var json_comments = new Array("

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Cameron Leggett

July 7, 2009 1:55 PM

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BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great song and vid

1 replies

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kc2idf

July 7, 2009 3:55 PM

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@Cameron Leggett: I'll admit up front that I am not a fan of country music. That said, this is just plain awesome. I have no idea if Dave Carroll is a big name, small name, up and comer, or what, but there is not a thing wrong with using whatever pulpit you've got and pouring on the shame.

Very nice-looking video, too. Bravo.

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larrymac thinks testing should have occurred

July 7, 2009 1:57 PM

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Is there some reason for the \"Mexican\" costumes?

6 replies

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave

July 7, 2009 5:03 PM

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@larrymac: I think you're being a little sterotypical there. Just because someone wears nice clothes, has a mustache, and wears a sombero, doesn't mean they are \"Mexican\". I wear nice clothes, have a mustache, and wear a cowboy hat, but that doesn't make me a \"Texan\" or \"Mexican\".

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Con Seannery

July 7, 2009 6:01 PM

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@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: But it does look like you're a man who, at some point in his life, was stiffed on pizza. A man seeking a labcoat. A man who has learned that there is no justice in this world.

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Trai_Dep

July 7, 2009 4:50 PM

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@larrymac: Because Blackface has been done to death?

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dahlink_natasha

July 7, 2009 3:52 PM

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@larrymac: because you have to give the rest of the band something to do that is unexpected and weird.

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July 7, 2009 3:35 PM

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@larrymac: Kindda has a mexican ballad feel to the song, possibly they just came back from a big birthday bash at Chevy's? (Chevy's gives those hats to you if it's your birthday)

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egoods

July 7, 2009 2:58 PM

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@larrymac: Clearly they're trying to be racist bigots and are out to rid 'merica of the Mexican plague. Or, you're being entirely oversensitive and they're wearing them because they look funny.

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July 7, 2009 1:58 PM

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That sucks. But next time, the guy needs to invest in an Anvil case. A bit more expensive, but if you're checking that caliber of guitar, you'd be much better protected.

15 replies

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k0d0s

July 10, 2009 2:50 AM

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@CaffiendCA: I agree 100%, those cases are awesome.

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Holly Hunt

July 9, 2009 1:21 PM

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@CaffiendCA:
I run a performance group and one year we did try to fly with our equipment in a protected metal case-they ran a forklift fork through one end. We were lucky it, missed everything but now we rent a van and send our stuff. I think that luggage vs. handlers is a losing battle.

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Ross Graham

July 8, 2009 12:16 PM

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@CaffiendCA: You know, I believe now that the strong cases just let the baggage handlers know what the REALLY good things to steal are. We were forced at the gate to check a DSLR with lens and other gear in a Penguin case on a return trip (that we had carried on on the outgoing flight). The camera and case never made it. Never showed up at the bottom of the plane. Never was retrieved later on. And airlines don't reimburse for camera equipment ... even if they make you check it.

Was right around Christmas. Someone had a good holiday.

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dahlink_natasha

July 7, 2009 3:53 PM

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@CaffiendCA: he's a professional musician, he probably has at least one. They just used manufacturer cases for the video filming.

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July 7, 2009 3:37 PM

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@CaffiendCA: Or MAYBE United should of thought, hey Guitar, those things are FRAGILE. I get it turbulance can cause all sorts of problems, but he's got witnesses that people saw the case being \"thrown\". I don't know how much more negative publicity one airline can take, honestly now this just seems like a drop in the bucket, but at least this time we get to watch a rather nicely done music video.

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July 7, 2009 2:53 PM

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@CaffiendCA: Ohh, they sell case wraps too. I'd have one made up in blaze orange and in 3 languages saying \"You break it, you bought it.\"

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July 7, 2009 3:08 PM

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@Nighthawke: You forgot the part about \"by accepting this package for transportation, you agree to handle it in such a manner that it will arrive at it's destination in working order, or you will provide repair or replacement costs.\"

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HiPwr

July 7, 2009 2:47 PM

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@CaffiendCA: I fly every year to go hunting out of state. I invested in a costly gun case that, while too heavy to actually be tossed around, has many serious gouges and dents in its metal exterior. The rifle and the revolver contained within it are very tightly sandwiched between two dense pieces of foam but still end up shifting slightly (and I blame them for causing me to re-sight my scope every time I arrive at my destination).

Yes, the airlines (American, in my case) should take better care of our luggange, but it is nonetheless prudent to take precautions against when they are not if you are transporting something you care a great deal for.

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July 9, 2009 12:28 AM

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@HiPwr: That's crazy, from my experience, American is extra careful with guns. Maybe your case doesn't look like a gun case? I know that with pistols in checked luggage, it's always inspected by the TSA but nothing is ever missing. I haven't traveled to a state with reciprocity in a while, so I don't know if anything's changed.

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July 7, 2009 2:35 PM

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@CaffiendCA: Why should he hock up the extra dough just because luggage carriers are careless?

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July 9, 2009 8:56 PM

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@Moosehawk: There's a difference between blaming the consumer, and offering helpful advice.

