Dave Carroll says, “No thanks” to United.
Apparently, some peeps at United Airlines got the hot squirts after seeing that Dave Carroll’s video “United Breaks Guitars†was watched by about a gazillion people. United, which repeatedly blew Carroll off after the guitar-breaking incident, apparently has had a change of heart and contacted him about paying compensation for his broken Taylor Guitar. I don’t know, but the lawyer in me suspects that United may well have wanted a quid for the quo, namely that Carroll pull the video.
Carroll graciously said, “No thanks,†and suggested that United give the money to charity. He also promised a new video.
The righteous part of me and the guitar owner part of me thinks, “Good for him. The airline deserves having its nose rubbed in the dirt on this one.†The cynical part thinks that Dave will benefit quite well by keeping the story alive.
At very least, maybe airlines will be a bit more careful with travelin’ guitars in the future, and that’s a good thing.
Thanks to my buddy Mike for the heads up.
My hats off to Carroll for sticking to his principles.
Comment by hammer — July 14, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
I think it’s cool, what he did. Personally, I’ve flown a LOT for years and never had anything broken OR lost. Lucky, I guess?
Comment by dogette — July 15, 2009 @ 7:20 am
Carroll is looking at the bigger picture here. He has a song that is well crafted, very catchy and getting thousands of hits a day. If he sold his soul and took United’s money this would get silent very quick and go away. Here his music stays in the limelight and he gets the added bonus of releasing another song with the almost certain promise of heavy play. If he plays his cards right, he will make much more in selling downloads than he would by selling out to United.
Sometimes the good guys do win.
Comment by RobbieRob — July 15, 2009 @ 8:02 am
Millions of passengers and bags-thousands of guitars-We all know the risk. I have flown UAL for decades and NEVER had a problem baggage wise.
Comment by Joseph — July 15, 2009 @ 10:01 am
yeah, the cynical part of me figures this is a big break for him…hell he obviously can write a song and sing it pretty good…and now he has millions listening to him. Good for him…and $#%& United…
Comment by GUYK — July 15, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
“Millions of passengers and bags-thousands of guitars-We all know the risk. I have flown UAL for decades and NEVER had a problem baggage wise.”
If United’s screw-ups are so rare, it’s all the more reason United should step to the plate when they do screw up.
Jimbo
Comment by Jim — July 15, 2009 @ 9:27 pm