Dave Carroll gets his revenge on United Airlines

by Kate Pritchard - Thursday, 23rd July 2009 - (11) comments

Dave Carroll’s ditty about United Airlines has racked up 3.7 million hits on YouTube and caused the airline’s stock price to plunge by ten per cent, costing shareholders $180m. Check out his country-western “revenge song” here.

Dave Carroll’s band, Sons of Maxwell, were travelling to Nebraska for a one-week tour in the spring of 2008. Peering out of the aeroplane window, Dave Carroll noticed his beloved Taylor guitar being thrown by the United Airlines baggage handlers.

“I discovered later that the $3,500 guitar was severely damage,” comments Carroll on his website, www.davecarrollmusic.com. “United Airlines didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss.”

So instead of getting mad, Dave Carroll got even and wrote a song about his experience.

Best lyric in Dave Carroll's tune has got to be: "The band and I exchanged a look/ Best described as horror/ At the action on the tarmac/ And knowing whose projectiles these would be."

Dave Carroll's song has been a YouTube hit – and a PR disaster for United Airlines. And there’s more to come. “United: Song 1 is the first of those songs,” says Dave Carroll. “United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise.”

You should check out Dave Carroll's blog about his experience.

Entrepreneurs, if you receive a complaint about your business, deal with it. Immediately. You’ve been warned.

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11 Comments

July 24, 2009 11:27am
somethinggood Says:

RUSerious - United didn't reimburse him, they offered to and Carroll told them to donate the money to charity. In short, your comment is full of etc etc and so on.

Craig328 - Journalism might be a dying profession but I see the trade of being a superior prick on web forums appears to be going strong.

Kate Pritchard - it was a cute story. Thanks for sharing.

July 24, 2009 5:44am
Arf the Llama Says:

I remember looking out an airplane window one time (don't remember the airline any more) and seeing my beloved Korg keyboard (in its steel flight case) being quite literally thrown on the baggage conveyor by the handlers despite the case being slathered in "FRAGILE" stickers. Fortunately no damage occurred to it as the case is extremely tough and well padded but I almost got thrown off the plane for banging on the window trying to get the baggage gorilla's attention.

July 24, 2009 3:06am
RUSerious Says:

Where to begin? First, United already reimbursed him a couple of weeks ago. Second, the share price is 2 cents lower than it was the day he posted the video. In short, this article is full of fail.

July 23, 2009 7:41pm
Devin Says:

They outright stole my nintendo DS and a bunch of games that I left in the seat pocket, even though I called right away. Poof, gone. Sure its my fault for leaving it but still, no love for United here.

July 23, 2009 6:05pm
Marilyn Jackson Says:

I think the song is fantastic and it serves UAL's right. I have had the same experience but only with a suitcase, however I think this is a normal practice that has to be addressed by the airlines. They should face up and take responsibility or better train their employees.

July 23, 2009 6:02pm
Una Says:

Wow!!! Way to go!!! Power to the people!!

July 23, 2009 4:45pm
Craig328 Says:

Well, the tune was posted to YouTube on July 6. On July 6, UAL was trading at $3.34. As of just few minutes ago, latest trade was for $3.32. Now I learned the old fashioned way of doing math but 2 cents off 334 cents is not a 10% drop. In fact, since July 6, the share price dropped on 5 of those days and rose on 6. It did suffer a 10% (well 9.6%) drop just yesterday...but Kate Pritchard could use a little lesson in objective reporting with actual facts. Seriously, there's nothing about the song's effects that's doing anything to UAL's share price...no matter how much Kate wants to insinuate matters to the contrary. Journalism...a dying profession apparently.

July 23, 2009 4:23pm
Mary Says:

Great, Discover Card left a $500 fraudulent charge on my credit card that they've been refusing to take care of for 8 months now. I had an 800 credit score before and have never paid a bill late. They refuse to do anything and just hang up on me when I ask for a corporate. I wish I was a songwriter! Instead, I just tell everyone I meet.

July 23, 2009 4:19pm
Dave Newton Says:

I love this song. I want to buy his music. And UNITED? Pffft! I'm flying on another carrier. You should have replaced his guitar, it would have been paid for by the next couple of flights I could have taken on your airline.

July 23, 2009 3:04pm
IvanTheMute Says:

That is phenomenal! There is always talk of "voting with your feet" and "hitting them in the pocketbook" with regards to poor customer service. But a stock hit of $180 million? That should be enough to make someone sit up and take notice!

July 23, 2009 2:31pm
crepitis Says:

You are my new hero Dave! Great song!!