Unclaimed Baggage

Did you ever wonder what happens to lost luggage? Most people eventually get their bags, even if there is a delay because the stuff travelled to a different destination and had to be shipped back. In some cases people don't get their bags back until they get home. But what happens to the ones that are never returned? What of the luggage that the airline is unable to find and so compensates the traveller for it. I mean it has to go somewhere, right? Well as it turns out there is just one place where unidentified and unclaimed luggage from all airlines ends up. The Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scotsboro, Alabama. It is a 40,000 square foot retail outlet full of nothing but items lost by travellers. Nearly 1 million items a year are bought and sold here. The usual items like cameras and laptops but some unexpected treasures as well. A 40.95 carrat natural emerald, a suit of armor, even some high tech equipment from NASA (returned) and the Navy (also returned). It sounds like shopping there is a cross between the Flea Market and a treasure hunt. One woman bought a Barbie doll for her little girl and discovered $500 dollars inside. Another person bought a painting for $60 that turned out to be worth $20,000. Not all the finds are good though, one bag contained a live rattlesnake. Still, it sounds like a fun way to spend a day.
http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/articles/weirdest-unclaimed-luggage?ncid=AOLCOMMtravdynlprim0761&icid=main|aim|dl4|link3|http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/articles/weirdest-unclaimed-luggage?ncid=AOLCOMMtravdynlprim0761

picture from Yahoo images

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 10, 2010
Category:

Comments

i had never heard of this place, but i would definitely go there if i ever get down that way. sounds like a lot of fun to browse in.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/10/10 at 05:16 AM

It's were suitcases go when they die!

Here's their site.
http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/10/10 at 09:40 AM

thanks for the link expat.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/10/10 at 11:14 AM

...we have battery operated, rechargable, corded 110 and 220. :cheese:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/15/10 at 06:50 PM

see there, it takes hundreds of dollars worth of expensive equipment to replace just 1 good man. (not to mention the electric bill!) 😝

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/15/10 at 08:06 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.