Samsonite - Just Say NO !!!

Subtitled: Samsonite - WorldProof... I don't think so!

By TroyB

 

After spending several hundred dollars on a Samsonite suitcase a few years ago, only to have it explode after 3.5 trips, I was dismayed to find that their service department's idea of "repairing" it was to apply a bit of hot melt glue to the long jagged crack in the material that bonds the clasps to the body of the case. I consider this to be akin to stuffing a few rags in the hole in the side of the Titanic in the hopes that she wouldn't sink. Without further adieu, I dispatched this miserable piece of excrement to the local landfill, knowing that any further attempt to use it would simply result in another explosion.

Since then, I have become a devout Samsonite hater, and firmly steer all my friends and acquaintances away from these overpriced, underperforming products whenever possible.

But what in the world was I to use in place of a suitcase. The answer revealed itself to me at a Popular Photography workshop in New Jersey several years ago when one of the instructor's assistants showed me a "Pelican case". Definitely an odd name, and an even odder looking product. But if ever there was a company deserving of trademark term "WorldProof", these guys are it. It's too bad they only market these things to photographers, videographers and divers because they make cases in all kinds of sizes and colors, and you can most certainly find one that will fit just about any purpose, including the closest thing to an indestructible suitcase known to (wo)man.

Let's compare:

Samsonite - 2 clasps on front, 2 puny hinges on back.

Pelican - 7 (!) clasps on 3 sides, 3 massive hinges on back.

Which do you think is more likely to stay closed no matter what? My money is on the Pelican. And speaking of money, it is simply unbelievable, but the Pelican 1650 case at $175 is cheaper than almost all the comparatively sized Samsonite suitcases.

So when a friend recently asked for advice on getting a new camera rig, bags to carry it in, and any thing else that I thought he should get along with it, I sent him an e-mail detailing exactly what he should get, down to the last detail, and even where to get it so as to get the best price. Everything went so well until he got to the very end of the list. Then, for some unknown reason, he got confused, and instead of ordering the Pelican 1650 case I had spec-ed out for him, he bought... Oh NO, a Samsonite suitcase!

Below, I present for your entertainment the e-mail he sent me after using his new suitcase for only HALF (as in 0.5) of his first trip. If you are offended by foul language, please exit now !!!

I laughed so hard when I first read this, I nearly fell off my chair, and considering I was in the middle of an Internet cafe in Latin America, I'm surprised the locals didn't have me hauled off to the loony bin!

 

From: "Wish I'd Listened" <got-confused@hotmail.com>
Subject: Here ya go, go ahead and laugh ya fucker
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 04:32:16 -0500
To: always-right@velvetlens.com

 
My new Samsonite comes sliding down the ramp, I pick it up, place on floor with normal amount of force, and the fucking cocksucking assfucking piece of shit opens up. Before I get to curb, opens up twice more. Get to motel, guy unloads it. Opens up. Walk to lobby, go up curb, opens up and clothes fall in street (fortunately dry <southwest US city>, not slushy <east coast city>). On way to room, 2 more pop opens. At door to room, I was amused by yet another opening.

Yes - a 3650 day warranty, and it can't make it through day 1.

Oh yeah, I was pleased. Tomorrow, I'll relate my chat with the sweet young lady from the company I bought it from.

In my defense, I have remembered when you told me about the Pelican, I thought you were recommending it as a camera carrier and I thought it was too big for that. So - that's why I didn't simply blindly follow your always sage, correct and unquestionable purchase advice. I bow before you, as always.

 
 

GALLERIES     SERVICES     MODELING INFO     PHOTO TIPS     PHOTO LINKS     CONTACT