When I worked at a music store, a guy came in wanting a quote for a hard-shell case to replace his that an airline had damaged (may have been an Anvil, I don't remember, but it was a good case). They had stuck a forklift prong right through the neck. They told him they would replace the case, but not the Martin inside it, because it could have been any guitar in the case. Nevermind that he showed employees right after it happened...

After that, we recommended that travellers invest in a hard-shell case, put the case in it's original box (well-packaged), and ship it UPS (properly insured). Not that UPS is infallible...

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Scatter

July 8, 2009 12:42 AM

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Because if he did his guitar might not be destroyed now

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rpm773

July 7, 2009 5:14 PM

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@Moosehawk: Because luggage carriers are careless. Whether the airline covers his loss or not doesn't change the fact that his guitar broke.

An ounce of prevention...

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July 7, 2009 2:07 PM

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@CaffiendCA: The op obviously should have assumed that all companies are evil and destroy everything. Thus he should have instead invented a teleportation devise that would have transported both himself and guitars to where he wanted to go.

btw where does it state in the article that he didn't have said case?

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July 7, 2009 3:03 PM

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@Skankingmike: From the picture, he clearly has a case from the manufacturer. I have guitars, and would never check one of those cases. I don't know specifically about Taylor, but my Ovation came in a case that wouldn't give it adequate protection on an airplane. The luggage routing in most airports is more than brutal enough to screw up a guitar in a fitted case.

This is blantantly clear abuse, and United is going to have to pay up on this to stem the bad publicity.

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QrazyQat

July 7, 2009 6:09 PM

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As others have noted, the video is not of the incident. And on Carroll's web site he mentions \"hard case out of the padded protective exterior case\".

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July 7, 2009 3:26 PM

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@CaffiendCA: lol it was a video you think they would make a parody video with expensive cases they threw around?

hah

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robocop is bleeding

July 7, 2009 2:01 PM

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Way to raise the bar on EECBs.

1 replies

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Con Seannery

July 7, 2009 9:02 PM

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@robocop_is_bleeding: EMVCB. Executive Music Video Carpet Bomb.

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July 7, 2009 2:03 PM

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WOW! We have a consumerist gold medal e-carpet bomb. Catchy tune too! It would be great if it made Staurday night live or the tonight show. Just so it got some good publicity.

Then maybe some responsibility will be taken.

1 replies

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July 7, 2009 10:01 PM

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@vdragonmpc: I wish I was still working in radio -- I'd definitely add it to the playlist. I hate country music, but this isn't bad.

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frank64

July 7, 2009 2:03 PM

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He says he told United he was going to release 3 songs about it and he has the second in production.

1 replies

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P_Smith

July 7, 2009 9:10 PM

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@frank64: Just imagine a \"gangsta rap\" song about it...

\"T.S.A. (Tag that Sucka's Ass)\"

\"...I'm gonna ID him, so I can I.E.D. him....\"

I'm sure that would go over well.

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July 7, 2009 2:03 PM

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needs more cowbell

1 replies

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BuddyHinton

July 9, 2009 1:02 AM

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Nice.

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Foneguy

July 7, 2009 2:05 PM

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AWESOME. Better than, \"you'rs is a very bad hotel\" from a few years ago. He didn't just write a song, it's a video too. Sadly, this video could get airplay on all the radio stations and news networks in the country and United would still have the shi**y attitude. Shame on you United, you break it, you buy it. Prove me wrong.

1 replies

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July 7, 2009 9:58 PM

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@Foneguy: Well, the song could get radio play-the video wouldn't work too well :).

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July 7, 2009 2:07 PM

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Just phenomenal. The YouTube page says two more songs are coming. Hopefully they're at least thus good!!

3 replies

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cmdrsass

July 7, 2009 2:10 PM

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@larrymac: Do you have some sort of problem with Mexicans? Racism isn't tolerated around here you know.

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July 7, 2009 2:21 PM

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@cmdrsass: Way to reply to the wrong thread. Also, whats wrong with asking why they are wearing mexican costumes. It would be racism if the guy was ranting against hiring mexican band members, and saying shit like \"effing illegals, stealing money from them hard working disney cookie cutter amrikan musicians\".

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Jage

July 7, 2009 5:50 PM

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@larrymac: Where does it say they're \"Mexican\"? Mexican is a nationality, and not all \"Mexicans\" dress like that.

Maybe you're the one being racist.

Also, maybe he was sitting, on the plane, next to people who were dressed like that.

Or maybe people in big hats and mustaches are hilarious.

Either way, get over it.

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larrymac thinks testing should have occurred

July 7, 2009 2:14 PM

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@cmdrsass: Are you always a moron or just on Tuesdays? My question is why are the band members dressed as they are, to me it seems barely a step beyond blackface. It was offensive when Genesis did it and I don't see what it adds to this song. You might want to brush up on how to use the reply function too.

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July 7, 2009 2:12 PM

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the lyrics are \"you're libel just admit it\". not \"why not just admit it\"

the latter doesn't even flow :P

just saying...

love the country song btw

5 replies

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Anthony Rissesco

July 8, 2009 5:56 PM

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@Skankingmike: That's liable not libel.

