Frustrated With Customer Service, Dave Carroll Makes YouTube Video 'United Breaks Guitars'
United Breaks Guitars ~~ that is the name of the latest YouTube video to go viral on the internet. Dave Carroll of the Nova Scotian band Sons of Maxwell was travelling to a concert tour on March 31, 2008, when a fellow passenger cried out, "My God, they're throwing guitars out there." Sure enough, the guitars were thrown into the luggage compartment and one was severely damaged. United Breaks Guitars is the resultant YouTube music video that tells of the nine month struggle that ensued as Dave Carroll pursued compensation for the damage done to his guitar.
This page shares the first YouTube Video entitled United Breaks Guitars, a second video which is a statement acknowledging the response from United Airlines, United Breaks Guitars t-shirts and, when they are complete, it will also share the second and third videos in the series. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back on the still-evolving story of this unfortunate customer service gaffe on the part of United Airlines.
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Frustrated With Customer Service? Take It To YouTube!
July 6th, 2009 ~~ United Breaks Guitars Posted on YouTube
July 16th, 2009 ~~ United Breaks Guitars Has 3,014,082 Hits
United Breaks Guitars T-Shirt For Women
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Dave Carroll's Story of How United Airlines and Eventually Mrs. Irweg Dealt With His Complaint
Dave Carroll's immediate concerns to the staff at hand were dismissed. It would take him nine months and a lot of run around to sort the matter out. He spoke with several employees on the day of the incident. After that, he would speak with staff in Halifax, Chicago, Omaha, New York and India. (You really should read the whole article at Dave Carroll's website to appreciate how ridiculous the system was.) Eventually, he dealt with Ms. Irlweg who finally said, "No."
At this point, Mr. Carroll realized that he had been fighting a losing battle all of this time. The system seemed to work to frustrate the customers so that they would simply go away. However, he decided to take what he knows best (music) and use it to his advantage. He wrote to Ms. Irlweg and told her that he would be writing three songs and videos about his experience.
You can read Dave Carroll's whole story at his website by clicking right here.
"I promised the last person to finally say 'no' to compensation ... that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world."
~~ Dave Carroll
United Breaks Guitars YouTube Video by Dave Carroll Music
July 11th, 2008 Over 2,000,000 Hits
United Breaks Guitars
curated content from YouTube
Dave Carroll's Guitar Was A Taylor Guitar
His guitar has been repaired but I have read that Dave Carroll says it will never be the same.
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"Taylors, for the uninitiated, are akin to the Rolls Royce of acoustic guitars." ~~ Lou Carlozo
Dave Carroll Shares His Thoughts About The Success Of The YouTube Video, United Breaks Guitars.
STATEMENT
curated content from YouTube
Taylor Guitars 30 Years of a New American Classic
The story of Taylor Guitars.
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United Airline's Response After 50,000 Views On YouTube?
"We're Working To Make What Happened Right."
Better late than never?
I Looked High & I Looked Low And I Found T-Shirts With United Breaks Guitars On Them ~~ I'm Lovin' Them!
United Breaks Guitars T-Shirts For Men
T-Shirt Design By Guitars2 on Zazzle
United Breaks Guitars by Guitars2
Buy t-shirts at zazzle.com
United Throws Guitars Is Being Blogged About
- Anti-BVBL » United Throws Guitars?
- United Throws Guitars? July 13th, 2009 Moon-howler. And you thought that only the Empire Strikes Back? Not so. A band called Sons of Maxwell has struck back at United Airlines for tossing an expensive guitar out on the tarmac and ...
- United We Underground: Oh No: Dr. No's Ethiopium
- The songs themselves are shreds of music in themselves, 36 tracks at two minutes or less, in the now-familiar structure of typical Stones Throw beat-tape concoctions. They're odd little see-sawing loops and stagger-step blasts assembled from thickly-stitched scraps of brass sections and chiming guitars and wailing vocals, all truncated into little bursts of disembodied, attention-grabbing remnants. Sometimes the rhythms feel built around the loops, like the sharply ...
- - The Consumerist
- They would pay him for his guitar and go back and look at other claims they have stonewalled and pay them. Then they will also ask their bag handlers to please not throw thing around an not steal things. They will be reminded that the bags are belongings of paying ... how obnoxious that United decides to "make it right" only after the guy makes a video and publicly smears United. This isn't "making it right" - this is doing what they should have done in the first place. ...
United Throws Guitars Is Making News
- Excellent Eve
- So choose a brew from their dizzying array of beers and sit back as guitar whiz Jake Banaszak makes you feel silly for bragging about your high scores on ...
- Christmas Facts
- He was saddened by this and could not think of Christmas without music, so he wanted to write a carol that could be sung by choir to guitar music. ...
- Why Duff McKagan Left Seattle for Los Angeles
- My bandmates, roommates and girlfriends all started on the smack. and I lost a new guitar amp that I had worked hard for. I was working, paying rent, ...
United Breaks Guitar Travel Mug
Travel Mug Designed by Guitars2
United Breaks Guitars by Guitars2
View other United Mugs
What have YOUR experiences with United Airlines been like?
United Breaks Guitars T-Shirt For Women
T-Shirt Design By Guitars2 on Zazzle
United Breaks Guitars by Guitars2
Browse other United T-Shirts
More Reading About Dave Carroll's 'United Breaks Guitar' Experience
Including the link to where to buy the MP3 of United Breaks Guitars
- Taylor Guitars Responds to "United Breaks Guitars" YouTube Video
- Bob Taylor lends his support to Dave Carroll and guitar players everywhere. Plus, advice on traveling with your guitar and information about Taylor's new Factory Service Center.
- Musician fed up with United strikes back with 'United Breaks Guitar' by The Scavenger
- Musician fed up with United strikes back with 'United Breaks Guitar' by The Scavenger.
