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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Came across this...
United Breaks Guitars
From the description: "In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didnt deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say no to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. United: Song 1 is the first of those songs. United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise." |
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July 2009
Posts: 5
| Let's spread the word! |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Cool. Well produced, and nicely done. |
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October 2006
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Location: big island | nice work!
look what guitar the same guy plays out in the cold weather though. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Very Accurate...well done! |
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Location: Nashville TN. | KOOL |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Oh that's good!!! |
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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | That was really cute and GOOD too! What a horror story though. I don't know how they could reject his claim, especially if he had witnesses as stated in the song. I'd sue them, but that's just ME. |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | This is great!
Apparently United want's to talk now..."this has struck a chord with them".
Here's the full article form our local newspaper.
\'They\'re Throwing Guitars Outside\' |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Given the agravation they should replace it with a new one. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | That was very cool. Nicely done, but a sad story non the less. I'm sure a few here, (me included) can feel the pain just from some shipments sent and received. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I bet this is getting all kinds of attention over on the Taylor board. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Slipkid:
I bet this is getting all kinds of attention over on the Taylor board. They had to merge 4 different threads about it. :D :cool: |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | The guy did make one big mistake. He should have inspected the guitar right there at the airport. Even if there wasn't a United employee there he could have had a neutral witness to the damage.
As far as United's reputation, the damage is done. That video is going to float around the internet for-ev-er. Even if he does another about how United ended up taking care of him it's the first one that will get the most views. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | nice, when I posted this yesterday, the vid had something like 300 views. 24 hours later, it's over 131,000. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I sure hope Sons of Maxwell has some good lawyers, because United sure has some badass ones. As Brad said, the damage to United is done ... and SOM has no proof that United broke the guitar (they didn't even look at it until the next day after they traveled on). And now SOM is publicly blackmailing them. Oops. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | by PEZ:
Given the agravation they should replace it with a new one. Unless that guitar has sentimental value, it might be alot easier with better results.
by Slipkid: I bet this is getting all kinds of attention over on the Taylor board.
We could run over there and point-out that Celebrity's can survive a Trebuchet toss. :eek: |
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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | I just turned on CNN, and there was a spot on this very video. I could hardly believe it. Look out! |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | A few observations, earlier this year I went to Hong Kong and had no problems getting my guitar onto the airplane with me.
In fact, there were a bunch of us bringing guitars onto the plane and everyone that asked got it on. It was like a freaking convention. Once the plane took off I found out I was flying with David Byrne and his band which was pretty cool. When we got to Hong Kong, those who didn't bring their gear on the plane, waited at the carrol, and those that put it in the belly of the plane all used industrial strength flight cases.
So these guys may have been asking for it. The lesson is, bring it on or at least gate check it. If not, use a carlton type case.
Next observation: I've had gear stolen from my bags which I checked. I think that's called pilfering. I filed a claim and got the replacement cost of the item. So I don't know what these guys did to be refused. You just gotta file as soon as you find out.
I like the song though. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
by PEZ:
Given the agravation they should replace it with a new one. Unless that guitar has sentimental value, it might be alot easier with better results.
by Slipkid: I bet this is getting all kinds of attention over on the Taylor board.
We could run over there and point-out that Celebrity's can survive a Trebuchet toss. :eek:
without a case |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by an4340:
Next observation: I've had gear stolen from my bags which I checked. I think that's called pilfering. I filed a claim and got the replacement cost of the item. So I don't know what these guys did to be refused. You just gotta file as soon as you find out.
I like the song though. It depends on whom is behind the desk..
Vic |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by rpguitar:
I just turned on CNN, and there was a spot on this very video. I could hardly believe it. Look out! It was FNC too.
This might be hist ticket to stardom |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Great video |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Yeah ... The broken guitar experience just got your group worldwide acclaim. So in the end you'll probably get a new guitar, a round trip ticket for you and your spouse to anywhere in the world(don't take a guitar), and a spot on TV.
"" on the nice video comments. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | It is now on the front page of Yahoo. |
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August 2003
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Location: SoCal | At least it was the Taylor, not the Elite...see the video for Queen of Argyle. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I see they've got a request from United to use the video in their training program and a potential booking in Vegas out of the song/video now. Good career move. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Knowing how airlines and corporations work in general, I bet nobody wanted to be the one to sign off on the claim. Everybody in the chain of command was trying to stay under the radar, and they ended up creating a bigger mess. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Video Follow-up from Dave Carroll.
United offered to pay but he declined. "Stay tuned for Song 2!" |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Song #2 has been posted -- the best part of this one to me is the guitar held together with duct tape and a big clamp. :D |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | He's getting a lot of 'air mileage' outta this...  |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Not just United. I have witnessed Northwest doing the same thing. We went elk hunting in Oregon and while we were changing planes in Minn. I saw the baggage car pull up some 30-40 feet from the plane. The handlers (if that is what you call them) would grab bags and toss them 20 feet or so and they would slide to the cart along the hard pavement. We stood agast as our bows were pulled out and given the same treatment. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Brilliant. |
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April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | It seems Hilter had a similar problem.
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gh1 |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by gh1:
It seems Hilter had a similar problem.
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gh1 |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | That scene's been used a lot of times. My favorite is when his Honda VFR gets replaced by a BMW. |
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"United Breaks Guitars" YouTube Video...