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Should my client refund my damaged equipment?


mrtim80

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I was hired by this event organizer working for a Latin America singles club as an event photographer. Basically, I had to take photos of the participants, take pictures and videos of their activities, and so on. Right before the event started, I was waiting for their crew to deliver my equipment, so I could begin setting up. Their crew ended up dropping my bags and damaging over $3,000 worth of equipment. Should my client refund the damaged items? How do I tell him?
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It seems to me there needs to be more detail as to why the Client was responsible for delivering your gear. I’ve covered many functions over a period of many years and there was never any occasion where the Client had possession of my gear – so that seems an odd arrangement, to me.

 

But there might be some sensible reason and you might have made a suitable arrangement with your Client. My first thought is to look at insurance coverage: I expect it will be a much more difficult road, if neither of you have insurance cover.

 

On the question of how do you tell the Client – I’d expect the Client would have (or should have) been told immediately the damage was noticed, but it seems you didn't do that?

 

All in all you do need to provide more information, to reap quality opinions.

 

WW

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Are you a professional? Were you charging to cover this event? Is the organizer a professional? Was this a for profit venture for them?

 

You BOTH should have insurance to cover your gear. You shouldn't have your cameras in your car without a proper insurance policy to cover their loss. Your car insurance will not pay if they are damage or stolen. Neither will your homeowners or renters policy. Your client should have insurance to cover the actions of his workers. His policy may, or may not, cover transportation of your gear but a generally liability policy should. But, were they moving your gear for your convenience or was it some sort of union or security issue? If you were required to have them move your cases for some reason, then they are libel but you may still have a hard time getting anything from them.

 

Since you were having someone else transport your gear, was it properly packed in cases designed for the purpose and for rough handling?

 

From what you describe, you are both at fault. If you want to act a professional, you need to act like a professional.

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Not sure how equipment gets damaged in your cases. I assume your most expensive possession is your camera case which I assume you carried in yourself so that leaves your lighting gear and stands? $3,000 if it is camera gear would be one camera body or two lenses. If it was lighting gear then that could be a pack and head. How on earth would you not be shouting to the top of your lungs to the crew leader and the client the moment you discovered this? How were you even able to do the job? There is a lot of holes in your story.
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  • 5 weeks later...

Seems to me you either have insurance or self-insure.

 

Your fees should be high enough to cover some part of your equipment.

On average, over some number of events, the equipment will be paid for.

Maybe it was time for new stuff, anyway? (Or buy used, if it makes sense.)

-- glen

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