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I've got some pieces of luggage that I've used for frequent business travel. The luggage was primarily used to carry company equipment, including a 12 lb power supply. My personal belongings, such as change of clothes and toothpaste, was also thrown in there alongside the company equipment.

Over the course of several trips, the wheels have been worn and eventually busted off, making the luggage hard to transport, cracked nearly unusable without duct tape. This is most painful traveling to Burbank with a good quarter mile walk to the rental car area.

Is seems reasonable that I should be able to get new luggage at company expense. Perhaps I could amortize this over several trips. Is it common to ask for such reimbursement and how should I ask for it?

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    That's something you'll need to take up with your company. But let's be realistic. They're almost certainly not going to do that anymore than they would pay for worn shoes or dry cleaning for wrinkled suits.
    – Chris E
    Oct 27, 2016 at 22:15
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    Will you leave the suitcases at the office so someone else can use them? Are you going to use them privately as well? I think it is the same as clothes / shoes / a bike / other items you would use for business and privately.
    – R-D
    Oct 27, 2016 at 22:39
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    If the luggage is used to transport company property - equipment, tools, documentation, training manuals - then you could make a reasonable argument that the company should be providing carrying cases for those.
    – John Feltz
    Oct 27, 2016 at 23:09
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    Normally I'd agree with the shoe comparison, except that I'd estimate >90% Business use for these pieces. I usually travel much lighter and less frequently for my personal travel, rarely using this luggage. Perhaps the travel habits of the prevailing comments is heavier on personal use. I do use my shoes for personal reasons more frequently.
    – 2NinerRomeo
    Oct 27, 2016 at 23:24
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    it appears that travel assignments are your day-to-day work
    – Chris E
    Oct 28, 2016 at 2:17

1 Answer 1

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Don't ask for compensation, that is a bit unrealistic.

However it's totally fine to ask for a bag to carry work stuff in. For instance I supply my guys with tool belts and backpacks. Most bigger tools have their own bags etc,. If I give a laptop, it goes with either a heavy duty carry case or a bag.

These aren't personal items, these remain with the equipment at all times, they're work gear. I'll deduct it from their pay if they lose it, but I'll replace them when they're worn out.

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