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Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: Marty on August 03, 2007, 08:05:00 AM

Title: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 03, 2007, 08:05:00 AM
Had a great trip with Uncle Gene to Visser's. Killed lots of great animals, BUT, one of my bags has not made it home yet. They tell me there is still hope, I'm beginning to doubt it. Returned home last thurs nite and we got 3 out of 4 bags. My lost bag has all my archery equipment, hunting clothes and accessories to the tune of $3,000.00. Gone! Talked to Delta last nite only to find out total liability for a lost bag on international flights is $640.00!!!!Needless to say, I'm sick. Of course I hear from the peanut gallery at home" You shoulda insured it for more". Question- Can you insure a bag for more on these trips? Talk about mixed emotions.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: cch on August 03, 2007, 08:55:00 AM
Marty, I had a scare like that last year. They lost my bags and then they delivered only one of them. The one that had my DAS bow didn't show up for a couple days after but it did finally. Good luck. Chris.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Jarrod Feiner on August 03, 2007, 11:29:00 AM
Years ago...20 years or so...I was coming home from the West Indies and was missing a small duffle bag--it did not contain anything valuable: shorts I was swimming in, toiletries...anyway it showed up 3 months later. I had forgotten about it.

Yes, stay on Delta and keep the names/dates of the people that you speak to.

BTW, I'm glad to hear the trip was a good time.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: bushwood on August 03, 2007, 02:54:00 PM
I had the same thing happen this week with Delta! We arrived from Joburg Sunday and the bag with both my bows, all my hunting clothes, shoes and cameras did not make it.

It arrived Thursday to my home undamaged! Stay positive.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: tradtusker on August 03, 2007, 04:03:00 PM
OH man! that sucks i realy hope it makes it back to you!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Rick McGowan on August 03, 2007, 07:57:00 PM
A friend of my had his bag lost and the airline found it 364 days later, one day before it would have been sold to salvage!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: John3 on August 03, 2007, 09:00:00 PM
My irreplaceable Black Widow PGA and a Sky Hawk (by Earl Hoyt Jr)bows were "lost" at the Vancouver airport this May when I was trying to get home from British Columbia. I cleared customs with the bowcase and after that who knows. Waited over an hour at the STL airport on my bowcase with no love for me. Did the paperwork thinking my worst fears had happened. Three days later a woman from the airport was pulling into my driveway with my bows.
All ended well, I hope yours does as well.

John III
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: wapitimike1 on August 03, 2007, 09:24:00 PM
Stay away from SA Air. The guys who were going to hunt after us went SA Air no bags for them either.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: katman on August 03, 2007, 10:29:00 PM
My Wyoming hunting partners bow/bag was lost on return by SAA, fortunately it showed up 6 weeks later in South America plus about five other airport tags. They lost my bag/bow also but it showed up at the local airport couple of days later. Keep on them and I wish you the best.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Joseph on August 04, 2007, 05:39:00 AM
Okay, sorry about the bag and I hope all comes out fine, but where are the pictures?    :bigsmyl:  Joseph
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 04, 2007, 08:07:00 PM
Sorry, Joseph, I have great photo's, but I just figured out how to post here let alone post photo's. I can e-mail them but that's all.By the way, still no bag>
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Joseph on August 05, 2007, 05:58:00 AM
Sorry to here about the bag but keep your hopes up.  It will probably show up the day after you cash the insurance check for it and they will want their money back!  Glad you had a good trip, I am still trying to figure out how to go back to Africa and Australia.  Joseph
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 07, 2007, 02:56:00 PM
OK, OK. Enough whinning.My bag and contents are gone and I get reimbursed a lousy $640.00. Oh well.Sooo, in order not just to complain, Ray H. has agrred to post my successes for you to see. What a great trip!. Thanks Ray, sorry you didn't make it!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 07, 2007, 04:40:00 PM
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/IMGP3592.jpg)
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 07, 2007, 04:41:00 PM
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/IMGP3590.jpg)
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 07, 2007, 04:42:00 PM
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/IMGP3589.jpg)
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 07, 2007, 04:42:00 PM
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/IMGP3587.jpg)
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 07, 2007, 04:43:00 PM
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/IMGP3586.jpg)
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 07, 2007, 04:44:00 PM
Congratulations, Marty....the eland, kudu, and zebra are un-real...just beauties...couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: BTH on August 07, 2007, 04:55:00 PM
Nice Marty! Did you leave any good kudu or did you take the last one? My trip starts in...37 hours! Nice picture with with Gene and the Eland!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Joseph on August 08, 2007, 06:08:00 AM
Man you weren't kidding about a good trip!  Congratulations!!  That Eland is huge.  You needed a new bow anyways didn't you?    :knothead:  I am getting my Eland from the taxidermist Thursday morning, then I just have the Zebra and Nyala half mounts left to get done.  Joseph
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Kevin Bahr on August 08, 2007, 05:53:00 PM
Oh man, Marty.  Sorry to hear about your lost baggage.  Airline customer service absolutely sucks these days.  They know they have you over a barrel and they take full advantage of the fact that there is virtually no recourse against them.  But, it's a necessity in most cases for travel.  Hope you get your stuff back soon.  Good luck!  
We could sure use a story with photos for the PBS magazine.  With all the success you had maybe you can talk Barry into writing a retraction to his story about you missing the big buck, but somehow I doubt it, HA!  
Hope to meet you at the PBS banquet in Pittsburgh.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Fletcher on August 08, 2007, 08:46:00 PM
Wow Marty!!  You have some experiences and memories there that no one can take from you.    :readit:     Best,  Rick
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 09, 2007, 09:29:00 AM
Kevin,
Yes I'll see you in the "Burgh". It is actually my hometown. I am from a small town 20 miles east of there. Lookin forward to it.I agree with you on the retraction story from Barry, it would only be fair, wouldn't it? By the way, maybe I'll redeem myself on that Kansas buck. I was drawn and I'm goin back!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: J-dog on August 09, 2007, 03:25:00 PM
Great animals specially love the Kudu!

