Comments on: Don’t Check Your Valuables

By: Amazon’s Kindle screen failure and warrantee woes | The Woodwork

Amazon’s Kindle screen failure and warrantee woes | The Woodwork — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:53:07 +0000

[...] gotten my notebook stolen in 2003, I never am far from it). Also because this happened to me and that happened to Matt, I don’t check my Nikon [...]

By: G

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:01:15 +0000

Beware of other airports like Phuket after I had forgotten about a phone I left in there after a security check from a bag I checked in.

By: Scott Fillmer

Scott Fillmer — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:24:05 +0000

Oh that hurts just reading it… a D3, come on, they probably don’t even know what they stole… the mother of all camera bodies.

No airline is going to be “liable” or responsible for anything of any value whatsoever. The only thing they will likey “cover” in the event anything is stolen is dirty cloths, and even that they won’t pay but a set limit.

I know, I use to work in the baggage area for an airline and, although they were one of the better airlines (southwest) they still wouldn’t cover REAL items.

By: Jonathan Dingman

Jonathan Dingman — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:57:09 +0000

adding fuel to the fire,

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196799&p=irol-newsArticle_print&ID=1165500&highlight=

now US airways is charging for checking bags

By: 4 Reasons Not to Fly US Airways «

4 Reasons Not to Fly US Airways « — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:01:51 +0000

[...] that Matt Mullenweg from WordPress also had camera equipment stolen on a recent flight. I re read this blog post and was shocked at the [...]

By: jason

jason — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:11:39 +0000

ahh… It happened to me once before, and my Gucci shoes was lost…

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:09:34 +0000

The problem seems to be a few low paid baggage handlers. What I don’t know is why they don’t pass through security electronic screening on the way onto work and the way out. They should be allowed no baggage.

Don’t do the starting pistol thing…terrible advice!!!!

By: Troy

Troy — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:41:32 +0000

That’s what happens when you stick a bunch of thugs in a uniform and give them power to ransack peoples luggage and do random searches.

By: Peter Enright

Peter Enright — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:58:48 +0000

That is a real shame and I certainly feel your pain. Stealing from luggage and foreign mail happens a lot in the former Soviet Union too. Whenever we travelled with camera gear it was always hand carried, especially our tapes and stills on the return trip. But I never thought it would happen in the USA. Jesus WTF is the world coming to?

By: Joanne Wan

Joanne Wan — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:33:51 +0000

That is an unbelievable story! After my recent trip from JFK back to SFO, I noticed that a brand new Marc Jacobs bag I bought was no longer in my suitcase. I know, I know, it’s not a camera, but damn, it was still expensive. The Marc Jacobs bag was still in the original shopping bag with wrapping. I thought I left it in the hotel lobby when repacking, but now I’m sure it was stolen. I just assumed it was my own carelessness, but I did find the contents of my luggage slightly rearranged. How sad. Thanks for the passing along the post the starter rifle. I’m liking that idea more and more. (^_^)

By: Jim Goldstein

Jim Goldstein — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:49:47 +0000

Sorry to hear about the theft of your gear. Getting insurance for your camera gear is a must if you’re traveling. You can get discounted insurance for camera gear through a variety of trade organizations like ASMP, NANPA, etc. These days even with such insurance I tend to carry my gear with me when on the plane. I’ll sacrifice other carry on gear/supplies to do so. I do hope you field a police report. That is no small theft.

By: Room with a view : Duckbell.com - Photography blog

Room with a view : Duckbell.com - Photography blog — Sat, 24 May 2008 02:18:28 +0000

[...] since you’ll no doubt have your camera with you (unlike poor Matt Mullenweg), why not give it a try. Consider it a reward for barging to the front of the Ryanair queue and [...]

By: Nokao

Nokao — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:24:33 +0000

I can’t belive that :O

By: Adrian

Adrian — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:52:03 +0000

I accidentally packed my mobile phone in my suitcase when travelling with Korean Airlines and when I got home found my mobile phone had been stolen. When me and the wife returned from New Zealand after a year working out there we had bought a very expensive bottle of Bollinger (sp?) Champagne, it was wrapped securely in our luggage to protect it from getting damaged. When we arrived at the other end it was gone. It cost around $120 and was something that was very hard to replace

Im sorry to hear about your loss.

By: jlbraun

jlbraun — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:06:38 +0000

“Pack a starter pistol” is a myth:

http://armedbuddhist.blogspot.com/2008/05/myth-check-starter-pistol-with-your.html

By: Matteo G.P. Flora

Matteo G.P. Flora — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:09:01 +0000

Sorry to hear that, Matt…

We’ve got a bunch of photos of you here in Italy… Tell us if you want something in particular that would like to have…

Hugs and thanx for coming here and for the marvelous dinner chat.

By: rocksea

rocksea — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:25:33 +0000

are you sure the problem is in the philadelphia side and not the italy side?

it is such a heavy loss to miss your photography equipments! whatever the weight, i always carry them with me and never checks in! thanks for confirming the necessity to do the same!

By: elissa

elissa — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:39:50 +0000

wow, matt. that totally sucks

By: benj

benj — Tue, 20 May 2008 02:01:23 +0000

Wow, that sucks, Matt.

By: Mark Jaquith

Mark Jaquith — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:08:12 +0000

Where it falls apart is, you’re required to pack the pistol separately in a locked box. It’s that box that is treated with care, your regular bag will go on with everyone else’s.

Yeah, that’s the idea. You put the pistol in the case that holds your camera gear. I see nothing that says that a gun has to be the only item in the case. Note that the restriction also applies to ammunition, so you could save money and just put a small box of ammo in there.

By: Chet

Chet — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:21:15 +0000

You checked TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS of highly portable electronics? Are you insane?

I wouldn’t check a broken calculator, let alone a Leica. It sucks you lost your gear, but checking that bag is damned near Darwin Award territory.

By: Otto

Otto — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:13:52 +0000

I have had numerous items stolen from my checked baggage, to the point where I no longer check any baggage if I can possibly avoid it. Those people are completely untrustworthy, at every airport.

Next time you fly internationally, try this. Buy a bottle of liquor at the duty free shop. You’ll have to carry it onboard back to your homeland, and then you’ll have to switch it to the checked luggage, since you can’t carry on liquids domestically. Result: it’ll be stolen by the baggage handlers. Every single time.

By: Iso

Iso — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:51:42 +0000

I am close to tears due to your loss.
Because I love cameras! Especially the Leica and Nikon ones… (well, who on earth couldn’t?!)

By: Lea

Lea — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:43:10 +0000

Oh Matt. When I saw you Friday I had no idea what had just happened. No wonder you were dazed. I am really sorry about your lost equipment–part of your creative arsenal for engaging in/ recording your life. I hope the insurance co. is quick, and that you are up to full speed soon. Best, Lea

By: Ben Drawbaugh

Ben Drawbaugh — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:58:57 +0000

Yeah, philly got a brand new Dell laptop from me too.

Lesson learned.