Luggage Tags
Dec 19th, 2013, 08:45 AM
#41
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Your indestructible loops of plastic are easily cut MMePerdu. Have a look at the stainless steel wire type.
Ah zippers sparkchaser. I once had a really great 'travel pack' (backpack harness zips away to make the bag more carousel friendly). One of the first ever made probably as it was about 20 years ago. I bought it at Eddie Bauer's back when they were an outdoor store rather than the 95% clothing store they now are.
The bag had 3 zippers and after many years of hard use a zipper was pulled off. Somewhere between check-in at an airport and my pulling it off a carousel at the other end.
So I went back to Eddie Bauer's with it hoping for a replacement or repair. Eddie Bauer offers a lifetime (your lifetime, not the products lifetime) guarantee or your money back.
Sadly, as the bag was about 10-12 years old at that point, they couldn't replace it. So they suggested I try to have a new zip sewn in and they would pay for it if I came back with the receipt for the repair. I took it to a couple of places and finally a upholstery maker told me that while he could replace the zipper, the cost would be quite high and he honestly couldn't see it being worth doing.
So back to Eddie Bauer to tell them I didn't feel I could stiff them for a bill that was out of line with the original purchase price of around $100. Their solution was to offer me any bag in the store that I wanted as a replacement.
I did get a nice bag that was similar in design but somehow I still miss that old bag.
Ah zippers sparkchaser. I once had a really great 'travel pack' (backpack harness zips away to make the bag more carousel friendly). One of the first ever made probably as it was about 20 years ago. I bought it at Eddie Bauer's back when they were an outdoor store rather than the 95% clothing store they now are.
The bag had 3 zippers and after many years of hard use a zipper was pulled off. Somewhere between check-in at an airport and my pulling it off a carousel at the other end.
So I went back to Eddie Bauer's with it hoping for a replacement or repair. Eddie Bauer offers a lifetime (your lifetime, not the products lifetime) guarantee or your money back.
Sadly, as the bag was about 10-12 years old at that point, they couldn't replace it. So they suggested I try to have a new zip sewn in and they would pay for it if I came back with the receipt for the repair. I took it to a couple of places and finally a upholstery maker told me that while he could replace the zipper, the cost would be quite high and he honestly couldn't see it being worth doing.
So back to Eddie Bauer to tell them I didn't feel I could stiff them for a bill that was out of line with the original purchase price of around $100. Their solution was to offer me any bag in the store that I wanted as a replacement.
I did get a nice bag that was similar in design but somehow I still miss that old bag.
Dec 20th, 2013, 12:36 PM
#42
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"Apologies, november_moon, what I just said sounds so smug. I still believe it but I sound unbearable, I know."
LOL.
Perhaps I have been unlucky then because I have never been accused of not being thorough
Or maybe it is a case of prioritization. I have had a variety of luggage tags through the years - disposable paper and elastic ones, nice leather ones with a strap and a buckle, rubberized ones, etc. - all have stuck around for awhile, but come off sooner or later. I suppose if it was REALLY important to me that luggage tags stick around, I would search out some indestructible type of tag, but it just isn't that high on my priority list.
LOL.
Perhaps I have been unlucky then because I have never been accused of not being thorough
Or maybe it is a case of prioritization. I have had a variety of luggage tags through the years - disposable paper and elastic ones, nice leather ones with a strap and a buckle, rubberized ones, etc. - all have stuck around for awhile, but come off sooner or later. I suppose if it was REALLY important to me that luggage tags stick around, I would search out some indestructible type of tag, but it just isn't that high on my priority list.
Dec 20th, 2013, 02:04 PM
#43
"Your indestructible loops of plastic are easily cut MMePerdu."
That may be but why on earth would anybody do it? If they like them that much I give them freely as a gift. Another copy of the info inside the bag (and I thought I was unbearable).
That may be but why on earth would anybody do it? If they like them that much I give them freely as a gift. Another copy of the info inside the bag (and I thought I was unbearable).