Good job,

Fingers crossed for your bag to return!

Jason
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Guru on August 09, 2007, 09:52:00 PM
Marty, Sorry about your bag bud.....

 But congrats on the rest of your journey...simply AWESOME!!  Some day I hope to make the same trip...
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Biggie Hoffman on August 10, 2007, 06:17:00 AM
hey Marty, where's the arrow hole in the zebra?

I'm juts glad my tripod wasn't in that bag...all the rest of that stuff was worn out anyway. Get some new stuff and quit whining.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 10, 2007, 08:39:00 AM
You think you're glad about the tripod, that's the first thing I checked! Hole in Zebra is on my side of photo, just a little back. As my PH said, you were lucky, that shot will kill the zebra, but not the others. He was right. It went maybe 150 yds on a marginal shot. Thanks for asking. Is that all you and Gene have to talk about, my mistakes?
Thank you to all the guys who have commented on my trip and Of course I woulda told you if the bag came.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: BUFF on August 10, 2007, 09:42:00 AM
Looks like you had a great trip. Visser has a fantastic place. All my bags made it back, They just dug through and picked out what they wanted to steal and let me have what was left.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Jarrod Feiner on August 10, 2007, 12:27:00 PM
Awesome stuff...sorry about the bags, but these photos are great!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Kevin Bahr on August 10, 2007, 10:24:00 PM
Well hell Marty, you can get all new stuff when you come to the PBS Banquet.  There will be plenty of vendors there to help you out.  Glad to hear you are coming, and who knows, your bag might show up any minute.  
Last time I went to Alaska, one of the guys with me had his backpack go missing.  It had all his hunting stuff in it of course, binos, knives, rope, compass, etc.  That was in September.  Believe it or not, it showed up at his place in Wisconsin like a day or two after their deer season ended.  I told him someone must have been using it and returned it after the season, HA!
Everything was in it just as he left it.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: ncsturkey on August 11, 2007, 07:56:00 AM
Marty, sorry for the loss.  I'm leaving for Vissers in September and based on your tough luck I found and bought lost luggage insurnace from AMEX.  $11.95 for $2000.00 coverage.  coupled with the $650 from the airline a loss could be managed.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: herb haines on August 12, 2007, 03:27:00 PM
Marty you must know the two of them by now it will always be the mistakes they remember , over and over and over again --- beautiful pics , are eland as soft as they look in pics?
 --- herb
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 13, 2007, 09:18:00 AM
ncsturkey, wish I woulda done that. Good luck, we had a great trip. Herb, I really didn't notice the coat, I was too excited about the horns!That's one problem with Africa hunting, they wisk the animals away after hero pictures and the next time you see it is on the drying table. Herb, trust me when I tell you that I am relentless when they make mistakes too!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: talltines on August 13, 2007, 09:58:00 AM
Great looking pics Marty.  I got a few bows if you need to borrow one until your stuff shows up.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 13, 2007, 10:11:00 AM
Marty,
Just heard on the news that this summer the airline advisors are now telling people traveling anywhere in Europe to use carry on luggage only- and they are using British Airways as a reason, but apparently ALL airlines are at fault- BA has lost 1.3 million bags this summer.