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July 7, 2009 2:14 PM

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@Skankingmike: You won't be surprised to know that I listened to that lyric six times before guessing at it. I'll make the correction.

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July 7, 2009 2:22 PM

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@Chris Walters: Actually its \"you are liable\" not \"libel\" :P

Changes the whole meaning actually...

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July 7, 2009 2:18 PM

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@Chris Walters: it's cool, thanks for the new artist! apparently he's from Canada.

though if he was from the states he might have used \"why not just admit it\" because most people don't know what libel means :).

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larrymac thinks testing should have occurred

July 7, 2009 2:16 PM

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@Chris Walters: Be sure to use \"liable\" as in \"liability\".

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July 7, 2009 2:51 PM

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@larrymac: I think it's \"you're lying just admit it\" which makes way more sense than liable (one less syllable).

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July 7, 2009 3:30 PM

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@burnedout: na i think liable makes more sense they're not lying they just said they're not responsible.

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July 7, 2009 2:20 PM

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@larrymac: yea sorry spell check doesn't find the right word :P

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Foneguy

July 7, 2009 2:12 PM

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Here's the link for Yours is a very bad hotel.... Still funny after all those years. www.hyperorg.com/misc/DoubleTreeShow.ppt

1 replies

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July 7, 2009 9:19 PM

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@Foneguy: Wow. awesome. (referring to the \"Yours Is A Very Bad Hotel\", I especially like the chart showing how much potential business they cut themselves out of by treating them badly.

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gparlett

July 7, 2009 2:13 PM

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I had to take a guitar on an airplane once. Gatechecked it the whole way and it did okay, but it was a huge pain hauling the thing around. Now I'm really glad I didn't check it.

1 replies

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sample032

July 7, 2009 6:32 PM

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@gparlett: I've flown with one a few times. When I checked it, they actually asked if it was a gun. If it wasn't a Strat in a flight case, I probably would have been worried.

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hills

July 7, 2009 2:14 PM

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What's United reason for not paying? Are guitars exempt from liability or something? Did they tell him that when he checked it? I know if something happened to my husband's beloved Taylor there would be hell to pay....

3 replies

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Kogenta

July 7, 2009 2:32 PM

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@hillsrovey: Probably because they have some clause about no liability for \"accidental\" damage or loss of property over $100 limit or something similiar in place.

Same thing if your expensive electronics gets \"lost\" or damaged in transit. Checked luggage is a \"at your own risk\" thing for anything of value.

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July 8, 2009 1:36 AM

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@Kogenta: That's my understanding. Basically, they simply don't accept liability for checked bags beyond a bare minimum.

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July 7, 2009 2:24 PM

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@hillsrovey: They probably can say it wasn't packed well enough. Which technically is true if the case offered no real protection if the guitar is dropped.

But if they watched workers intentionally tossing it around, he should have filed a police report for vandalism. People do it for theft(it gets the airport to act), and with witnesses the vandalism should be easy to prove.

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G'osh Berliner

July 7, 2009 2:14 PM

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So United is the airline that treats your luggage worst AND they charge for even the first checked bag...

In this age of farecompare and bookingbuddy, I am usually willing to fly with anybody so long as they are the cheapest with one exception: the obnoxious carry-on Nazis at United.
Thanks for the vid Dave! I hope you get restitution from those goons. Nobody deserves to have their things treated like that, especially after you are extorted to check your bags.

2 replies

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July 7, 2009 10:50 PM

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@G'osh Berliner: The race to be the cheapest is what brings us the problems we see today. When any company focuses solely on price, quality is the first thing to suffer. Wal Mart vs. the corner store. Locally produced toys vs. Chinese lead-paint laced toys. TVs that lasted 10 years vs. cheap ones which last 1-3 years at most. And the pre-regulation days when flying on an airline was enjoyable experience vs. today where we're considered self-loading cargo.

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TechnoDestructo

March 31, 2010 3:39 PM

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You me pre-de-regulation. It was deregulation that brought us to this.

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July 7, 2009 2:16 PM

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It's preceded in its genre by Tom Paxton, though: [www.last.fm]

(\"Thank you, Republic Airlines/ For breaking the neck of my guitar.\")

2 replies

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July 7, 2009 3:24 PM

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@floraposte: Beat me to it. Tom FTW.

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zibby

July 7, 2009 3:44 PM

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@TheWillow: I liked that. Another great song/vid produced in the wake of misfortune. Worth the few minutes:

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LandOhNo

July 7, 2009 2:16 PM

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One way I got around actually checking a guitar, possibly by fluke, was to take it as a carry-on. Once I got to the plane, they put it in the cargo for me. IT was nice to have the control up to that point. Same for when I got off the flight, just grabbed it out of cargo.

2 replies

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July 7, 2009 2:28 PM

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@LandOhNo: This is called a \"gate check\", FYI.

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LandOhNo

July 7, 2009 2:39 PM

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@lannister80: There's the word I was looking for! My brain is still on Monday morning.

