As a business, we have a card for a cash and carry warehouse. We use it infrequently but when buying consumables, such as tea, coffee, toilet rolls and cleaning products, it makes a big difference. As a business insurance broker, we are not VAT registered so we have to add on 20%, and leave it there.
The main companies that do this are Makro, Booker and CostCo. There are others, but these are the largest. When we go to the cash and carry I am always amazed by the shop keepers, hoteliers and restaurant owners that have trolleys so stacked up they can barely move. My insurance mind starts to work in overdrive and calculate exactly how much stock they have and if they take it in their car or van, are they insured for it?
Most of our shop, hotel and restaurant insurance policies include a small element of cover for goods in transit. The usual limit is £2,000 with £750 for wines, spirits and tobaccos. This provides cover if the stock is maybe stolen en route or the car crashes and the stock is destroyed.
Most of the people I see are probably not far off this figure but some, with big white vans, are guaranteed to be way over this limit. Now what they should do it speak to their broker and get the limit increased, the chances are that to go from £2,000 to £3,000 will only cost about £20 per year. I know it is more money but at the end of the day there are some insurances that you really cannot do without. The vehicle cover will not include stock being carried, this must fit onto yoru business insurance policy.