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Robbed for PAX - A cautionary tale
bahamut026
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Like the thread title says, this is a cautionary tale. The tl;dr is simply, if you bring video game stuff to PAX (and you will) BE VERY CAREFUL with it or you may be robbed, as I was. So be careful!
The slightly longer version: This is my third year at PAX. The past 2 years I came with a bunch of friends, we all crashed at a friend's apartment who lives locally, and much gaming bliss was had. This year, I arrived this past sunday (taking a 9-day vacation capped by PAX). The trip started well enough-my flight had 1 layover, and the first plane arrived early enough at the layover that I was able to get on standby for an earlier flight to Seattle. My checked bag didn't make it, but the people at the airport promised that it would be delivered to my friend's apartment for a small fee. Approximately 12 hours later my bag finally shows up (I landed at noon and my bag arrived at 3; it didn't get delivered until midnight), sans about 800 bucks of videogame equipment (wii + controllers + games, ds games, 360 controllers-my friends always split up who's bringing what consoles, since we have an apartment we can continue the revelry into the night after we leave PAX). Filed a police report, but I know that the stuff is long gone. So the lesson here is, if you're bringing anything of value, don't let it leave your sight.
Oh, and just as an extra cherry on my crap sunday, my laptop decided RIGHT NOW would be a great time to become a very expensive paperweight, so I'm posting this from my friend's computer. Anyways, all I'm saying is have fun and be careful with your stuff.
...PAX better be fucking awesome.
The slightly longer version: This is my third year at PAX. The past 2 years I came with a bunch of friends, we all crashed at a friend's apartment who lives locally, and much gaming bliss was had. This year, I arrived this past sunday (taking a 9-day vacation capped by PAX). The trip started well enough-my flight had 1 layover, and the first plane arrived early enough at the layover that I was able to get on standby for an earlier flight to Seattle. My checked bag didn't make it, but the people at the airport promised that it would be delivered to my friend's apartment for a small fee. Approximately 12 hours later my bag finally shows up (I landed at noon and my bag arrived at 3; it didn't get delivered until midnight), sans about 800 bucks of videogame equipment (wii + controllers + games, ds games, 360 controllers-my friends always split up who's bringing what consoles, since we have an apartment we can continue the revelry into the night after we leave PAX). Filed a police report, but I know that the stuff is long gone. So the lesson here is, if you're bringing anything of value, don't let it leave your sight.
Oh, and just as an extra cherry on my crap sunday, my laptop decided RIGHT NOW would be a great time to become a very expensive paperweight, so I'm posting this from my friend's computer. Anyways, all I'm saying is have fun and be careful with your stuff.
...PAX better be fucking awesome.
bahamut026 on
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I think the moral of this story is never check luggage if it can be helped.
I SURVIVED THE PAX 2009 CON-SARS BREAKOUT!
my number one rule for packing is it has to fit into a carry on bag
{Fondly remembers the PAXTrain}
YES! Seriously, I can survive forever with carry on. I plan on never checking luggage again. Especially if you have a layover, it's best not to let that bag out of your sight.
I SURVIVED THE PAX 2009 CON-SARS BREAKOUT!
You should really hold the airline accountable for this, btw - that or whoever supposedly delivered it.
I SURVIVED THE PAX 2009 CON-SARS BREAKOUT!
LRR!
......sorry, couldn't help my self
Agreed, Air Canada once lost a shipment of fish my family had caught, lost it for a week, then tried to charge us a week worth of storage fees....let's just say the guy at the front desk was lucky he was only talking to my mom over the phone
This INDEED!!!
Make sure you save your itinerary records so you can prove to the airline that your games in your original bag were fouind missing upon obtaining your bag post flight. Make sure you also ask to speak to a supervisor so you can get this issue rectfifed as soon as possible.
