I recently contacted a few auto insurers for quotes. The Hartford came in more reasonable than my current insurer, State Farm. So, while I had them on the phone, I asked about homeowner's insurance. During their questioning I unwittingly revealed that I am an eBay seller chugging through an attic full of books and paper that I've collected for 70 years. The interview came to an abrupt halt, and I was informed that The Hartford no longer sold home policies to online sellers. It didn't matter that I had no employees, or that I didn't have a showroom or visiting customers. Nor did it matter that my volume of sales reduced to a mere 200 per year - hardly a high-velocity business. And I'll never understand how a book or magazine that I'd sold could damage a buyer's property, resulting in a lawsuit. The agent hadn't suggested that as their reasoning. I learned that during a search. The agent claimed that she and the other agents did not know why such a decision had been made. They had received an inter-office directive not to write new policies for online sellers and that was that.
My current policy premium increased to $1700/yr or $144/mo. It won't pay for a new roof, or driveway, or sidewalk. It won't pay for appliances, water heater or furnace.
I see that Amazon requires its sellers to carry business insurance if they exceed $10,000 in sales per month. EBay's help pages don't discuss business insurance.
Does anyone out there have insight to add?
Thank you and best regards,
Richard