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badhatharry

July 7, 2009 2:22 PM

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Is that Rivers Cuomo?

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July 7, 2009 2:26 PM

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My boyfriend's flown with his guitar quite a few times, he just takes it as a carry-on and gate checks it. Gives you a lot more control/peace of mind.

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dosdelon

July 7, 2009 2:27 PM

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Ahahahahaha, they are douchebags, why not pay it?!?! They deserve that song and more!

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July 7, 2009 2:31 PM

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I am in no way blaming the OP but he doesn't say that he had insurance on the guitar. He should of had it insured. In addition maybe he should of had a rider in the policy to cover the actual value of it. My homeowners policy protects my belongings no matter where they are. From what I understand you can get the same coverage on renters policies as well.

About 20 years ago my 10 year old son and myself rented a log cabin in one of the Pennsylvania state parks. One evening we came back to the cabin to find someone had opened one of the windows to get in and took several items.

I checked with the company that wrote my homeowners insurance policy and found out I was covered for the loss, minus my deductible.

6 replies

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July 7, 2009 9:03 PM

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@Philly Falcon: A lot of policies won't insure a musical instrument if it is being used to make a profit. Both my fiance' and I play guitar and because we are in a band (local) and travel and play for money at gigs, our equipment (sound and lights) and instruments that are taken with us aren't insurable under PA's insurance laws. I tried 7 or 8 different insurance companies to have the stuff covered under home owners and then later under renters insurance and no dice. The only way they could be insured was to buy a professionals' policy (for artists that use their \"tools\" to make a profit) and that's REALLY huge money. We have insurance on 2 of the guitars that never leave the house that are worth 8-10 each that are covered under my renter's insurance but the amps and speakers, soundboard, lights, pedals, and other gear we use on gigs isn't.
I would imagine that since he seems to be a true professional artist (making a living off his music) I would guess that either his agent or contract company has insurance on all of his equipment along with the band's other stuff while on the road.

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July 7, 2009 9:57 PM

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@Eat A Peach: You've made a good point. I didn't look at it like that.

It's the same with my homeowners insurance. It doesn't cover any of my tools or materials that I use for my business. My business policy covers them.

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July 9, 2009 3:08 AM

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@Philly Falcon: I would also guess that since he was traveling with his band, he was probably doing a show and the booking agent make the plans and was responsible for deciding how the band's equipment was to get to the site. It seems unlikely that he'd be travelling with his fellow artists and on a personal trip somewhere that he wouldn't carry on his instrument or gate check it. He might not be a big enough \"star\" to rate a truck to carry the band equipment or they don't have enough to bother spending the money on a transport vehicle and the stuff gets put into cargo when traveling to gigs/shows. Just a guess, though.....

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July 7, 2009 9:45 PM

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@Eat A Peach: *worth 8-10 grand each that are covered under my renter's insurance....

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Anonymous

July 7, 2009 4:45 PM

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@Philly Falcon:

Damage insurance is a fine idea but gross neglegence on the part of the airline is inexcusable.The reason we pay high insurance rates has a lot to do with attitudes like this !

How about just doing the job you are paid to do?
Willfully destroying property is probably outside the job description of baggage handler. When an employees is in the wrong the company should do the right thing... take responsability and correct the problem.

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave

July 7, 2009 3:38 PM

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@Philly Falcon: There was a guy who decked out his VW in lightbulbs. He tried insuring it, but no one would insure him, as he drives it around and exposes it to dangers all the time. I would think the same applies here. You want to ensure it, but you're playing/putting it in danger? I'm sure if they DID offer him insurance, it would be very pricey.

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July 7, 2009 4:45 PM

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@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: I have a rider in my homeowners insurance covering several collectible items. Each of them would cost more than the guitar was worth. While the cost of insuring them is, as you said, pricey, the cost pales in comparison to what it would cost to replace any of the items. It would seem that the same would apply to the guitar.

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July 7, 2009 2:34 PM

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I once checked my guitar into baggage...can't remember which airline. As I'm waiting at the baggage claim I can see through the hole to the other side where the handlers are throwing suitcases onto the belt. They then proceed to take my guitar and try to shove it through the hole in ways it wont fit....it was like watching a toddler try to fit the round block into the square hole. Obviously frustrated by this conundrum, one of them grabs it and just throws it through the hole, proceeding to crack the outside of the case. I jumped onto the belt, poked my head through to the other side and began yelling obscenities. That was fun. Good thing it was a cheap, crappy guitar. Why would anyone check a $3500 Taylor?

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PsiCop

July 7, 2009 2:34 PM

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I have relatives who frequently travel with expensive instruments (some even pricier than the OP's Taylor guitar). They NEVER check them in. Absolutely NEVER. Instead, they take them on the plane with them. To date, with several dozen trips under their belts, they've never had any trouble doing so, although occasionally the TSA folks seem to take great interest in the instrument cases (it's not always obvious what they are, and the x-ray views can look a little weird), and on at least two occasions have taken aside my relatives to be \"wanded\" and have all their carry-on luggage opened and inspected.

