If you have lost your suitcase or bag in an airplane or airport, there is a great chance that its content ends in this place: a huge shopping centre in the United States held by a family of Americans who buys lost baggage and sells thousands of clothes and objects. Discover this unique place in the world.
If you've already wondered where your baggage is lost in a aircraft or at an airport on American soil ended, there are good reasons to think that it is in Alabama. Specifically in Unclaimed baggage Center ("unclaimed baggage centre"), a retail store full of treasures found in bags lost by unfortunate travellers.
For decades, this centre has quietly purchased the unclaimed bags and hand baggage that the airlines have kept at least 90 days (after which they legally become the property of the airline). The tentacular store located in the small town Scottsboro , in Alabama, covers 4600 m2, and stores some 6,000 to 7,000 new objects daily, of which 85% come from lost baggage. The rest comes from the unclaimed freight that the company also purchases.
You might think that, for a store so gigantic to stay stocked constantly, there must be an epidemic of lost baggage. In fact, only 0.5% to 1% of the luggage do not find their owners. In addition, it is important to know that airlines lose less and less your baggage. There are so many air passengers in the United States that even a fraction of a percentage of all bags transported by airlines is sufficient to fill the giant store. Last year, for example, 850 million passengers traveled to and from U.S. airports. Unclaimed Baggage Center send his trucks across the country to pick up orphaned bags.
A nice business, very discreet
The company began its business in 1970 when its founder, Doyle Owens, borrowed a pick-up truck and paid $300 for his first unclaimed baggage shipment, which he quickly sold. Today Unclaimed Baggage Center dominates the market, with no competitors. "We have exclusive contracts with domestic carriers in the United States," explains Brenda Cantrell, ambassador of the company brand.
Photo credit: NBC News
Unclaimed Baggage Center does not disclose how much she pays for a bag, or the names of the airlines she works with. None of the airlines confirmed to sell to the company. The latter purchases all the baggage that the airlines failed to hand over to their owners. But the airlines still lose money because they spend a lot of time and money trying to find the people to whom the baggage belongs.
Purchases “to the blind”
Unclaimed Baggage Center buys everything “in the blind”, i.e. without seeing in advance the contents of the bags. In a way, the company makes a bet. But the risk seems to pay as one can find in the electronics store, jewelry, sports items, small house furniture, and many, a lot of clothes. Products are sold 20 to 80% cheaper than market prices. The company gives, throws, or recycles what it does not want, then establishes a selling price for the rest.
The clothes represent about 60% of the store, being the thing that people most often take for their trips. Everything is washed or cleaned dry before being put on sale; Unclaimed Baggage Center being one of the largest laundry in Alabama.
How to get there?
Unclaimed Baggage Center is located 509 West Willow Street, Scottsboro, Alabama, United States ( See on a map ). Opening Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 7pm. Tel: +1 256 259 1525 - www.unclaimedbaggage.com
Where are your lost luggage in France?
In France, unclaimed baggage is kept at airports where they were found for about a month, after which they are considered lost. After this period, orphaned baggage in the Paris region is sent to the center of the found objects of the rue des Morillons Paris. Objects whose value is valued at less than €100 are crushed after three months. And those whose value is assumed to exceed €100 are handed over to charitable associations or brocaners.
Main photo credit: Flickr – William Cho
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