[Leica] What would you do if this happened to you?

[jerryleh at pacbell.net (Jerry Lehrer)]

Ted

What would I do?  Well, if I were stupid enough to send "gold bars" that
way, I would say that it served me right.  I would grin and bear it.

If I can't carry my Leicas with me. I would send them by FedEx, insured.

I expect that we will be hearing a full report at the Victoria Spring Shoot.

With your reputation, I am certain that Leica in NJ will give you a
replacement for all the broken Leicas.  That is what Passport is for,
isn't it?

Jerry

Ted Grant wrote:

> What would you do under these circumstances?
>
> You use a black heavy duty plastic foam filled Halliburton case to carry 3
> M7's and a half dozen M lenses.
>
> You are not allowed to lock the case because the TSA security staff may want
> to look inside. And if you do use locks they'll cut them off anyway! So to
> make life easy you I didn't lock the case, but run black duct tape around
> the edges as I kind of feel good safety thing. Very easy to open by pulling
> the tape off, flipping two catches, that's it into the case and equipment.
>
> You cross your fingers & wave the case good bye as it's checked along with
> your other bag. Landing in Seattle from Victoria bags were claimed, through
> customs, then turned over to baggage handlers for the connecting flight at
> which time the black tape was intact.
>
> Arrival in Phoenix we pick-up case and bags, black tape is gone and silver
> duct tape replacing it. Obviously the case was opened for TSA inspection.
> That's cool I'd rather have them check things as I'm a million air miler and
> I'd like to make it two million.
>
> However, upon opening the case and attempting to load the cameras, two of
> the M7's were damaged beyond use with the shutter releases jammed right into
> the body of the camera. Nothing could be done at all. Those of you who use
> M7's know there's a shutter release lock to avoid accidental release and the
> camera shutter can't be tripped until the switch is moved to release it.
>
> So OK lets think about what happened here as all three cameras were in
> perfect working order when packed in their foam solid cut out positions
> where they'd traveled more than a few air miles previously without any
> damage.
>
> One of the cameras didn't have the lock on the release and it was OK and
> functioned perfectly. The other two ? Well lets put it this way I screwed-in
> a soft release and tried to pry the shutter release up out of the body, it
> wouldn't budge. I mean it's just hammered right in there. The other body I
> managed a slight lift up, and that's it! Solid jammed in the camera body.
>
> Now those of us who've flown with our carry on bag have seen air security
> officers look through an SLR, trip the shutter and as it goes click that's
> cool for them and  makes it a real camera. However, we're talking about M7's
> with shutter release lock and there's no way you can make it go click
> without releasing the lock out.
>
> By the same token I've seen them hold up M7's and M6's sort of look through
> the view finder releasing the shutter to go click because the lock out
> wasn't on. So what do you think they did with the two cameras they couldn't
> make go click?
>
> I mean these two cameras are really done and on their way for hopefully
> repair and not replacement. Yep they're covered by warranty, I hope under
> these conditions. But that's not the point because if they aren't, I'm in
> for a big-time repair bill.
>
> You might also be interested in the wording on a neatly printed card left in
> your bag explaining the opening of your bag and what responsibility they
> have if any damage is done. :-(
>
> Quote from "NOTIFICATION OF BAGGAGE INSPECTION":
>
> "If the TSA screener was unable to open your bag for inspection because it
> was locked, the screener may have been forced to break the locks on your
> bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, and has taken care to reseal
> your bag upon completion of the inspection. However, TSA is not liable for
> damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution."
>
> This of course means they would not be responsible for any internal damage
> to the contents in the case. Because how could one prove they were in
> perfect working order when packed?
>
> Let me make it very clear, the case was not locked and quite easy to open by
> pulling off the tape. They did this and replaced it, as I said previously,
> so it was a piece of cake to open it.
>
> But what happened to the cameras during their inspection handling?
>
> ted
>
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