April 2005 Point-Of-Sale Equipment Adds to Retail Exposures A Basic Electronic Cash Register Can Be Worth More than $1,000 It was an hour before closing when the lights flickered inside a wireless telephone store. Smoke poured from the electrical outlets and equipment shorted out. Printers, scanners and computers were damaged, but it was the loss of electronic cash registers, several credit card readers and a computer server used to program new cellphones that shut the store down. The loss totaled $10,225. POS Systems Need Protection Like so many businesses, the phone store relied on electronic point-of-sale (POS) equipment to save time and money. Restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and retailers of all sizes use this equipment. Modern electronic cash registers are integrated with POS systems to perform many functions including inventory tracking, credit card authorization and electronic fund transfers. Your clients rely on fragile equipment using swipe, touch and scan technologies that are often interconnected and vulnerable to electrical damage. Make sure they are covered for repairs, lost income and other expenses with equipment breakdown insurance from Hartford Steam Boiler. Apple Juice A weld on ammonia refrigeration piping in a cold storage warehouse cracked, allowing the gas to leak and contaminate 1,480 bins of Golden Delicious apples. The pipe was repaired and the ammonia replaced, but the apples could only be used for juice. Total Paid Loss $246,402 This example summarizes actual losses and coverage. For all terms, conditions and exclusions, consult the actual policy. Air Conditioning Often Breaks Down When First Turned On HSB claim data shows that about one-third of air conditioning breakdowns take place between April and June. That's when many customers are starting up equipment after seasonal shutdowns and running systems longer. We also see a peak of hot weather breakdowns in summer months. Our online HSB Equipment Care resource can help your clients with steps to properly start up and shut down their air conditioning systems. HSB Equipment Care also offers information to help keep air conditioning and other equipment running longer and better. Click here for a list of topics. Schools Have Changed, And So Have The Risks Schools have more to worry about than boilers today, with equipment exposures that have changed considerably in the past 20 years. As schools depend more on modern technology, electrical losses are increasing. Click here to view charts prepared by HSB claim analysts that show how school equipment losses have changed over time. Most retail businesses use point-of-sale equipment such as electronic cash registers. Yet, too many overlook the need to protect these valuable assets with equipment breakdown insurance. How many of your clients rely on POS equipment and systems? Click your answer below: •  0-24% •  25-49% •  50-74% •  75+% Hartford Steam Boiler - One State Street - P.O. Box 5024 - Hartford, CT 06102-5024 Phone: 860-722-1866 - Fax: 860-722-5106 ©1996-2006 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved. <%=imagepath%>