Posted on 12/27/2023 10:30:05 AM PST by DallasBiff
Amid the bustling holiday travel season, as travelers navigate the shift from Christmas to New Year's, major airports are keeping pace. But the story doesn't always end at the baggage claim. For some, their belongings embark on an unexpected journey to a small Alabama town.
At the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, lost luggage finds a new lease on life. This unique store stretches over a city block, filled with items from unclaimed airline baggage. Visitors here can find anything from a glitzy Rolex and a 1980s-style keyboard guitar to rare movie props, ancient violins and designer clothes.
Bryan Owens, who inherited the business from his father, describes the store's inventory with a hint of wonder. "If these bags could talk, what a story they'd have to tell," he said.
Among the unusual finds are suits of armor. "We've had more than one suit of armor come through, believe it or not," Owens said.
Airlines typically have a 90-day window to reunite lost bags with their owners. After this period, the bags are deemed lost, and the airlines compensate the flyers. Owens then purchases these unclaimed bags by the truckload. The contents, ranging from wearable items to electronics, are cleaned, data-wiped and priced for resale.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I’ll bet 3/4 of that luggage has a name and address tag hanging on them right out there for anyone in the world to see. But the airlines and this store just don’t bother to return it to the rightful owner.
I lived in nearby DeKalb County for 15 years. Trips to the Unclaimed Baggage Center were often combined with going to Crow Mountain Orchard for fresh apples and cider.
In the earlier days you could get fantastic bargains there - fancy sunglasses for a buck, designer clothes, good luggage, cameras, etc. Then they started charging more for these items - I’m guessing that when Al Gore invented the internet it allowed them to find out what stuff was worth - so that by the time I left the area anything worthwhile was priced almost like new and we had stopped going there. Haven’t been in 20 years or more now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.