Unclaimed Baggage Center: Secondary Market for Lost Luggage

Key Quotes

"If you have ever lost a bag during air travel, it probably wound up there alongside thousands and thousands of other bags and one huggle if you lose your luggage while traveling you're probably going to get it back 99 5 of lost bags ultimately make their way back to their owners but once in a while that other 0 5 of bags slip through the cracks and when that happens airlines will hang onto the luggage for 90 days they do their best to reunite bag and owner but after that 90 days the bag legally becomes the airline's property and that is when the unclaimed baggage center steps in."

This quote explains the process by which luggage becomes unclaimed property. The author, Kelly McGovern, highlights that while most lost bags are returned, a small percentage become the property of airlines after 90 days, leading them to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. This clarifies the origin of the items handled by the center.

"The unclaimed baggage center buys orphaned bags from the airlines and then either donates recycles or resells their contents and they've got contracts with all the domestic airlines and they go and load up these lost bags on semis at the airport and then drive them all the way back to scottsboro."

Kelly McGovern explains the operational model of the Unclaimed Baggage Center. She details how the center acquires lost luggage directly from airlines through established contracts. This demonstrates the center's role as a large-scale reseller of items that would otherwise be discarded.

"we've had aluminum fire suits we've had two full suits of armor the most expensive thing that we've ever sold is actually a mint platinum presidential rolex it retailed for 64 000 we sold it in our store to a gentleman that shops with us about once a month and he purchased it for 32 000"

Jennifer Kretner, an employee at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, shares examples of valuable items found within lost luggage. She highlights the diversity of high-value goods, from protective gear to luxury watches, and provides a specific instance of a Rolex sale. This illustrates the potential for significant financial finds within the center's inventory.

"The finer jewelry that winds up at unclaimed baggage gets appraised and i'll just say this is why i'm a carry on only kind of guy one of the coolest things that we have gotten in in my time here was a 40 carat a natural raw emerald and we found that in the toe of a sock rolled up in the corner of a suitcase and then totally unassuming you would never think something that's worth 30 000 would just be in the toe of a sock tossed in with the dirty laundry but that's exactly how we found it"

Kelly McGovern recounts an extraordinary discovery made at the Unclaimed Baggage Center. She describes finding a valuable emerald hidden in a sock within a suitcase, emphasizing how such treasures can be overlooked. This anecdote underscores the surprising nature of the items processed by the center.

"The unclaimed baggage center is open every day of the week except sundays and if you can't make a trip to scottsboro alabama these days you can still do your bargain hunting in their online store but it really just gives you a taste of what you'll find in the real brick and mortar store so if you're looking for a suit of armor or a hoggle doll you better make your way down to scottsboro"

Kelly McGovern provides practical information for potential visitors to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. She outlines the operating hours and mentions the availability of an online store as an alternative. McGovern encourages readers to visit the physical location for the full experience, referencing unique items like suits of armor and the Hoggle doll.