, he ends up with someone else's clubs, bag and whatever else is in it (wallet, keys to his car?)

[jmr73]

Sorry, after re-reading my post I didn't realize that the scam wasn't obvious. Indeed, taking off in a cart would require a cold heart and nerves 'o steel, but with the cost of gear being upward of $3K +, it is likely worth it. My replacement cost was almost $4K with tax..
I am surprised that scam is not used more often. I could easily seeing this used to get someone's car and valuables. I would have never thought about something like that when playing with a single in a cart. Won't get fooled now.

linking your carry strap to your partners bag when you leave your gear unattended. This causes a real commotion if someone was to try a quick grab and dash.
Very good tip... I am going to use that one.

[Big Shooter]

bump, again

[klink1983]

I did a claim 2 years ago for a $1400 mountain bike i had taken from my garage. barely had the insuranc epolicy 6 months, and i had a new bike in 2 days. the guy even came to my house to give me the cheque, took me to the bank and then dropped me at the shop to grab a new bike.

its all about the company that you are with.

[polarbear]

I had the same experience... Earlier this season, my car was broken in
and my golf gear and roller blades, etc were stolen. I did not have the
receipt of the golf clubs, but pictures me playing were good enough
to claim insurance. Paid $500 deductible, and got the cheque to replace
all the stolen goods. House insurance premium did not go up.

I've got a new gear which I am very happy with, however, my favourite
head covers, hat, rain jacket, etc and the memory of the clubs cannot
be replaced.

Please be careful, everyone. Do not store anything valuables in your car...

PB

[Big Shooter]

bump again:(