Where Unclaimed Baggage Ends Up
By angel_smiles
@Lolaze (5093)
St. Louis, Missouri
May 5, 2019 10:08pm CST
In Scottsboro Alabama there is this awesome store called Unclaimed Baggage. They buy unclaimed suitcases from the airlines and sell what they find inside. It’s a huge store, three levels and then another small building. They have everything from clothes, to jewelry, to the suitcases themselves. Tomorrow my friend and I are heading out there to see what fun things we can find.
One of the best parts is, if they aren’t super busy, the jewelry counter will let you try things on just for fun. And they have some majorly expensive items! Check out the bracelet I tried on last year when we went.
41 people like this
34 responses
@LadyDuck (471272)
• Switzerland
6 May 19
I know that every country has an "official store" where items recovered from unclaimed/lost baggage are sold. To be honest I think they should do a better effort to find the real owners. I remember that they destroyed one of my suitcases at the Phoenix (AZ) airport. They offered me a suitcase pretending they could not find the owner. When I opened the suitcase, the name of the owner was printed on a label inside.
13 people like this
@LadyDuck (471272)
• Switzerland
6 May 19
@garymarsh6 They kept our suitcase to have it repaired (or replaced), so they gave us that "unclaimed" suitcase pretending they did not know the name of the owner. What a shame! The name was clearly stated inside.
7 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
6 May 19
@LadyDuck I would have named and shamed the airline and taken it to the press! They would have had f field day! Sometimes there are sentimental items in your luggage that could never be replaced.
9 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
6 May 19
What a disgrace Anna. I hope that you were not left out of pocket!
7 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
6 May 19
i didn't know such a store existed and that airlines are allowed to sell them.
what if after buying the suitcase the buyer found something inside that helps to identify/locate the owner? are they obliged to contact the owner in case they want it back?
5 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
6 May 19
@sunrisefan you mean selling the unclaimed baggage is dubious?
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471272)
• Switzerland
6 May 19
@hereandthere Read my comment, yes it is dubious, they don't do enough to find to whom the baggage owners.
5 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
6 May 19
I am aware of such stores and I think the airlines have just absolved their responsibilities in reuniting the luggage with its rightful owners. It is so important not to just have your name and contact details on the outside but also on the inside.I know that they ship stuff over to the USA from the UK to be sold!
7 people like this
@moffittjc (121546)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 May 19
It would be pretty fun to shop in s store like that! But there's one thing that makes me wonder on this whole thing: you said the airlines sell the unclaimed luggage to this store? Which means the airlines make money selling people's lost luggage. Which means the airlines have a financial incentive to lose people's luggage. That explains a lot. No wonder they lose so much luggage every year! haha
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121546)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 May 19
@Lolaze I've only had my luggage misplaced once, and they delivered it to my hotel the same night.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
6 May 19
I have heard about this place, and would think they would always be Crazy busy. But I am sure a lot of people get some nice stuff from there. Are they more expensive or decent price, especially since I am sure some of the people who check them out are into resale themselves.
2 people like this
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
6 May 19
It’s not horribly crowded during the weekdays. What I’ve seen that is ‘normal’ items are decently priced. They also have an area where it’s things that have been there for a long time - those are very cheap.
@GardenGerty (160611)
• United States
6 May 19
It sounds like a fun place to shop, but I would feel sorry for the owners.
4 people like this
@rsa101 (38148)
• Philippines
6 May 19
Wow I never realized that there is such a store that sells unclaimed suitcases. I think that is the same with those storage bins that are not paid by their owners and abandon the room. They are auctioned and will be at the buyers risk if the content of the storage room is worth their bidded price.
3 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 May 19
you wonder how some people can leave some of that stuff behind..
3 people like this
@allknowing (135934)
• India
6 May 19
Unclaimed baggage could contain some expensive and interesting items. Strange that there are not many takers.
4 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
6 May 19
I never knew that store was there, But I don`t get up that way often
4 people like this
@cttolledo (5454)
• Legaspi, Philippines
18 May 19
wow first time to hear that. I'm just curious why owners of that baggage weren't able to claim it.
1 person likes this
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
18 May 19
I think some really expensive stuff may be stolen or from smugglers.
Others, airlines pay a good fee for lost baggage - sometimes worth more than what has been lost
@Letranknight2015 (51938)
• Philippines
6 May 19
That's one expensive bracelet. I guess it's nothing if it's owned by a royalty, they got tons of those expensive jewelries.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79648)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 May 19
It is a lovely bracelet but I sure could use all the money for many other things. That sounds like an interesting store where I would love to browse from time to time. Enjoy your time there. Let us know if you buy anything.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
6 May 19
Sounds like fun and would be interesting to see what they have.
2 people like this
I believe they should be selling those items at much discounted prices. I don't know whether any airports here conducts such sale, but it would be a good bargain for some branded items.