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Transportation Security Administration officials at airport checkpoints have confiscated millions of items annually since 9/11; chain saws, fuzzy handcuffs, nunchucks, and ulus (round Eskimo chopping blades) are among the craziest. The contraband is turned over to state surplus agencies, and our recent story Leftover Loot details where you can puchase it in stores and online.
Not only is more stuff being confiscated, but the amount of lost and mishandled luggage is rising. On the eve of Thanksgiving—when an estimated 27 million passengers are expected to be flying—the New York Times reported that all major airlines have had increased difficulties with baggage in 2007. ("One in every 138 checked bags was lost during the first nine months of this year, compared with one in 155 bags a year earlier.")
After 90 days, an unclaimed bag's contents are put up for sale at the aptly named Unclaimed Baggage Center (UBC), a 40,000-sq.-ft. store and the biggest tourist attraction in tiny Scottsboro, Ala. The UBC has seen its own share of oddities, from a suitcase full of Egyptian artifacts dating to 1500 B.C. (sold to Christie's) to a 5.8-karat solitaire diamond ring (bought by a couple from Tennessee for $23,000).
More than 7,000 items arrive daily, and spokeswoman Brenda Cantrell cautioned that the privately-owned UBC can't take requests to search for anything specific. Disgruntled callers are instead invited to make a trip to Scottsboro—as are interested shoppers. The press-savvy store's website allows you to take a tour and read about surprising finds, but not to make online purchases.
According to Cantrell, the UBC has only one documented case of a retrieved lost possession: A man passing through on business picked up a gift for his wife, who had the unexpected pleasure of being reunited with lost ski boots that had her initials monogrammed inside.
A photo of assorted goods for sale at the Unclaimed Baggage Center (courtesy of the UBC).
RELATED: Tired of lugging your luggage? Ship it!, Pack to Avoid Checking Luggage, and Confessions of a Baggage Handler.
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Don't bother to go to this place. I don't think they had 7,000 items in the entire store let alone getting in that many items every day - the racks were nearly empty and you could have put in a full sized bowling alley in the middle of the place if you consolidated all the stock. I wish I had not gone out of my way to go there. There wasn't one thing worth buying. And they don't take care of what they have - they had a few old camera bodies there, without a lens cap, and when I explained that it would be a good idea to use one of the lens caps to keep dust and dirt out of the inside of the camera, she explained that they don't care and can sell the caps for a few dollars. They also had some calculators that were broken and had the guts hanging out of them, and wanted $5 for something you could buy new for $2.99.
Their web site looks fantastic, but don't be fooled. Even if you are on the interstate going right by the town, it isn't worth the time.
Posted By Pamm on November 26, 2007, 1:00 PM
Well, I would like to start by stating that my experience was totally opposite that of Pamm's. I was passing thru the area and my curiousity got the better of me. I went in with no expectations but found the place to be quite amusing. What i expected was to see piles of stuff everwhere that I would have to sift thru like a garage sale. Instead, everything was organized in departments. There was so much stuff that i would have needed an entire day to really look thru everything. There was everything from clothing to electronics. as for Pamm's coment about savings....well I found a glass case with several Bose Noise cancelling Headsets. The lady let me look at all of them to pick out the one i liked best. Well, I got a flawless Q2 model that looked like new for $125.00. These sell for $299.00 new and the best price I could find even on ebay was $200.00. So my suggestion....go there and enjoy the fun and bargins..
Posted By Paul Baker on November 26, 2007, 4:11 PM
This place is a blend of the local thrift store along with the buy out of returned products that are under warranty. It was not all what it claimed to be, however, I managed to find a couple of items. Nothing I'd go out of my way for.
Posted By mary on November 26, 2007, 4:57 PM
I live near Scottsboro and go to Unclaimed Baggage about once each month. They ALWAYS have tons of things for sale. Of course almost every thing is used, but some is like new, and some is in the original packaging. Worth a visit if you are in the area or on I-59 or I-24 near northeast Alabama!!
Posted By Dr Micky Holder on November 26, 2007, 5:17 PM