November/December 2008 What? No Coffee! Convenience Store Breakdowns are Grounds for a Loss Coping Without Cappuccino, ATM Short, Too Much on the Line Convenience stores are packed with equipment. A mechanical or electrical breakdown can quickly dry up this high-volume business. No morning coffee? No sale, as customers leave to buy elsewhere. Here are some typical losses: TOO MUCH POWER A mini-mart and gas station had extensive equipment damage and closed for a week following a utility voltage surge. Broken equipment included a refrigeration compressor, ATM machine, electronic cash register and credit card reader, fuel pump controls, coffee and cappuccino machines, lighting, and main electrical panel. Total paid loss: $40,661, including $6,137 for lost business income. SPOILED BUSINESS A store closed for two days to restock its spoiled fresh food products after a low voltage condition caused a refrigeration compressor motor to break down. The spoiled items included frozen foods, ice cream, dairy products and deli meats. Total paid loss: $58,835, including $50,000 for spoilage and lost business income. CAN'T HANDLE THE LOAD Overloading shorted out the electric meter panel in a strip mall convenience store. The owner had added a large walk-in freezer to the line, which already serviced several refrigerators and display cases. Total paid loss: $28,017, including $5,451 for spoiled specialty meats and lost income. HOT LINE, BIG LOSS A power surge entered a convenience store through a telephone data line and destroyed a computerized point-of-sale system used to track sales, inventory and check credit. The equipment had to be replaced. Total paid loss: $29,146. Hartford Steam Boiler - One State Street - P.O. Box 5024 - Hartford, CT 06102-5024 Phone: 860-722-1866 - Fax: 860-722-5106 ©1996-2008 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.