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

[TheWanderer]

Good man. Don't let them buy your silence with a few $$. Too litle too late. Some people think money can solve any problem. Bravo to Dave Carroll for ignoring United the way they ignored him.

[Jacqueass]

Good thing he declined the money. I'd bet United's offer included a confidentiality provision that would have prevented him from publishing the next two songs.

[elkabong]

I love Canadians! What a lovely, classy group of human beings.

It's no wonder the Fox viewers hate 'em.

[Kanuk1]

what? what an ignoran-us - I am now a Canadian,and I love Fox - the only fair and balanced news in the USA - ask Hillary and, yes, we are a lovely, classy group of human beings

[elkabong]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X9tBjt0DUk

[StonyStoner]

It is spelled Ignoramus.

People who watch Fox news are fair-ly un-balanced in my opinion.

[Mscharizmaa]

Nice voice. And good for him.

[BerrSD]

Good for him. I had a rain stick (a South American musical instrument) broken by baggage handlers on Continental Airlines. I was returning to the U. S. from a vacation in Colombia. They wouldn't let me carry it aboard the plane saying it had to be checked (U. S. anit-terrorism policy). It made it through U. S. Customs in Houston, TX without being harmed. I had to change planes in Houston to Continental. Upon retrieving it at my final desination in San Diego, I found that it was broken. I tried to get Continental to compensate me for it. They tried to make it my fault for not packing it more securely or not carrying it aboard the plane with me. I told them that the insturment travelled all over South America by South American carriers and wasn't harmed until being transferred to an American carrier when I had to change planes in Houston. I wrote a letter to Continental but received no reply. F*****s! Have to check out this guy's video. KUDOS!

[TheWanderer]

Rain sticks are unamerican and probably socialist. ;)

[cityprof]

While I'm not a fan of country western music, this guy is good. And the video is hilarious. I will be forwarding it to all of my friends who fly United. There's a reason United is not among the top five airlines for customer service anymore. Virgin Air rules: #1 in Customer Service for the U.S.

What a great Ambassador for Canada. If you've never met a Canadian, you should know that as a culture, they are even-tempered, civilized, and classy, especially in the most difficult of situations. This guy, especially, deserves all the success in the world he's capable of achieving.

[rockthedeacon]

I second that about Canadians. They are a great people, and deserve to be recognized for that.

[zeotrope]

Thank you so much.

[Mitch rite]

Flattered.

[ObamaSheeple]

I have never met a bad Canadian. Good eggs in my book too. We are lucky to have them as neighbors.

[stealthgurl007]

As a Canadian I would like to say thank you very much for the kind words. Also, as for the classless words posted below by "Boringat" I do hope that he/she isn't really a Canadian but if he/she is, I would like to extend my apologies, we do try to educate our population however there are those that slip through the cracks. Your responses to Boringat made me laugh.

[mac51]

Thanks from a proud Canadian. Dave epitomizes the values that we have here in Nova Scotia... Classy guy

[rockthedeacon]

This is stunningly brilliant and a statement to the ultimate power of the common man or woman to bring about change. Does anyone believe corporate America can ever preside over this power? It can't, of course, because we decide how, when, and where corporate power will exercise itself in our society or around the world. Imagine if United's bookings dropped 75% as a response to the company's arrogance and abuse of passengers, as revealed by this musician and his band. The problem is, as it always has been, the unwillingness or insipidity of most Americans in recognizing and addressing these abuses by withholding their dollars.

[Anastasia]

Unfortunately, a lot of travelers don't have a choice, either because United has a monopoly on cities they fly to or their company requires them to use The UnFriendly Skies.

Carroll not only struck a blow for himself but symbolically struck one for beleaguered passengers everywhere.

[rockthedeacon]

So the question remains: How do you respond to corporate power? How far are you willing to go with it? How much are you willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of change? Maybe you have to tell your employer you are sticking to your principles. Maybe you have to hassle with another way to travel to a particular city. Maybe you have to forgo that trip completely. I suspect we Americans cave when faced with inconveniences, and once again, corporate power is reinforced.

[ElBorba]

I fly about 20k miles a month as a Continental Platinum Elite - I will not fly United, as they have lost my luggage on 3 of my last 4 flights with them. These were simple itineraries, with one plane change, and at least 2 hours between arrival and departure. Now Continental is joining Star Alliance, which includes United, but I will do everything I can to never give them a dime. Crappy aircraft, miserable hubs, a high percentage of rude and incompetent employees, and horrible baggage service , , Truly the "Unfriendly Skies" . .

[october2009]

Some would argue that the government should've had regulators to prevent the airline companies from damaging people's luggage.

However, as you can see the market regulates itself quite nicely.

Very cool idea... I hope the airline companies start caring more or else there will be many other songs coming out.

[colossus]

The market DOES NOT regulate itself. Most of us can't write catchy tunes to get back at companies that wrong us. This is an exception. (Unless of course, this guy will write songs about our stories and produce them. Pretty please? :) )

[october2009]

While every person doesn't necessarily have the ability to write catchy songs all it takes is a small number of people to make a difference.

This one singer has managed to get United to care a lot more about EVERYBODY's luggage.

It only takes a few vigilant people to keep a company's work ethic in check.

[october2009]

Also, don't forget that at the end of the day these companies have to do everything in their power to get you to voluntarily give them your money... It's in their best interest to do a good job.

[mkie]

Another nice from MadTV on United, enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxXO0MQLDA&feature=related

[Chernynkaya]

My ex once took his guitar on a flight but first plastered "FRAGILE" stickers all over the case. When he took it to the counter to check it into baggage, the ticket rep looked at the guitar case stickers and asked him, "What does "fra-gill'-lay" mean?" Thought it might be an Italian word. Uh oh.

[mkie]

Best reflection of United and many more contemporary air line policies are explain in the MadTV epizod :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSJwzYiB_Pc&feature=related

[jbunyon]

This is proof that blogging can get things done:) I am happy for them. Charity really? Then why complain about your guitar so much then? That part perplexes me. Good song, funny outcome, stupid ending. Thank you Mrs. Erlwig

[TheWanderer]

The guy has already gotten the guitar repaired and by this point i think it's obvious he would rather have his revenge on United. They could have forked over the $1,200 or so it cost for the repairs. I'm hopeful that Mr. Carroll's songs and videos will cost them a lot more than that.

[JoeSchmuk]

Way to go. Looking forward to the next songs.

I have had my guitars mistreated by various airlines over the years (and have learned never to let them put mine in the hold anymore), and i trust that even though this campaign is directed towards United, that other carriers will learn something from the lesson you are so creatively turning to your own advantage.

Viva la revolution, and love the song.

[karela]

What a great sound they have! I hope to hear a lot more from them. And good for him that he didn't let United shut him up for money. The point should be that they stop behaving the way they do and that's more likely to happen if he keeps singing.