- "United Breaks Guitars" a Smash Hit on YouTube By NBC Chicago
- A musician whose favorite guitar was smashed by United baggage handlers writes a song about it, which turns into a YouTube hit. You're welcome, United.
- Sons Of Maxwell Full Catalogue Page (You can buy the MP3 song here.)
- This link takes you directly to the Sons of Maxwell full catalogue where you can buy any of their CDs or the MP3 version of United Breaks Guitars.
- The Whole Story of Dave Carroll's Experience With United Airlines
- The ins and outs of Dave Carroll's experience with Customer Service at United Airlines. Read it and see how really unbelievable it is that anyone could be put through such a run around.
United Breaks Guitars Men's T-Shirt
T-Shirt Design By Guitars2 on Zazzle
United Breaks Guitars by Guitars2
Shop for tshirts online at zazzle
Will Carroll's video help the rest of us when we deal with United Airlines or any other large company? What do you think?
United Breaks Guitars is an interesting video but will it actually cause United to deal more fairly with all of its customers when they complain? If not what does that mean? Do we have to post a YouTube video to get results?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, I think it will help us all...
MsSnow4a says:
I think anytime you voice a complaint that others can see it helps
Posted July 14, 2009
mulberry says:
Yes, I saw this a few days ago. "you go man!!!" is all I thought...we've all been there.
Posted July 12, 2009
KarateKatGraphics says:
I don't know how much this will help, but it should have at least *some* impact, given the number of people who are tuning into the video.
Posted July 12, 2009
Susan52 says:
I do think it will help and I hope other companies take notice. The world is not what it once was. Communication is simple, quick, and universal. Gotta love YouTube!
Posted July 12, 2009
No, I don't think it will make any difference...
Dave Carroll's Goal:
To get one million hits this year and he has far surpassed that. So much time had passed that Mr. Carroll was no longer angry and he and the others involved with the video had a great time putting it together.
Dave Carroll's Final Message:
"Thanks United! If my guitar had to be smashed due to extreme negligence I'm glad it was you that did it. Now sit back and enjoy the show."
Sons of Maxwell Becomes A Huge Internet Sensation Because Of The 'United Breaks Guitars' Song.
"It's nice to have a light-hearted chuckle at things." ~~ Dave Carroll
As an aside, the song and the video really ARE good. (But you already know that if you watched the video. If you skipped the video you might want to go back and hear it now.) The tune is catchy and well done but unfortunately, I'm stuck with that line, United Breaks Guitars, running around and around in my head. If you enjoyed listening to it too, you can buy it for your MP3 player directly from the band's website at Sons of Maxwell.
United Breaks Guitar By Dave Carroll Is Now Available For Your MP3 Player
Sons of Maxwell Music CDs
If you like the sound of the Sons of Maxwell in the video, you're probably going to enjoy one of their CDs.
Sailors Story (Sailing Ship Picture CD)
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United Breaks Guitars Coffee Mug
Coffee Mug Designed by Guitar2 on Zazzle
United Breaks Guitars by Guitars2
See other United Mugs
More Great Canadian Music Can Be Found on Obama's Canadian Playlist
-
Obama's Canadian Playlist ~~ 49 Songs That Define Canada and Our Music!
-
When you think of a Canadian music playlist, what songs do you think of? What type(s) of music? The CBC (The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) set out to define music in Canada by creating a list of "49 songs from north of the 49th parallel" with th...
United Breaks Guitars Lyrics
(A taste of them! Once you've heard the song in the video, you're going to keep hearing the line 'Cause United Breaks guitars.)
You broke my Taylor guitar
United, United
Some big help you are
You broke it, you should fix it
You're liable just admit it
I should have flown with someone else or gone by car
'Cause United breaks guitars
Has Dave Carroll Profited From United Breaks Guitars?
Well, it has definitely helped his bottom line...
- More than 3.5 million YouTube hits.
- More than 400 CDs sold.
- Offers to do gigs here and abroad.
- Possibly the top YouTube music video in Canadian history.
- Possibly a record-setter in Australia.
- A new guitar from Taylor Guitars.
You Can Tweet Your Thoughts Here About The Song and Video, United Breaks Guitars
Do you think United Breaks Guitars will make United Airlines improve their customer service?
I say...
What others are saying...
United Breaks Guitars Baseball Hat
Ball Cap Design By Guitars2 on Zazzle
United Breaks Guitars by Guitars2
Browse more United Hats
"A real life guitar hero." ~~ Lloyd Robertson, CTV
Stay Tuned For United Breaks Guitars Song 2 and Song 3
What do you think was the biggest error United Airlines made in this situation?
And what do you think of the Sons of Maxwell and Dave Carroll's video response?
-
Reply
- Ohrana Ohrana Dec 4, 2009 @ 3:16 am
- How can i bay it if I in Russia now? it's realy?
-
Reply
- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Dec 4, 2009 @ 6:46 am
- You might be able to buy the song for your MP3 player from Amazon even though you are in Russia. Just click on "United Breaks Guitar By Dave Carroll Is Now Available For Your MP3 Player." I don't believe the song is available on a CD. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
-
Reply
- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Nov 7, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
- My husband has traveled the world with his bass guitar, and knows a few musicians who will pay for a second seat for their guitar. Bad move on United's part. Nicely done... Squid Angel Blessed.
-
Reply
- BevsPaper BevsPaper Aug 5, 2009 @ 10:57 pm
- I'd say...don't mess with a man and his guitar! No, seriously this was awful and I'm glad you wrote about it.
-
Reply
- Pmona Pmona Jul 16, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
- Good video, great lens! 5*
- Load More
Finally, Share The Spirit With These Great United Throws Guitars Items...
A mousepad, a key chain or a button.
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