2 replies

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July 7, 2009 3:01 PM

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@PsiCop: What instruments do your relatives travel with? It's probably easier to carry on a flute than a guitar.

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dahlink_natasha

July 7, 2009 3:26 PM

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@theblackdog: don't be so sure. I play professionally, and had people at Harrisburg PA think that my $12,000 flute was a pipe bomb or other type of weapon. Scared the crap out of me. \"It's a bunch of metal tubes right??? weird stuff on them?? (keys) What else could it be??\"

Thankfully their superior's daughter played flute in the high school band and she knew what it was.

But no, I've never, ever, ever checked it. I had a flute stolen from me five years ago as I sat on a bench at my college, and the person sitting next to me always looks at me a little funny when I take the flute case out of the gigbag and sit in my seat with my arms wrapped around it.

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kbrook

July 8, 2009 3:35 AM

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@dahlink_natasha: If I'd paid that much for a flute, you can damn well bet that it wouldn't leave my sight unless it was locked up!

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July 7, 2009 2:37 PM

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If you've ever watched baggage handlers, it's like many of them try to see how recklessly they can manhandle your luggage. Does it really take that much more effort to place a bag on a conveyor rather than heave it? You'd think since each of those bags is apparently worth ~$20 in fees nowadays, they'd treat them like the fragile little ballistic nylon cash cows they are.

Oh, and it's a shame one of the very few sure-fire ways to get satisfaction in these situations is to make a catchy viral video. What are the rest of us talentless, uncreative schmucks to do?

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WhoAsked You

July 7, 2009 2:39 PM

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Okay I really really love this. While ultimately I always encourage / suggest a lawsuit when the company won't due the right thing, I think this is a great example of how a consumer that doesn't feel like / want to sue can walk away letting the world know what happened in style.

United PR people / execs and customer service people...listen up:

You are MORONS for letting this get this far, denying the claim, and further not responding. I hope this video loses you tons of business, you deserve it and you have lost mine.

What makes you think customers should just sit there and let your thug criminal and probably non-screened tarmac monkeys deliberately smash people's valued possessions? How would you like it if YOUR things were destroyed this way? What would the united CEO do if HIS stuff were treated this way? Fire the tarmac monkeys. But it's not his guitar, so it's okay.

I actually wish the OP would go ahead and sue, and present this video as evidence. The judge, jury and everyone but the dumb-ass defendants would love it and the guy would probably get bonus money in the judgment.

Further, you could subpoena United for the names of the tarmac monkeys and sue them personally or have them arrested for vandalism and destruction of private property. I would, after I got them fired.

2 replies

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Con Seannery

July 7, 2009 9:43 PM

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@WhoAsked You: They won't listen to a musician with a catchy song. They most definitely won't listen to a FACEBOOKER. I mean, Facebookers aren't even people.

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Robert Stevens

July 7, 2009 10:19 PM

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I am not an animal! I am a man!

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Con Seannery

July 8, 2009 7:09 AM

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@Robert Stevens: I'll keep an eye on you. If you meet the terms and conditions, I may bump you up from Facebooker status.

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July 7, 2009 2:48 PM

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Any company which has such bad customer service that this customer service inspired a website has its head up its tail:

www.untied.com

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July 7, 2009 2:56 PM

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I am NOT surprised that this happened at O'Hare. I'm sure there are a lot of problem employees at United, but in my experience they all work at O'Hare airport. I've never had the misfortune of dealing with worse people than the ones who work at or fly in and out of Chicago. If United is smart they'll fire the entire O'Hare staff and start over...ideally they'd hire people with souls.

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dahlink_natasha

July 7, 2009 3:34 PM

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The problem is that instruments are as unique and as individual as people, and that a musician's instrument is on par with their soul...and we don't take kindly when it gets stolen, damaged, or destroyed. Glad I'm not flying United at the end of the month.

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GreatWhiteNorth

July 7, 2009 3:43 PM

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Absolutely love the video and song... starting to dislike United...

I wonder if the negative PR will hurt United as much as this is Possitive PR for Dave's career.

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pupu

July 7, 2009 3:48 PM

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This sux - if some DB who can't even read at a 4th grade level is lucky enough to get an easy union bag handler job he should atleast try to do it well. I guess he was in a hurry - had a union mandated 2 hour afternoon break coming up.

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italianscallion33

July 7, 2009 3:49 PM

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I love the fake airplane wall they're sitting behind. XD

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starrion

July 7, 2009 3:50 PM

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I've started forwarding this to people that I know.

It's sad that the airlines are charging major money to carry luggage and STILL damaging it and losing it with the same lack of care they have always had.

HELLO! UNITED! YOU CHARGED MONEY TO CARRY THIS! YOU FAILED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE YOU CHARGED MONEY FOR!

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July 7, 2009 4:14 PM

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That's awesome. If he markets the single he'll probably make enough for a new guitar.

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July 7, 2009 4:17 PM

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whats up with the mexicans in the vid? Hopefully your assuming based on United's name that they \"Unite\" the world with their service.
You should of thrown an indian and african in there.

hmmmm,......i think i'll hold of on the racist comment.
Great vid btw, hope the CEO see's it.

