(Apologies in advance that I don’t have much time at the moment to respond fully to everyone)
First off I fully agree with all (well most) of the comments regarding the fact that I’m in the wrong for using the state’s equipment on my vacation. I disagree with the characterization that I “stole” it, but I can’t disagree with the notion that it should be my responsibility, and not the taxpayers, to replace it.
But that part of the pitting was never directed at anyone but myself. Still, I retract the part about expecting my boss to advocate for state money to replace it.
This is precisely what I intend to do, and there really is no lie in there. I didn’t make a conscious choice to leave the camera in the bag as opposed carrying it on; in my naivete, it honestly never occurred to me that a baggage handler might help themselves to it.
Which gets me back to what I’d hoped would be the primary focus of discussion here. Why the FUCK is everyone so accepting of the fact that the contents of your checked baggage is fair game for handlers??!!! As ZipperJJ mentioned, can these people simply “shop” for anything in your bags without consequence? some nice shirts perhaps, or even a few pairs of cheap socks. Let me ask you all, would you be more likely to share my outrage if it was an expensive item of clothing (privately owned of course)?
I think the point is that the airline should be more active in the prevention of, rather than the replacement of stolen items.
BECAUSE THE OP DIDN’T HAVE PERMISSION TO USE THE DAMN THING, LET ALONE TAKE IT OUT OF THE OFFICE. If he worked in the real world instead of in civil service, he could get fired for what he did.
I think baggage handlers would find it very helpful if you’d hand over a list of pants sizes contained therein. It’s so freaking annoying to be rifling through a bag and it turns out the Dockers inside are a 34 waist, 30 length, when you need a 38 waist and a 32 length.
Also, if they’re truly $10 pants, could you declare that too? No one wants to waste their time groping through a duffle bag for a pair of crappy Rustler-brand jeans when the bag next to yours has a nice pair of Luckys.
Thank you. No one ever hears things when I say them the first time
Cranky they wouldn’t be able to keep my pants anyway. According to Delta they can keep my valuables, not my pants. Lucky for me my pants are very cheap.
What I’d like to see universally in place is the setup I’ve seen in some airports in the past–
You get your tag to check your bag.
You watch your bag get X-rayed, swabbed, and, if necessary, searched.
You step forward and lock your bag.
Your bag goes into the hold without being opened again.
I just got back from buying TSA locks, which I’m unhappy to be using since I’m sure the TSA aren’t the only ones who can open them. I sometimes use colored zip ties because then it’s very clear if my bag has been opened. I don’t even need checked luggage on this trip, but since I can’t carry a backpack through Heathrow I have to check my non-liquids and non-gels as well. Okay; at least I have trip insurance!
I’m not going to condemn Delta Airlines, because I don’t know that their employees were responsible. It could have been a TSA employee or an airport employee.
If you like, I’m happy to condemn whoever stole the camera. But you’re wrong to expect either the state or the airline to cover the replacement cost.
That’s not the bad part–the bad part is that he didn’t even seem to consider not asking his boss to cover it, like that’s just the way the job goes… “Hey, boss, you know that new camera? It’s the darnedest thing, but it’s gone. Hey, here’s the form to request a new one. So, who’s buying doughnuts on Friday?”
What are you complaining about?
Thanks to the reasonable security measures in place, your plane wasn’t blown up by a toothpaste and hair gel toting bomber.
Isn’t a $500 camera a mighty small price to pay for security?
Well, I’m going to file a claim with TSA but it is extremely unlikely that it was them. They have the bags in their possession for a very short time in a very public place under constant video surveillance. Still, they were very sympathetic on the phone and in person, and assured me that if I file a claim they will in fact review the security camera data, though it may take up to 6 months.
You’d almost think they were a commercial enterprise concerned about providing quality service for a paying clientele.
In my experience with airlines you can translate that to “No liability. For anything. Go fuck yourself. In fact, you should be paying us to treat you like shit. Oh wait, you are - well you should be paying us more. Now go fuck yourself again.”
That said, I’ve not had stuff stolen from my luggage yet, even though I’ve been through Heathrow (aka Thiefrow) a number of times. And the long and short of it is - if you can’t risk losing it, don’t take it. Jewellery, electronics, whatever - either insure it, leave it at home, or suck it up and deal with the loss.
Wouldn’t it be funny if some post showed up in a day or two: Trusted Employee Betrays My Trust
“I have this employee who I generally like to think I can depend on, but this last weekend they totally betrayed my trust in them when they took one of the department’s $500 cameras for personal use and promptly had it stolen out of a bag WHICH THEY CHECKED AT THE AIRPORT!! Whisky Tango Foxtrot!! ANd when they told me, for a second they seemed to be indicating that somehow the state should pay for!! Whisky Tango Foxtrot x 2!!! Id on’t know if I am more angry or disappointed? Said employee tried to steer the conversation to the Delta baggagehandlers, and yes, that sucks and is wrong, of course, but that is NOT MY PROBLEM! Or at least it shouldn’t be!! Thank you to my employee for dropping this merde sandwich on my plate!”
That actually would be pretty funny, and considering I’d actually pointed his attention to the Dope in the past, it’s not entirely beyond the realm of possibility.
Of course, it’s entirely plausible that his OP might continue: “… Still, I guess I do have to admit that time and time again he’s gone far out of his way to save us money, even though he personally has had nothing at stake financially, like the time the 250 folding chairs came late and through arguing his way from one supervisor to the next eventually got the company to issue us a $300 refund; or through his negotiations with the audio system installer who continually attempted to jack up the price hundreds of dollars throughout the project when unforeseen “issues” arose; and of course there are all the extra hours, and weekend days, he puts in without any form of compensation simply for the benefit of the many students who need the space for events. Hmmm… maybe he just made an uncharacteristically stupid mistake and deserves some slack… hmmmm…”
How did you purchase the ticket? My credit card offers lost luggage insurance; perhaps yours does as well. Or you might be able to file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy.
