Just returned from a bike camp in Santa Barbara. Had FedEx ship my bike to and from by air. TSA has to apparently inspect all packages to include bike boxes. When my bike arrived home (Tri All case) it was quite clear that they had opened my box. The bike was no longer strapped in (I compulsively strapped that baby in), and all of my clothes had been taken out of the bags. As a result of not being secured my rear derailleur is bent. While waiting to check in at Santa Barbara airport we could see the TSA guys going through people’s luggage with no respect whatsoever. These guys are fricking idiots and seem to feel they can do whatever they want. I have no problem with them going through my stuff, but put it back they it was found. Pisses me off.
LOL, Santa Barbera TSA are the biggest pathetic ignorant jack tards on earth. They are much worse at that airport than any other airport I have even had the displeasure of flying out of. Someone really needs to just get rid of all of those GED retards in TSA. Many times they would open up my bike case, not know how to repack it and certainly would not let me help.
I’m sorry to hear that.
But on a related matter, perhaps it would be a good idea to remove the rear derailleur next time - i know i will.
You could try getting them to pay for it. I just got home and my bike box was all jacked when I got it from the baggage terminal, afraid to open it up!
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/claims/index.shtm
Good luck with that. Save yourself the headache and claim it on your homeowner’s/renter’s insurance if it’s of any significant value. I hope you have coverage… If you paid for your ticket with a Gold/Platinum cc you might have some claim there as well - I dunno, but it’s worth checking out.
Thanks for everyone’s input. I just wanted to ventilate. Blew my mind that in front of people the TSA guys were going through luggage looking at women’s panties, etc…then roughly stuffing things back in suitcases. They could care less and if you gave them a hard time about it they would likely make your life miserable. Classic federal employees! Makes me not want to travel with my nice bikes.
I would think that if you had FEDEX do the shipping, they would be liable. Whomever did the damage is not your issue. You paid fedex to do a job and it did not get completed properly. Let them chase TSA for compensation, but I’d make the claim with Fedex. You are the customer, and they are the vendor you hired.
As suggested, file the insurance claim with FedEx.
Good ideas, thanks guys. Forgot that I paid extra to insure it. I think next time I will put some stinky old salmon in my bike box. Maybe that will shorten how much time they spend going through my stuff :)!
… I think next time I will put some stinky old salmon in my bike box. Maybe that will shorten how much time they spend going through my stuff :)!
That may backfire. If you put a stinky old salmon in there, they may assume you’re trying to hide the odor of something else, and spend more time looking.