In addition to the airline, you should also file a complaint with TSA. They're the only ones theoretically allowed to open your checked bag and large amounts of electronics could have triggered it for a search. (I usually get searched because of aerosol hairspray!) If you used a TSA approved lock, it should flag whether or not the bag was opened. They're not super sturdy and probably have a total of two master keys, but it can be just enough deterrent that the ground crew would probably decide it's not worth the extra attention to get inside for a Wii. If you don't use a lock it's harder to pinpoint the point of theft.
I typically use generic zip-ties on my zippered bags. TSA can cut them if needed and they'll put a new zip tie on for you. They are required to return the bag to it's original state. I use fancy neon zip-ties I got at Fry's so I can tell when TSA replaces it with a white one. The good thing, is that if some thieving baggage handler on the tarmac wants your Wii they have to find something to cut open the zip-ties by then, it's probably too late to try.
Make sure when you file any complaint with the airline/TSA you reference your bag tag barcode number. You might have a chance to have them trace where your bag went so they can go after the right individuals.
Document what you take with you (ask the insurer about things like the console in your luggage, they'd probably recommend you take it on the plane in carryon as well, but i'd do it just to avoid it being thrown about by the throwers.) Travel insurance might also cover the laptop (since you could claim it was broken during the flight...
Sure, you might not get replacements until after the trip is over, but it's better than nothing.
Uh, this happened to him THIS year, not last year. He arrived in seattle, and found his stuff already gone before PAX this year even started.
Airlines suck, that is all
Jeppy
That's something good to know, I wasn't aware that I could actually secure the bag in any way. I always keep any expensive stuff on carry-ons (I seem to be quickly running out of space this year), but I would still like to not lose anything else. Getting to PAX and having no clothes to wear would still cost me money :P
Guess I'm off to buy some zip-ties! Thanks for the tip.
Anyway, OP, that's a total bummer that's happened to you. I hope that your PAX can still be awesome.
Roleplayer, Pirate, and 2009 Omeganaut
Obviously, sometimes this isnt possible, and that's when things like this happen. Definitely sucks man.
What I recommend now are TSA-approved padlocks. They cost around $10 for a cheap key lock or $20 for a fancy choose-your-own combination number lock. The TSA have keys to them but no one else does (in theory, at least). So if your bag is delayed in transit, the sleazy guy that delivers it can't go through it for valuables.
I still boggle at that theft of mine, though. They stole my digital camera (understandable, that model was over $500 at the time), the Playstation games I was bringing for my friend, and one of my jars of chocolate spread. Not both jars!
My friend's car got broken into one time and they stole the CD player and some CDs. However, they apparently took the time to sort through the CDs because they left behind all the ones with calypso music :?
I think anyone who isn't from smalltown, USA, knows to keep an eye on their shit. Also, don't keep your wallet in your back pocket, putting it in your front pocket makes it harder for pick pockets.
You know, I'd say people would have a bigger problem misplacing/losing things at a convention than they would being robbed. For example, if you put your phone(or whatever) down to play a game at a booth. After playing you are excited and talking to someone and forget you put your phone down. That is the kind of thing you should be wary of.
While I agree that the OP was incorrect in (possibly inadvertently) tying this to PAX, since this could of happened on any journey to anywhere, I think you are reading more into the post than is there. Nobody called PAX attendees thieves, just further telling people to be cautious because HUMANS in general are shady. Be they at PAX, the airport, or at the local watering hole.
Lost a DSL, 200 dollars, wallet, and a gamecube controller in my bag. I left the line without my bag, thinking that everyones sitting down and my friends are near, it'll be fine - nope, not fine. When I came back, the line had moved, my friends didn't grab my bag, went back to find it, and it was gone. Did a whole lotta searching but gave up in the end
This is correct. I in no way meant to imply that PAX attendees are thieves or would even consider such a thing. In fact, I am far more comfortable with the roughly 75000 people I'll be hanging out with in ~3 days than the shady airport people. All I was trying to say was the above, just be careful, wherever you are-you've got 75000 cool people to hang out with, just don't be stupid.
In any case, thanks for all the kind words. I hope you all have a safe and awesome PAX as well.
Sounds like a great story for them, and probably the only way you'll get any action from the Airlines...