Dec 21st, 2013, 06:54 AM
#44
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Think it through MmePerdu. If people do exist who remove luggage tags in the airport (primarily baggage handlers) to hand over to others, who then break-in to the house of the absent traveller, then someone has a reason to cut your tags off.
This can and does happen all the time. The chances of it happening may be very low compared to the overall number of travellers but it does in fact happen every day.
The harder the tag is to remove, the more likely that someone else's tag will be chosen rather than yours. A stainless steel loop requires a good pair of wire cutters to remove. Plastic, rubber, leather only require a 2" pocket swiss army knife.
It's not a big deal. It's as easy to use a good tag as a poor one. Whether it's removed on purpose or gets caught on something and ripped off etc. doesn't matter. But if someone is going to ask 'what tag to use' as the OP has done here, then it makes sense to suggest the best solution, not just any old solution that someone thinks is 'good enough'.
This can and does happen all the time. The chances of it happening may be very low compared to the overall number of travellers but it does in fact happen every day.
The harder the tag is to remove, the more likely that someone else's tag will be chosen rather than yours. A stainless steel loop requires a good pair of wire cutters to remove. Plastic, rubber, leather only require a 2" pocket swiss army knife.
It's not a big deal. It's as easy to use a good tag as a poor one. Whether it's removed on purpose or gets caught on something and ripped off etc. doesn't matter. But if someone is going to ask 'what tag to use' as the OP has done here, then it makes sense to suggest the best solution, not just any old solution that someone thinks is 'good enough'.
Dec 21st, 2013, 07:01 AM
#45
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You know, luggage tags are such a simple thing. You would think that a bunch of travellers could agree on what makes the most sense in terms of which to use and what to write on them. Instead we have over 40 responses.
Why is that? The answer of course varies. Some people simply haven't given it any real thought or are naive in regards to how luggage tags provide information someone can use. Others, having suggested a less than best answer feel a need to then justify and defend their choice rather than say, 'hey, yeah, that's a better solution, I'm gonna get one of those'.
The best choice is a tag with a stainless steel cable and not visible information showing. The information that is on the card should be a name and a phone number. Nothing else, never a home address. It really is that simple.
Why is that? The answer of course varies. Some people simply haven't given it any real thought or are naive in regards to how luggage tags provide information someone can use. Others, having suggested a less than best answer feel a need to then justify and defend their choice rather than say, 'hey, yeah, that's a better solution, I'm gonna get one of those'.
The best choice is a tag with a stainless steel cable and not visible information showing. The information that is on the card should be a name and a phone number. Nothing else, never a home address. It really is that simple.
Dec 21st, 2013, 08:08 AM
#46
>>Others, having suggested a less than best answer feel a need to then justify and defend their choice<<
>>The best choice is a tag with a stainless steel cable . . . It really is that simple.<<
yep - serious need to justify . . .
>>The best choice is a tag with a stainless steel cable . . . It really is that simple.<<
yep - serious need to justify . . .
Dec 21st, 2013, 09:43 AM
#47
"Think it through MmePerdu. If people do exist who remove luggage tags in the airport (primarily baggage handlers)..., who then break-in to the house of the absent traveller, then someone has a reason to cut your tags off."
Think it through, dulciusexasperis, my address is never on my itinerary contained within the tag/envelope attached to my bag. My email address is. For the reasons all those above have gone on about.
I repeat, they're welcome to it.
Think it through, dulciusexasperis, my address is never on my itinerary contained within the tag/envelope attached to my bag. My email address is. For the reasons all those above have gone on about.
I repeat, they're welcome to it.
Dec 21st, 2013, 01:16 PM
#48
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Think it through again, you responded to a comment about a stainless fastener with a comment about what information is contained MmePerdu. If the topic is A you respond regarding A, not B.
Or were you labouring under the impression that the person stealing the luggage tag for nefarious purposes, checks FIRST to see what information is contained? In which case how you fastened the tag wouldn't matter? Umm, no MmePerdu, that's not how it works.
