15 replies to this topic

[prorobo]

This happened to a buddy of mine a couple weeks ago. Luckily all the times I've brought my clubs with me I haven't had any issues (knock on wood).

My buddy flew JetBlue to Florida for Christmas with his family, brought the clubs, didn't even get to squeeze a round in, then found a broken driver upon return. I'm not sure if he used a travel bag or not, but his driver was the original Taylormade Superfast (glued head) and he had purchased it around May or so from Sports Authority.

Would this type of damage be warrantied by Taylormade? It's obviously not a manufacturer's defect but would they replace the shaft out of good will?

[HoosierHacker89]

i would say no, and i might be wrong. I really don't see taylormade being responsible at all for this, so i don't think they would be willing to put a new shaft in for free. I am sure they would reshaft it for him at a decent price. I think he should contact the airline and see what the policy is because they are the one that broke it. If nothing else he could get a new shaft or pull off line for very cheap and have it installed by his local club fitter. he could also use this as an opportunity to find a shaft that fits his swing if there is something better than this shaft for him.

[Fastback65]

I was flying delta a couple years ago, they broke my bag and bent my iron shafts.  They told me to go buy replacements and send them the receipts.  Received a full refund.  Give the airline a call, they will probably take care of the shaft.

[BadBilly429]

this is definitely not a warranty issue and the airline should cover the cost.  That being said my best friend works for one of the biggest retailers in Michigan and he has told me on several ocassions that sometimes the oem will warranty a club that was obviously misused or broken on purpose.  They send them in and the manufacturer will call and say ok no way and it will be x to fix the club, and sometimes they repair it and send it back and charge the customer nothing.

[TripleGrindSole]

Even if TMag would replace it, I personally wouldn't feel right asking them to do so. Plus, I'm sure the airlines protect themselves from having to pay for broken stuff somewhere in the ticket/baggage contract. I think your buddy is SOL

[TripleGrindSole]

Let us know how it turns out just in case something happens like this to one of us in the future.

[gmangolf]

Most airlines cover it but it is typically not enough for high-end goods. They won't understand the 600 shaft argument.  

Airline is the place to start. If its a stock club, he'll likely get it taken care of.

[mister2cool]

It's definitely an airline issue. Airlines do take liability for damaged luggage. Your buddy needs to contact the airline and they should take care of it.

[espressoo]

If your buddy paid the airline to ship it to his destination and it was damaged, they should be liable.  After all, they're charging $25+ for baggage (more if oversize).  Insurance should be factored in there somehow.  I wouldn't give the airlines a free pass here but I'm curious how your friend packaged it?  I hope he didn't simply slip on the rain cover and dropped it off?

[Jc0]

Airline should cover.  Delta snapped 3 of my shafts once and the covered it.  Be happy it was an airline though.  The TSA broke my golf bag and they still haven't paid for it.  The removed from my hard case and put it back in wrong and broke the spine of the bag when they shut it.

[Splitter]

I'll be interested to see how this turns out.

If I remember right, the last time I flew American they made me sign some sort of liability waiver for my clubs.  I *believe* it was because I use a soft-shell case instead of a hard case?

I'm with the other poster.  I wouldn't even think to ask TMAG to fix it "just because".

[Graymulligan]

 Splitter, on 09 January 2013 - 06:30 PM, said:

If I remember right, the last time I flew American they made me sign some sort of liability waiver for my clubs.  I *believe* it was because I use a soft-shell case instead of a hard case?

You're memory is correct, I've had a similar situation.  A few of the airlines are trying to push people into using hardshelled cases, because stuff gets broken in the softshell cases.  IIRC, one or two of them won't allow golf clubs unless they're in a hard case.

[nfinch10]

I have always had to sign, basically a luggage reciept, when checking in that excuses the airline from being liable if my clubs are damaged.  I am almost positive they said it was because I was using a soft-shell bag.  I believe that this was flying Southwest.  I make sure to put a wooden rod/ski pole/club glove type thing in the bag that is just a little longer than my driver to reduce the chance of them getting snapped.  I also load up the top with a towel and maybe a sweatshirt or two to prevent the heads from being able to knock around.  Knock on wood, but no issues so far...

[highergr0und]

If it's a soft bag you have to hope the agent is in a good mood.....  or that the agent who checked you in forgot to have you sign the waiver.

[highergr0und]

Also ask him how he paid for the checked bag or the plane ticket.....  A lot of credit cards have automatic travel insurance if you pay using the card.  So he might get lucky there too.

[prorobo]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll let you know how it turns out.

As an aside though, I used to travel for work quite a bit and whenever I brought my clubs along, not once was I ever required to sign a liability waiver for my sticks, soft cover and all. And I checked them in at both major Class B (think LAX) and Class C airports. Although I know for a fact my clubs have only flown Delta or US Air. I hate Southwest and never brought them on United or American.