UPDATED: 'United Breaks Guitars' Singer Gets Cash Offer From Airline (VIDEO)

UPDATED, Jul. 10, 3:00 p.m:

After his song made its way across the Internet, Carroll received a call from United offering to pay for his beloved guitar. As you'll see below, Carroll politely declined:

Check back for Vol. 2 of Carroll's United trilogy.

*****

Hell hath no fury like a customer scorned. The LA Times reports that one United Airlines passenger was so dismayed over a guitar broken by United staffers that he has writ his anger across the web.

While Dave Carroll was flying from Nova Scotia to Nebraska he had his Taylor guitar ruined. After a protracted attempt to get United to pay for the damage, Carroll struck back. Here's Carroll's saga in his own words (from his personal website):

"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 didn't 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."

Here's the first of Carroll's songs:

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Comments

[rigveda]

People sometimes fail to understand the connection we guitarists have with our instruments - they are like our dearest friends, or even children.

[teembee]

To all the Ms Irlwigs out there.....­.....I am not going to fly United ever again.

[thegirlnextdoor]

Very clever. Take a bad thing and make it better by making a song about it. They're Canadian!

[justsomeguywhocameby]

Just saw this on youtube:

"
uniteditstimetofly (7 minutes ago)
This has struck a chord w/ us. We have spoken w/ one another to make what happened right. We agree, this should have been fixed much sooner & Dave's excellent video provides us w/ a unique learning opp. that we wud like to use 4 training.

Dave can sing a happy tune. As asked, we made a donation to a charity. In his name, United will donate $3K to the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz, for music ed. for kids. Cant wait 2 make music w/ Dave 2 improve service 4 all. Most important, very sorry."

HaHaHaHaHaHaHa
Now your sorry.
HaHaHaHaHaHaHa
1,566,576 views

[Mahi Joe]

In 1968 I was in the military and flew United on military standby and was placed into the first class section. I was in uniform and was treated so disrespectfully by the stewardess where she wouldn't serve me dinner nor any beverages. Needless to say I haven't flown United since 1968 and neither has my family or friends after hearing about my wonderful experience with them.

[JesustheLiberal]

1968 and you still havent forgiven them...I wont even bother to ask you if you believe in me.

[solopico]

Sadly 1968 was a time in American history during which the uniform you wore garnered the disrespect all by itself.

Thank you for your service.

[plzchuteme]

The "Catch 22" was that in order to fly military standby, you had to be in uniform, but if you were in uniform during those years, you risked ridicule, insult, or worse by many people.

[3rdOption]

They trashed a Taylor.

That literally made me sick to my stomach.

This guy needs to be on Olbermann, then Letterman, then a record contract.

[solopico]

If you want to get him noticed, don't suggest Olbermann. Nobody's watching.

[Scribe57]

I hope that made you feel better.

[706makeupgirl]

Ouch. Don't be mean.

[StonyStoner]

United blew him off until they got bad publicity, then they changed their minds. Too bad for them, not only are they uncaring ripoff artists, they change their mind based on bad publicity.

They seem worse to me now than they did last week.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER flying United again. The Friendly Skies ain't so friendly after all...

[Fergie1]

I agree totally. Paying compensation now does not alter their basic lack of customer service.

I haven't flown with them since 1990 and have spread that word far and wide. The Friendly Skies became a sad joke.

[smchp]

Not a bad song......­and I don't even like country.

[LupotheButcher]

I'm only 51, but I remember when flying was fun.

[solopico]

It still is - fly Southwest.

[JoeGdr]

Well at least the songs are light-hearted. He could have easily decided to go Eminem on United.

[chaselv413]

What a classy guy...good for him.

[Swatantra]

John Hyatt: Perfectly Good Guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5begHSoQ1s

[jayes]

:)

[mherrera]

I am glad someone has been able to motivate United. The man wanted his Taylor guitar repaired but United just wants to buy him off and I'll bet there was a statement to sign if the money was accepted saying he would never mention them again.

United abuses its passengers not just as a matter of normal business practice but they do it for enjoyment. My last fright on United began in Medford, Oregon early one morning. They delayed my flight out six hours. I missed my connecting flight to Phoenix and had to take a red eye, getting in early in the morning. The "flight" took much longer than driving and I got reamed for a $45 cheeseburger and a beer in SFO. No help was forthcoming from the airline at all except continued lies about when the planes would leave to keep me from taking my ticket to another airline. An airline willing to lie about where its planes are and willing to throw around (obvious) musical instruments in full view of passengers is one I cannot trust.

This man is Canadian and he is being very nice and polite aboot this matter. Too nice. I will volunteer to write the lyrics for his next United song but he probably won't want to sing them himself. But good going in a creative approach to motivating a huge, uncaring company. Yeah, fly Air Canada next time.
:)

The next time United goes into bankruptcy, it should just GO!

[PDXTransplant]

Great song/voice -

Nice beat and easy to dance to!

I give it a 9.1