Broken Suitcase Wheel

[Jerusalem Gal]

Hi folks,
I was in the World for 10 days this past January.
Disney had my luggage a few times during the trip- first from the airport, then moving from Pop to the CR (split stay) and then again on our last day- we checked out, had bell services hold our luggage and went to the park. They were also the ones to load everything straight from bell services onto the Magical Express.
Somewhere along the way one of the wheels on my suitcase broke. It's still somewhat attached, but when I first started rolling it into the airport after it was unloaded from the ME I was sure it broke off completely because it was dragging. It was only when we landed (after two connecting flights) that we noticed the wheel was just partially broken and had folded under the suitcase.
It was an awful experience, dragging that heavy thing throughout the various airports, especially with all the carpeting, but I never thought to write to Disney.
I'm fairly certain the wheel broke after we checked out of the Contemporary because I had no problem wheeling it to bell services, but I can't prove it.
Also, it's been a full month since we got back....

Any advice? Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?
Should I just forget about it and have it fixed or should I try writing to them? Do I need a picture of the broken wheel?

Thanks guys!

 

[writerguyfl]

I wouldn't ignore the possibility that the suitcase itself had a defect or was just poorly made. The Disney Cast Members (and Mears Transportation employees running Magical Express) might have done everything perfectly and it simply broke becase many products today are not built to last.

 

[minnie mum]

Agree with the PP. And a month after the fact? How could you prove, to anyone elses satisfaction, that it didn't break after you got home from your Disney trip?

Have a look at your lugagge's warranty. It might be covered.

 

[happymommy]

I'd consider it normal wear and tear unfortunately. If it's a high end piece, like Eagle Creek, then it will have a warranty. If it's a cheap bag, heck I've gone through so many bags over the last 30 years.

I don't think you could claim it was caused by Disney or the airline at this point.

 

[Sue M]

I agree, after a month it's prob too late. However, the suitcase also went thru luggage handling at airports too. Maybe the wheel damage had nothing to do with Disney/ME handling and the damage was initially done by airline luggage handlers. Then wheel just gave out with additional normal handling.

Have you seen how luggage is treated at the airports!! They just throw them around. On one trip on getting luggage off carousel my handle was broken, on another, a wheel was missing. It's not uncommon to have damage form luggage handlers.
I buy Samsonite, and it still gets damaged.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is a carryon bag, given that you wheeled it through airports, yes?

Wheels aren't generally covered under airline policies, and they likely aren't covered under bell services. If they are, the time to say something is at that time.

 

[Allison]

There is really nothing to be done about it.

 

[lustergirl]

Demand compensation. No seriously, suck it up and buy a new suitcase.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Thanks everyone.

I know I can't prove anything which is why I wondered if there would ever be a "right" time to speak to them.
I can't prove it now and I wouldn't have been able to prove it then.

Still, I know it was whole before I dropped it off with bell services simply because I wheeled it down to them and had no problem with it.
It was only afterwards that I had trouble moving it.

Also, to the PP who assumed it was a carryon- it wasn't. Just a big old suitcase. We still had to wheel it around quite a lot before actually dropping it off. Both in Orlando, in New York (connecting flight) and then when we got home.

It's not that big a deal. Just figured I'd ask...

 

[strat68]

Let it go and move on.

 

[DSLRuser]

it is a suitcase. They get beat to crap every time you use it. It could have been cracked by the air bad handlers 3 trips ago, but just finally gave way. fix it, or buy a new suitcase. Very petty if you try and hold disney accountable for this.

 

[aaarcher86]

If you realized it was broken on your way home, why are you waiting a month to explore contacting them?

 

[L&Lfan]

A manager at the Boardwalk Inn gave me $50 for my bag that came back to me from bell services with a broken handle.

 

[Dug720]

A manager at the Boardwalk Inn gave me $50 for my bag that came back to me from bell services with a broken handle.

Over a month later though?

 

[robinb]

So you wheeled the suitcase down to Bell Services and when you retrieved it from the ME bus it was broken? I guess I would still contact your resort and see if they can do anything for you. The worst they can say is "no" and that's the same as not asking at all.

 

[L&Lfan]

No, I didn't read the whole thread. It was when we went to pick up our stored luggage from bell services before we boarded the bus to the airport. I had given them the bags in perfect condition and they gave me my bag back with the handle hanging half off. The manager said he would reimburse me if I purchased a new bag (right!) but there wasn't time as we were in the midst of leaving. That bag was certainly worth more than $50, but what're ya gonna do?

 

[Kona65]

Did you ever stop to think that sometimes things just break, and no one is to blame. Why are we always looking for someone else to pay for things.

 

[tsme]

Some luggage companies will send you new wheels without cost if you email them. I did that once. Also, I fixed a cracked wheel with Disney duct tape once. I thought it was cute, my DH didn't really though, LOL.

 

[Saimaeve]

If it was an old suitcase like you said, old things sometimes break.... I'm not sure why you would think to place blame with the resort when an old thing breaks. They're not indestructible. If it's a quality suitcase it most likely has a warranty (although I don't know if it will cover the wheels like that) if it was a cheap thing, that's probably why it broke.

 

[robinb]

Some luggage companies will send you new wheels without cost if you email them. I did that once. Also, I fixed a cracked wheel with Disney duct tape once. I thought it was cute, my DH didn't really though, LOL.

I paid for a new wheel on my TravelPro. It was less than $20 delivered.