So many, they are shipping them back to the states on full cargo planes!! Amazing. I wouldn't give up hope it will show up, bud.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on August 13, 2007, 12:10:00 PM
Thanks guys, especially talltines offer on a bow. I have others, but we all have favorites. The one missing is my first custom Robertson.
Ray, I still call and we'll see, but in the meantime all vendors are happy.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 13, 2007, 12:16:00 PM
I can only imagine. Best of luck to you this coming weekend.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on September 01, 2007, 10:05:00 PM
Update!  Got a letter from Air France that said they may have found my bag in Paris!!! Of Course, got it Friday after hours, so I can't reply til Monday,cause I'm sure they don't celebrate our Labor Day.Could have good news soon! Thanks for votes of confidence, but I'll feel better when I get my paws on it.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Forester on September 01, 2007, 10:25:00 PM
Alright Marty!  I hope this is the beginning to a good ending.  Good luck and I hope they are sending your bag early next week.

East of Pittsburgh you say?  What little town did you call home?  Maybe we were neighbors....
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on September 02, 2007, 07:31:00 AM
Irwin, then college in Latrobe.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: paleFace on September 02, 2007, 10:10:00 AM
Marty looks like you had one awesome hunt.  at least your stuff didn't go missing on the flight over. i feel confident they will find you gear and get it back to you. we had one bag that didn't make it home as well. it arrived via fedex a week later.

bet your taxidermist has a big smile on his face   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on September 02, 2007, 12:42:00 PM
Rob, I really enjoyed your photo's,and stories. As far as my taxidermist, he's gonna find out what one at a time means.We had a guy get his bow 3 days into the trip, but he used others and did well, that's I guess one of the downfalls of a trip like that!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: paleFace on September 02, 2007, 01:13:00 PM
i am with you on the one at a time deal with the taxidermist.  it's crazy that it cost almost as much to have your trophies mounted as it does to hunt them.....
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Forester on September 02, 2007, 11:23:00 PM
Howdy neighbor!  I was born and raised in New Kensington.  One of my best friends lives in Irwin and my sister-in-law as well.  I'll be up that way for a deer hunt later this fall and I am passing through for work next weekend.  I'll say hello to the neighborhood for you! I hope to meet you in Pittsburgh in March.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on September 06, 2007, 12:21:00 PM
UPDATE!!!!!!! 6 Weeks to the day, my bag showed up!!! And everything is still in it including the smell of Zebra dung smoke on the clothes I wore the last day hunting. To those who told me to hang in there, Thanks. I woulda never believed
it!!!! Yippee. Just in time for opening day in South Florida this saturday. I love a Happy Ending, don't you? My bag just spent 6 weeks in Paris,free of charge. My wife is jealous.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: madness522 on September 06, 2007, 12:55:00 PM
Glad you got it back! And with everything still in it.  I can hear the folks walking by it saying 'aint my job to send it back'.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: talltines on September 06, 2007, 02:17:00 PM
Glad to hear that Marty.  Now you can sell me that bow.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: mlmealey on September 06, 2007, 02:32:00 PM
Good for you Marty,
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Forester on September 06, 2007, 04:12:00 PM
Very good Marty.  At least your bow should be relaxed and well rested for the coming season.  Good luck!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Joseph on September 07, 2007, 12:43:00 AM
Good things happen to good people   :thumbsup:  Joseph
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: joebuck on September 07, 2007, 05:12:00 AM
Great news..now I don't have to make you a bow!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Ray Hammond on September 11, 2007, 09:10:00 AM
good deal, Marty!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Kip on September 11, 2007, 09:44:00 AM
Very glad for you Marty.You never know.Your last two sentences and madness522 last one is priceless.Kip
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: Marty on September 11, 2007, 11:36:00 AM
Thanks Joseph, That makes me wonder why the bag came back!
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: katman on September 11, 2007, 09:03:00 PM
That's great news, glad to hear of a happy ending to your ordeal.
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: BUFF on September 12, 2007, 07:43:00 PM
good stuff
Title: Re: Dissappointing End to Best Trip Ever!
Post by: aromakr on November 19, 2007, 10:48:00 AM
Marty:
My wife said to tell you, that if you paid your airline ticket with a credit card you would have insurance automaticlly on your luggage.
Glad you had fun.
Bob