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ChaoZ

July 7, 2009 4:37 PM

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I bought a TRIC case with my relatively cheap Seagull guitar. Apparently those will take a spill down a flight of stairs without damaging the guitar within.

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July 7, 2009 4:56 PM

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Bravo!

I love when people get the last laugh. United destroyed my favorite suitcase a few years ago. Pretty much tore it in half. They did give me a crappy replacement.

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July 7, 2009 4:57 PM

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Bravo!

I love when people get the last laugh. United destroyed my favorite suitcase a few years ago. Pretty much tore it in half. They did give me a crappy replacement.

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Anonymous

July 7, 2009 5:03 PM

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He probably didnt Un-String his guitar, judging how the guitar broke. Changes in pressure in the luggage hold will cause the strings to tighten and break the neck. Its not United's fault he kept the strings on his guitar. I might be wrong, but certainly looks that way. Same thing happened to friend, broke the same way,

It sucks, but its Dave Carroll's fault he didnt unstring his guitar before putting it in the unpressurized luggage part of the plane.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly

July 7, 2009 5:15 PM

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i think i'd be willing to pay a checked bag fee IF it included comprehensive insurance for the duration of the trip.
i pay less than that for two days worth of insurance on a rental car, why not some luggage?

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July 7, 2009 5:58 PM

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great song and video... i would sit thru this on VH1... is this song available on iTunes?

I will avoid United in the future.

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JiminyChristmas

July 7, 2009 6:02 PM

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I bought a Taylor 414 about 10 years ago and it came with a pretty nice hardshell plastic case. Judging from the video the guy has a hardshell wooden one, which is about the stoutest thing you can get without buying an aftermarket travel case.

I have to say, they must have abused the hell out of that guitar to actually snap the neck. I've knocked over and dropped guitars several times with nothing worse than a little ding. Likewise, I've never even seen or heard of anyone breaking the neck of a guitar, by accident at least.

That said, I never checked a guitar; I always carried it on. Granted, the last time I traveled with an instrument was probably 10-12 years ago, before all of the recent unpleasantness...so it's probably a lot tougher to carry one on now. I love the way Taylors play but in my experience they have been very fussy and require regular adjustment to keep in good playing condition. I think even just the swings in temperature and humidity between baggage handling, cargo hold, and tarmac would be enough to knock it out of whack.

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July 7, 2009 6:26 PM

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So your a professional musician and you CHECKED your guitar. You are crazy sir!

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July 7, 2009 6:30 PM

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A few years ago we flew American Airlines on Dec 23rd. I noticed that my luggage was wet (I thought snow/wet tarmac) but when we got to our destination realized that it stank of beer.

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kbarrett

July 7, 2009 7:12 PM

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@IfThenElvis: You were lucky they didn't pee on it.

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July 7, 2009 6:50 PM

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The flight originated in Halifax but that doesn't look like traditional Down East garb to me.

Farewell to Nova Scotia
Will you ever heave a guitar or a wish for me?

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Anonymous

July 7, 2009 7:34 PM

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String players know to avoid checking their instruments like the plague... I can't even think of doing that to my cello. I've always been taught to expect it to come out on the other side in splinters, and that if I want to take it anywhere, I should either drive or buy it its own seat. It's not even an issue of compensation, though my instrument has the same monetary value as a new car. The problem is, if my instrument broke, even if the airline gave me back every penny of its worth, I still wouldn't be able to buy another instrument exactly like my baby.

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Jason Rose

July 7, 2009 7:36 PM

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you can gate check guitars.

/imjustsayin

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Anonymous

July 7, 2009 8:13 PM

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I would rather not fly than fly United. Fuck them. I've been flying for over 50 years and am lifetime platinum on AA and United is absolutely the worst airline out there. Fuck I'm sorry about your guitar. Arrgh.

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Con Seannery

July 7, 2009 9:54 PM

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@CarltonBusiris: Really? Because you type like you're 12.

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DaBull

July 7, 2009 8:21 PM

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the domain www.UnitedBreaksGuitars.com is available!

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Scott Kinder

July 7, 2009 8:32 PM

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Outstanding song. I understand his frustration with this airline and its management. Very catchy, and hopefully he will be made whole in the end.

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CaptainConsumer

July 7, 2009 10:00 PM

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Dave Carroll is taking this matter seriously

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Areia

July 8, 2009 12:18 AM

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Front page of Digg. The wrath of the internet shall be upon them imminently.

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johnsakalauskas

July 8, 2009 12:50 AM

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In a comment from United Airlines today printed in the Halifax, NS newspaper:

Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for Chicago-based United, said late Tuesday afternoon that the airline has changed its course and wants to speak with Mr. Carroll today to settle the matter. She declined to comment further until she spoke to him. \"This has struck a chord with us,\" she said. \"We're going to contact him directly.\"

[thechronicleherald.ca]

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July 8, 2009 1:32 AM

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reminds me of when Alan King flew to be on the tonight show... American Airlines I think.... and they made him check his garment bag that had his suit in it... predictably they lost it and gave him no help. So he told the person at lost luggage to tell the American Airlines execs to watch the tonight show... where he bashed them mercilessly.

