[Leica] how to get action on your camera loss

[Thinkofcole at aol.com (Thinkofcole@aol.com)]

    As a former reporter for The New York Times, I can assure you that the 
fastest way to get action on the damages you sustained in that airport 
inspection is to get some major newspaper or camera magazine to write a story about it.
    I suggest you contact [by mail or Email] The New York Times, The 
Washington Post  , The Wall Street Journal, maybe Shutterbug, and also tell  Leica 
itself. I am certain that Leica has its own way of getting attention to such 
complaints through its worldwide pr staff. 
   To get this attention, I would draft a letter to one or more papers 
carefully stating --without venom-- exactly what you carried, how you were treated, 
the condition of your equipment  when you got it back and what, if anything, 
the responsible people said or did when you told them that your equipment had 
been damaged.
   Give each of those you contant  your name, address and phone number and 
invite them to phone you for any questions they might have. Be as brief as 
possible, maybe keeping the whole thing on one page and, if possible, follow up  
your letter by phone to each of those you wrote to. If you're lucky, someone 
will see merit in your letter and you will get a call.
    You may not get immediate action but once a major newspaper prints this 
kind of heavy-handed result -- even though we definitely must have a safe 
airline service -- you may be surprised to find how receptive everybody involved 
suddenly has become. After all, if serious photographers -- amateur and 
professional -- are frightened to take cameras on planes, the financial loss to all 
sorts of people and places, like camera stores, film makers and processors, 
travel destinations, restaurants, airlines, etc., would be huge. Best of luck -- 
bob cole