Another use for duct tape.
Two of the overhead bins could not be closed on a flight out of LGA. The plane sat at the gate for 55 minutes for a mechanic to come on board, look at the bins, determine they were broken, fill out a ton of paperwork and then duct tape the bins shut. The plane left and due to the delay, many passengers missed their connections and had to be put on later flights.
I realize the FAA and AA have rules and paperwork but why not just have a roll of ducttape on board each plane and when a bin is broken, have the FA just tape it shut and be done with it?