Originally Posted by
PHXflier
When the lock was busted on a suitcase similar to that of the OP, Delta gave me a UPS label to send the suitcase to some company in Texas, and they repaired it very nicely within a couple of weeks. Maybe you can ask whether they can have the damage repaired instead?
I also experienced good results with this option. I had the Hartmann nameplate ripped out of a hardside 30" suitcase two years. They took my luggage at the baggage claim office and shipped it to Texas for me to be repaired. It took about a month to get it back but I received an email two weeks into it saying they sent it to a secondary facility as they were unable to repair it in Texas. Whoever completed the repair did excellent work as you can only see a slight scuff below the nameplate.