Bonus: this song is actually kind good. and I'[m not a country music fan.

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MacGyver

July 8, 2009 2:03 AM

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When travelling, I absolutely do everything possible to avoid checking any baggage at all. It also makes travelling through airports a lot faster. If I must check baggage, then it's clothes only. Checking anything else, I may as well throw it away prior to departure and deprive the baggage elves their pleasure of destroying my belongings.

The entire baggage handling system and process is designed with anything but care towards the very bag they're designed to move from point A to B in the cheapest manner possible.

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Mike Lee

July 8, 2009 2:51 AM

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It's not just United. The horrible things these idiots do are in plain sight. I never check luggage. While waiting, I watch the baggage handlers tossing & dropping & kicking & laughing. I point it out and watch others blanch.

I went to Japan for 2 weeks without checking luggage. The airlines should hire gorillas with shock collars. Actually, I'd be fine if they just put the shock colllars on the current employees.

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starrion

July 8, 2009 3:25 AM

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It's green on Fark

LOOK out UNITED! It's going viral!

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July 8, 2009 3:59 AM

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Remember, the flight started in Halifax, but craziness did not ensue until Chicago.

Thanks

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July 8, 2009 4:04 AM

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Well, that was quick. From the LA Times:

\"This has struck a chord with us, and we've contacted him directly to make it right,\" said Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for United.

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Canoehead

July 8, 2009 4:34 AM

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Since he was flying from Halifax it was probably Scare Canada baggage handlers. Worst friggin' airline in a G-8 country.

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July 8, 2009 5:00 AM

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The delicious irony is that United will probably go under within 10 years and this guy's music career will take off because of this song. Yeehaw!

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CaptainConsumer

July 8, 2009 12:09 PM

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Yesterday afternoon this video had some 500 views. As of 8am this morning it has over 80,000.

Social networking do your thing!

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Foneguy

July 8, 2009 12:51 PM

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So once it gets the attention of the L.A. Times and 80,000+ people see the video, then United decides to act. F*** you United Airlines, you are a bunch of effing effers. You deserve every bit of negative PR you are getting. I certainly hope that the settlement does not include a clause to not produce the two additional songs. I am looking forward to them. For those of you who think I am being overly harsh, I have actually flown United and personally experienced the customer service horrors myself.

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July 8, 2009 12:54 PM

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As a former airline supervisor, I advise folks never to check anything they don't want to risk losing or have damaged. I ran a PAWOB Desk (Passenger Arrival WithOut Baggage) desk for a United Express carrier for several years, with PAWOB oversight of half of the stations our Express carrier served. I've seen it all and handled most of it.

I personally took many thousands of claims, found thousands of bags/lost items and learned their system inside and out. There are many, many exclusions in all airline baggage rules. Musical instruments are only one of them. Everyone needs to review the baggage rules and exclusions of the carrier they are flying with before travelling.

FWIW, I ship many things ahead on UPS or FedEx these days.

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Anonymous

July 8, 2009 2:03 PM

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Airlines should be held responsible for the actions of their contracted baggage handlers. I can't BELIEVE they get away with \"disclaiming\" things in contract of carriage, then not being liable.

An AA baggage handler *stole* more than $3k worth of camera gear I was forced to check at the gate in Miami in January 2009. And I'm supposed to just say it's my fault for checking it? Uhm, no.

The guitar situation here is clearly worse, but the reason I won't fly United Airlines again is because they sold adspace on my tray table on my last flight. What an obnoxious invasion of privacy.

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ZukeZuke

July 8, 2009 4:39 PM

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He's never gonna get reimbursed, but that was awesome! Love the part where they use the case as a machine gun.

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July 8, 2009 5:29 PM

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What a bunch of scumbags. There really is no other way to put it.

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July 8, 2009 5:50 PM

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United is going to pony up the money, and they are going to lose a ton of business over this. I love the song and hope to hear more from him. Way to go!

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Anonymous

July 8, 2009 7:54 PM

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Look, United shouldn't have broken his guitar. But - and I hate to say it - this was also due to noob-level naivete on this guy's part.

Traveling musicians have known for YEARS that you DO NOT take your most expensive and beautiful instrument on the road if you want to keep it. You don't take your $3700 Taylor. You get a Takamine or an Ovation or an Alvarez and go out with that, a decent sounding knockaround guitar, not your expensive one. The only place an expensive guitar counts is in the recording studio. Out on the road it's going to sound the same as any other guitar to the audience, especially considering the sound systems most places have installed. Why did he risk his best instrument on the road?

#2 is, again, every traveling musician knows that if you like your instrument, you DON'T CHECK IT IN AS LUGGAGE. Let it be a carry-on, buy a seat for it, whatever, but don't check it in as luggage. Do you think that classical musicians put their violins or cellos in the cargo hold? Of course not, because these things happen to them as well. The fact that airlines routinely smash up musical instruments is not news.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of sympathy for this guy. Of course the airlines owe him a guitar. Are they going to pay? Never. A few simple precautions could have prevented this, and not only that, they're precautions that the musicians' community has known about - and talked about - for YEARS.

