I am pissed! Any suggestions?

Z

Zero_Time

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So, as the title suggests, I am not in a genial mood. I am a college student, and budding knut. Anyway, as I traveled back from my college, my bags got delayed because I was rerouted. Fine. Got them back sunday. Problem? My BM 710 was missing :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: I want my knife/compensation for that fine piece of steel, and my soul. So, what recourse do I have? TSA did leave "notice of baggage inspection" in my bags, but is it a TSA issue, or my carrier's issue? I think I have enough $ to get another one, but man, not only will it hurt, but my latent paranoia is now acting up, and I am taking suggestions on how to transport my knives safely now. Thanks, as one knife nut to another,
Zero_Time
 
Complain in writing, of course.

But I don't think you're going to get any satisfaction. I've known others who experienced this problem...and I think a few others have posted their similar experience here...but I've never heard of anyone who was compensated.

Sorry 'bout that. Oh, and good luck -- there's always a first time.
 
Agreed.

Write the carrier and TSA and explain the circumstances. Once they reply and depending what they communicate. . . . .map out a game plan.

Remember. . . .draft, let it cool off for 24 to 48 hours, read with a cold eye, remove the personal BS, and finalize.

Don't put anything in your letter about your "soul." They'll mark you as a friggin' loon and further documentation will find its way to "File 13."
 
If they didn't care about Ken Onion's knives they aren't going to care about this.:(
 
Too late for my advice, but maybe next time this will help:

Write a note and leave it in the bag. In large bold lettering indicate that everything in your badg has been catalogued with pictures taken. Any item found missing will be the responsibility of TSA and will be fully investigated as a theft by government employee.

May or may not work, but it doesn't hurt. Most of the the workes are ignorant morons so they will scare off easily.
 
I think your best chance of getting some useful advice is TGB&U. Not that I'm optimistic. :mad:

moving-van.jpg
 
Before I went on my cruise a few months back ( I had to fly into Tulsa and drive to Galveston , long story...:yawn: ) I put a hand written , dated and signed piece of paper detailing every little extra thing I brought , I organized anything I thought the thievs , er feds would look at into plastic freezer bags and marked those with permanent markers as well.

i.e.

Bag one
----------
1 Vivitar Camera , 3 sets batteries
1 iPod like MP3 player and headphones
2 Mini Bic lighters - one red , one orange
1 black Sharpie permanent marker
1 Benchmade Mini Pika pocket knife

etc etc

Nothing came out missing in my bag. The thing is many of these TSA apes are one step from working in a field , they are like crooked cops , they use the "law" to steal things they want from people and for the most part there ain't a damn thing you can do.
 
I pretty much knew it was a lost cause; just wanted to outpour about my lost honor (I think I was too into samurais and their soul/blade thing as a kid), and then really ask for suggestions on what to do. Do any of you guys recommend/have recommendations on how to mail knives to a location? I don't currently deal with autos (though I am looking into some...), so mail is not a problem in that way.
Again, thanks for the concern, I am mostly concerned now with not keeping TSA or my carrier well armed.
Zero_Time
 
As a former airline employee, I can tell you it was probably a case of a baggage handler going through your luggage and not TSA. The problem is that many airlines use contract ground handling companies to handle baggage at their outstations. I would contact airline management directly. Try the Customer Service Manager at your departure airport first. Unfortunately, there's probably no hope of getting your knife back, but they may choose to comp you in another manner. They do have the discretion to do so. Hope you weren't flying on my beloved "Airways".
 
From someone who travels a lot with knives and other gear not allowed in carry on. Secure your luggage with a vividly colored/distinctive cable tie (not plain white tie that's easy to substitute). Take a dated digital image, preferably with the baggage tag included. (camera in phone works adequate for this, but I often use the Digital Elph I carry).

If the TSA opens the bag for inspection, they will usually secure it again with one of their seals. In order to steal anything from it, the baggage handlers have to break the seal. They have easier bags to steal from, so why bother? If they do and something is missing, you have some degree of proof it was the airline (more or less). If the bag comes off the plane without the cable tie or a TSA seal, you know something is likely amiss and immediately inspect the bag and file for a loss right then and there. It will carry a good deal more weight with the airline. It is, of course, a PITA and time consuming. :(

I carry a large pair of toe-nail clippers to cut the cable ties (and spare cable ties for trip home or next flight in my computer bag), doesn't raise any issues with TSA at this point.

If it's more valuable stuff, do it like we do firearms. Use a hard case with a padlock. Get there early, wait while they inspect the bag, then lock it afterwards. If really paranoid, get a cheap firearm to place in it and declare it as well. Just be really careful where you travel with it.

If they are really valuable, send them FedEx or UPS fully insured. With UPS, they now require the driver to sign for high declared value stuff and keep a pretty close tabs on it.
 
I just flew to Albuquerque, and I'm flying back on Friday. What I did (and what I'm doing again) is that I put all my knives and my tricked out HDS flashlight and custom Aleph UV flashlight ($500+ worth of flashlights, plus $400 of knives) all in a small VHS sized USPS Priority Mail box and sealed it. Another additional step would be to go to a APC machine and actually pay for and print out postage for it.

A light-fingered TSA might be tempted to steal a lone knife, but they probably won't mess with the mail (whether it's actual mail or not).

A very safe idea, if you're going to be staying somewhere for a few weeks or longer, is to mail the knife there and back, so you don't have to pack it.
 
What a horrible experience.. We can all learn from this, and ship knives instead of putting them in checked bags.
 
I feel and have been there and done that. I put my knives when I travel in a sock and stuff it in a shoe and even purchased locked luggage to keep thieves out. I do not want to say you have to bite the bullet on this one but I think you are going to hard pressed to get any type of compensation, but you can try. Good Luck!!

:grumpy:
 
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