When TSA brakes something in your checked baggage, what do you do when you discover it?

What if it is something that can't be replaced?

First rule, of course, is to avoid checking valuables (particularly those which are irreplaceable), if at all possible. What was the item?

TSA actually has a claim form, although no experience with it.
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/claim-forms

Depending on the item, you could file a claim with your airline.
Another option would be to file a claim with your homeowners insurance, if it's covered.

Basically, tough to prove that TSA was the reason your item was damaged. Did you have a little TSA paper in your bag? Even then, it's possible it was repacked intact, but broke due to less-than-gentle baggage handling, or just because it was repacked improperly, or packed improperly in the first place.

1. What was the item and what is the damage? In other words, is this something which could have just happened from the suitcase being tossed around in transit?

2. How do you know that any damage was caused by TSA as opposed to the/a carrier, as opposed to some ground handler?
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Ask American Eagle after the TSA broke one of their planes.
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?d...2-944325cea23d

TSA has never left a note in my bag, despite it being obvious they have been inside.
The item in question is a plastic toy/prop which is kept in bubblewrap. It isn't replaceable as it hasn't been made for 12 years. Some friends are suggesting that its repairable.

TSA has plausible deniability and will point their finger at airline handers. The airline will point right back at TSA, and both are trying to escape 100% responsibility, when you know darn sure that between the two of them, they ADD UP TO being 100% responsible, but the proportion is under dispute.

Of course, the ultimate root cause is that TSA insists on us using lame locks that everybody has a master key set for. But because the airlines may lose luggage, nothing valuable or irreplaceable should be checked anyway.

If this was a prop weapon, for instance, and you couldn't carry it in the cabin, then you had two alternatives.

1) Ship it (UPS, Fedex, USPS)

2) Include it in a hard-sided case, along with a flare gun or a true unloaded weapon, and declare it as an unloaded firearm, and follow the easy process to check it in. That way, you can use REAL locks (actually, you MUST use real locks to which only you have the key or combination) and the airlines seem to treat it with real care. TSA doesn't go poking about inside, and you get to pick up the case at the baggage office typically because they aren't going to put such a case out on the conveyor. I and many other folks use this process regularly.

Just don't use this procedure to or from LGA or JFK.

It won't help this time, but I have carried a rider on my business insurance (may be available for home owners insurance) that cover items with which I travel. It is really inexpensive at just over $100 a year. I have had one claim, $7000+, when all of my tools were stolen from my rental car.

There is a down side. It only covers listed items. I have to make an inventory of those items I want to insure, provide values, model numbers, serial numbers and such as may available. I also now keep a folder of photos.

For items that you regularly have when you travel that are difficult to replace or expensive, the insurance is cheap.

The item is kept in bubble wrap in a padded part of the bag. If baggage handling had anything to do with it, other items kept in the same part of the bag would have been damaged in some way as well.
This item has been pulled out of the bag, pulled out of the bubble wrap, then snapped while trying to open the battery cover.

Sounds as though wiring in the item looked suspicious. No idea what the item is worth, but best and easiest is to file a claim on your baggage insurance. They will sort with TSA. You can direct file a claim with TSA, but don't hold your breath waiting.

It cost about 6000 Yen 6-7 years ago. They haven't been made for 12 odd years.

This tells us the thought processes behind the TSA:

"Wow. That looks suspicious. I should immediately open it up and look at it."

Unless, of course, the "bomb guys" are also so inept as to break a battery cover... which does not bode well if they ever find a real one.

Is there even any point to this?

We had a TSA agent help themselves to lunch from our suitcase. (Love note, one bag of nuts is gone. An identical bag remained so they obviously didn't look suspicious.)

Are you sure this covers value items in luggage checked into a commercial aircraft? The extra insurance the airlines sell exclude valuables. Third party travel insurance has limited liability; haven't seen any that would support a $7K claim.

I believe the consensus is that a starter pistol or flare gun is immune from NJ/NY/NYC extreme firearm laws.