| Ever had the unpleasant experience of losing your luggage, permanently?
Ever wonder what happens to your favorite jeans and your Swiss Army knife, once they’re gone? Wonder no more.
Luggage (and its contents) remaining unclaimed for more than 90 days is sold to the public through state surplus property agencies.
Same goes for all forbidden-in-flight items – like liquids and sharp objects – seized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airport security checkpoints throughout the country.
Strict rules against certain carry-on items were implemented after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In 2006, security screeners took in more than 13 million forbidden items, according to TSA stats.
Unlike my missing socks, which apparently disappear into some washing-machine limbo, your seized pocketknife could make its way back home. Or you could just buy a new one that belonged to someone else. Once you get past the Zen lesson of breaking attachment to material possessions, that is.
Surplus property agencies sell these lost items online and at retail outlets. Their eBay profiles list everything from cameras, sleeping bags and disposable razors to bicycles and women’s shoes.
Alabama and Florida airports funnel items into Alabama State Surplus, which maintains an eBay site and information page.
The Scottsboro, Alabama, retail store Unclaimed Baggage takes the process one step further, purchasing lost luggage and cargo in bulk and selling it from a 40,000-square-foot retail warehouse.
Kentucky Surplus also sells items of Florida and Alabama origin through their eBay site.
Lost your goods on the way to the Sunshine State? No matter where you hail from, there's a surplus agency for you.
Georgia Surplus hosts an eBay site, and also sells through retail stores in Tucker (770/414-6468); Americus (229/931-2407); and Swainsboro (478/289-2623). Illinois and Michigan airports filter items through the iBid online auction site.
Pennsylvania State Surplus also serves New York, New Jersey and Ohio via eBay. Expect to find lots of pocketknives and money clips. Texas sells surplus property via their Austin Storefront (512/463-1990), and Washington State has a retail store in Auburn (253/333-4912).
Last time I checked, Oregon Surplus had some of the coolest and most unusual items for sale on their eBay site. Foosball anyone?
Other state surplus property like vehicles and farm equipment goes up for sale at these sites, too. So you really never know what you might find.
Bargain hunters, roll up your sleeves and get ready to dig. |