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Anonymous

July 9, 2009 8:59 AM

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Of course United's going to do something to \"make it right\" now that they're being publicly shamed. Of course. But that doesn't change that the company has a culture of treating customers like crap (http://consumerist.com/5036740/united-sells-familys-tickets-to-someone-else-ruins-once+in+a+lifetime-vacation-then-wont-admit-it-to-insurance-company). So this is good for Mr. Carroll, but it still sucks for everyone else United is going to screw over who doesn't have the means to publicize their mistreatment.

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Anonymous

July 9, 2009 12:06 PM

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Thank you for bringing United Breaks Guitars to light, I had a VERY similar experience with United in March, at O'Hare. On my return trip from New Orleans to Buffalo, we boarded a smallish commuter plane. I had my backpack with me (my only luggage) which I walked on the plane with. The stewardess told me that it would not fit in the overhead compartments, and I should have got a special check ticket for it. No one had came up to me to do this (I saw them doing it to others) so I had just figured it was small enough. At that point she took my backpack, and walked out the door of the airplane, and dropped it down to the tarmac to go in the bottom compartments.

When I arrived in Buffalo I wasn't able to get my bag plane side as I didn't have these special tickets, but I could see the bag sitting on the tarmac, with my souvenirs that were on the side smashed to bits. I finally got my bag back (not worrying about the smashed souvenirs), left the airport, and drove back to Toronto. After a whole day of traveling I was tired, and went to sleep. This apparently was my downfall, as when I did realize what happened to my MacBook Pro screen (Completely smashed to bits) it had been over United's \"24 hour claim\" period. You probably know how expensive Apple computers are, and replacing a screen on them certainly isn't cheap - especially not for a university student returning from conference. After months of emails, I've been flat out rejected for ANY compensation, and so I've taken to telling everyone I possibly can to not fly United.

Feel free to share this with your readers as I know for sure that United just doesn't care - and they should see what that does to their consumers! (And thankfully the video being viewed 300,000 times will help!)

Thanks,

Mat
Toronto, Ontario

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Anonymous

July 9, 2009 2:16 PM

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Years ago United broke my guitar! Martin Guitar in a steel case - punctured a hole in the case up by the headstock. While the guitar was intact, the finish was all crazed. United wasn't interested in compensating me either.

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Dave J.

July 9, 2009 4:03 PM

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So I hope I'm not the only guy who thought they had actual filmed-from-the-plane footage of the baggage handlers throwing his stuff around.

Still, though, great song.

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Anonymous

July 9, 2009 5:02 PM

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Way to go! What a great way to stick it to them! All the airlines need to learn from this. That was disgusting. It is hard to believe that United refused to give him any compensation especially when they were seen in the act. I will think twice before flying United again.

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July 9, 2009 6:34 PM

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I'm pretty sure you have to use an ATA-rated flight case for them to be liable for damage. If you don't, you're just asking for a loss.

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July 9, 2009 8:17 PM

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I came back today to comment that this video made the news cast at 12 this afternoon. It looks like United is now paying attention per the update link at the top of the article. How sad that they only react when publicly shamed.

Also of note, is in regards to the costumes in the video. My wife, who is from Mexico was questioning why the band was dressed in the hats and mustaches. So I don't think she found it too amusing.

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July 12, 2009 12:12 AM

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Is there a picture of the case and if it is damaged?

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Bing Futch

July 12, 2009 4:31 AM

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Not only does United break guitars; Northwest breaks mountain dulcimers:

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James Conner

July 12, 2009 4:08 PM

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To the people asking \"if he doesn't want compensation, what does he want?\"

If you read up on the story a bit more, he told Ms. Irwig that he would write 3 songs about his experience. This song was simply the first.

If he accepted compensation, then no doubt there would also be the requirement to not release the other two songs. The reason why he shouldn't accept the money and shut up are threefold:

1) He's probably making more money from the publicity of this event than United is offering in compensation.

2) After a year's worth of working with the airlines to rectify the situation, United now wants to make this go away by finally doing the right thing. Their deliberate antipathy shouldn't be rewarded with a quick cover up. He's making them pay, just not in the coin they prefer.

3) He gave his word to write three songs. He's only 1/3rd of the way there.

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Anonymous

July 13, 2009 2:00 AM

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I'm sorry, but as a guitarist, I don't have much sympathy. A $3,000 guitar needs to be insured for all kinds of reasons, not just as a precaution against careless baggage handlers. He no doubt used a flimsy case. I have seen my classical guitar being tossed about in all manner of ways by baggage handlers but I've got a heavy, thick case that has served me well over the years. You could probably drop it off a 10-story building and it would hold firm! lol... Having said that, if I had a $3000 beauty I certainly would be bringing that baby on board with me(I've done this several times, too).

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Brenda Little

July 13, 2009 10:46 AM

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Yes, United Breaks Guitars is a great video with a catchy tune:

\"I should have flown with someone else or gone by car
'Cause United breaks guitars\"

The refrain is going around and around in my head! Read more: [www.squidoo.com]

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