If its shipped by truck and its damaged, you have to go through a claims process with the trucking company as the product is consigned to them. This sometimes takes awhile and is made as difficult as posible by the trucking company. In theory the insurance sends you a new item and they fight with the trucking company. If you dont use the insurance pay with a credit card. If the stuff arrives damaged and the company doesn't make good, inform them that you will dispute the charge when you receive your credit card bill. This usually is very effective.

> My brother-in-law is going to buy a new router and table saw so he can
> start building a strip-built boat. While ordering, the company asked if he
> wanted the optional "insurance". He said sure, but after doing
> so wondered "what do I get out of it?"

> I have ordered power tools (random orbital sanders, table saws, etc.) in
> the past and waived the $1 or $3 "insurance" the mail order
> company offered. Does anyone out there know what the "insurance"
> offered through mail entitles the consumer to?

> Thanks.