As a rule, unclaimed baggage must be kept at the airport for at least 90 days. This is to give the person who lost it a chance to claim it. But what happens when the 90 days expire? Well, some of the bags get destroyed. On other occasions, they go up for sale at unclaimed baggage auctions. That might seem a bit bizarre, but it is an industry practice. It also spans other movable goods like packages and deliveries. If you are lucky enough, you could find something valuable or noteworthy, but you also need to be aware of associated scams. Read on for all the details.
Here’s the backstory
When it comes to unclaimed baggage from airlines, you won’t get much bigger than the aptly named Unclaimed Baggage site in Scottsboro, Alabama. It started over 50 years ago and has an agreement with several airlines to purchase lost luggage. It’s then sold to the public from a massive warehouse. This is slightly different from luggage auctions, as the company opens the bags, checks the contents, and cleans them. It is then priced and available for purchase either online or in-store.
How to buy unclaimed packages
There are a few websites where you can bid for unclaimed packages, but you also need to know about the risks. One such website is GovDeals, which USPS contracts to auction undelivered goods. Fortunately, you aren’t bidding on a mysterious box with unknown content. Instead, you’re bidding on individual items listed across many categories. You bid on the item you would like and hope you win the auction. The item’s locations are listed in auction details, along with a brief description, the auction closing times and the estimated retail value.
Read the fine print and beware of scams
It is easy to get excited about scoring a bargain on auction sites, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. In most cases, the products that you are bidding on won’t be in pristine condition. This brings us to the safety aspect. With most of these websites, the products are provided through third parties. And as they state, the lots and pallets aren’t checked or inspected. While there would be no practical way to verify content, checking photos would be a good idea. On some of the items, a manifest can be downloaded and viewed. This includes a detailed description of everything on the pallet, the amounts and model numbers. Also, be aware of fake auction sites that list products for sale but only want to steal your money. Do some research on which sites are the best to use (like the ones we mentioned) and check social media posts for complaints.
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