Your 'they're welcome to it' makes no sense. Why have to replace it when using the best choice to begin with would not have resulted in it being removed?
Janisj, get over yourself, you don't even know what 'to justify' means vs. to provide a logical answer to a given set of criteria. If the answer to a question is able to be measured by quantifiable criteria, there is ALWAYS a BEST answer. Try looking up and understanding if possible, the difference between objective and subjective. This question has an objective answer.
Or were you labouring under the impression that the person stealing the luggage tag for nefarious purposes, checks FIRST to see what information is contained? In which case how you fastened the tag wouldn't matter? Umm, no MmePerdu, that's not how it works.
Your 'they're welcome to it' makes no sense. Why have to replace it when using the best choice to begin with would not have resulted in it being removed?
Janisj, get over yourself, you don't even know what 'to justify' means vs. to provide a logical answer to a given set of criteria. If the answer to a question is able to be measured by quantifiable criteria, there is ALWAYS a BEST answer. Try looking up and understanding if possible, the difference between objective and subjective. This question has an objective answer.
Dec 21st, 2013, 03:04 PM
#49
"...there is ALWAYS a BEST answer."
Not necessarily. Most often "best" is subjective and dependent on varying criteria. For instance, it could be "best" to have a tag that breaks free. The tag should be less strong than what it's attached to, handle or strap, so that if the tag gets snagged in a luggage conveyer belt it will come free rather than break the handle/strap. Only one example of why it's utter nonsense to believe there's only one "best".
Not necessarily. Most often "best" is subjective and dependent on varying criteria. For instance, it could be "best" to have a tag that breaks free. The tag should be less strong than what it's attached to, handle or strap, so that if the tag gets snagged in a luggage conveyer belt it will come free rather than break the handle/strap. Only one example of why it's utter nonsense to believe there's only one "best".
Dec 22nd, 2013, 07:37 AM
#50
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No, 'best' is never subjective. Either a 'best' exists or it does not.
IF objective criteria are given then an objective answer is possible. If you want to define the criteria as 'a tag that breaks free' then that will result in a 'best' answer being a tag that breaks free. If the criteria is not a tag that breaks free then one that does break will not be 'best'.
You can change the criteria and get a different answer to what is best but if you agree on a set of objective criteria you WILL get a 'best' answer, whatever that might be.
In this case I think most people could easily agree on the criteria.
IF objective criteria are given then an objective answer is possible. If you want to define the criteria as 'a tag that breaks free' then that will result in a 'best' answer being a tag that breaks free. If the criteria is not a tag that breaks free then one that does break will not be 'best'.
You can change the criteria and get a different answer to what is best but if you agree on a set of objective criteria you WILL get a 'best' answer, whatever that might be.
In this case I think most people could easily agree on the criteria.
Dec 28th, 2013, 08:17 AM
#53
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Don't most airlines use barcodes now to ID bags? So baggage tags aren't really necessary. I would have thought that that would be the case for any airline flying to Japan from the US. normal practice (if your bag doesn't arrive on the carousel) is to go to the relevant airline help desk in the baggage hall, show them your receipt and tell them where to send the bag, once it arrives. I do still use a tag, but all this has is my family name and my mobile phone no. with international dialing code. Enough information for any airline to get in touch, if my bag turns up in the wrong country, and too little for anyone with real criminal intent to use this information.
Jan 27th, 2014, 11:57 AM
#55
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I am just now catching up on this thread. And the question that keeps nagging at me is this: If Hobbert has a <<6'4" bodybuilder Marine>> for a husband, why does she travel away from him?
On topic: we bought bright yellow luggage tags from REI, mostly so that our very ordinary black bags would stand out. They attach with a little cable so they are easy to attach and remove. Our business cards go in there. So far so good.
On topic: we bought bright yellow luggage tags from REI, mostly so that our very ordinary black bags would stand out. They attach with a little cable so they are easy to attach and remove. Our business cards go in there. So far so good.
