“How can the airline just lose my bag?”
I have no idea how often this phrase gets uttered, but after a recent visit to Unclaimed Baggage in tiny Scottsboro, Alabama, I suspect it happens a lot.
Sorry, what? Unclaimed Baggage?
Yep – Unclaimed Baggage is an entire store dedicated to selling items left in unclaimed bags at airports, on buses, and on trains. After ninety days of failing to locate the bags’ owners, these carriers assume ownership of the left property. Rather than allowing them to pile up and storing the luggage, after the waiting period, the carriers sell off unopened baggage to Unclaimed Baggage, where they are then opened and the contents are sorted.
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Items destined for the sales floor are professionally cleaned (dry-cleaned if clothing, digitally wiped if electronic) before being priced, unusable or unsanitary items are tossed, and anything in between is donated to one of several charities.
As you might imagine, Unclaimed Baggage is huge. The main store is about 40,000 square feet, plus there’s a multi-story annex out back. It’s become a destination in its own right, with many travelers road-tripping to the northeast corner of Alabama in hopes of finding a piece of forgotten treasure.
Michael and I made the pilgrimage one late winter day, and well, how could I not write about it?
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO VISIT UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE
Our visit to Unclaimed Baggage began shortly after lunch (more on that later), and the parking lot was quite full (and the website’s not wrong – it really does take up a full block). Though it was chilly outside, I made sure to leave my coat in the car and carry a small crossbody bag so my hands would be free.
In fact, I purposely dressed as fuss-free as possible: a sweater with a tank underneath, jeans, and my zippered boots. The store is kept quite cool, and if the business is run like every other business in the South, you’ll even want a sweater in the summer, too.
Once inside, the anterior room contains a small museum of found artifacts, a digital map of the store layout, and several televisions broadcasting news coverage and other information about the store.
Through the interior doors lies the main store floor, and in all honesty, it is truly sensory overload. The store is packed with items begging for your attention, music pumping out of the speakers, and shoppers trying to navigate their carts through the busy space. I’ve never seen anything like it.
It took us a moment to catch our breath before proceeding to the far right of the store, upstairs to the large section of books, electronics, outdoor gear, and sunglasses. The area was crawling with people scouting out a good deal on a computer or camera, but I had a hard time believing they’d find one. Many of the electronics were marked only slightly less than retail, and the designer sunglasses were also marked at about 30% off their standard prices. So far, I felt simultaneously over- and underwhelmed.
At this point, it was time to head back to the front of the store for a demonstration of the opening of an unclaimed suitcase (this occurs daily at 2:30 p.m.). Shoppers could submit their names to be drawn to participate in the demonstration (as well as receive a t-shirt and a coupon), and just one lucky customer was selected from the crowd to don a pair of gloves and unzip the suitcase.
According to the store employee, the suitcase selected for demonstration is only viewed by one individual beforehand to make sure there is nothing dangerous or “embarrassing” inside. The audience participant was advised to check the outside pockets of the suitcase (which were empty) before proceeding to the main compartment. The interior pockets of the bag contained disappointing used personal items like deodorant and soap, which were all discarded, however, the main compartment was completely filled with clothes and shoes.
All but socks were sorted into a bin to clean and sell (though there was a hearty debate amongst the crowd to determine if a pair of denim shorts – apparently this person really liked denim shorts – was filthy or simply designed to look that way); the socks are cleaned and then donated.
As she went through each item, the pockets were searched as well – we were told that often money is left inside, and is kept by the store as it is a for-profit, private corporation. Frankly, the suitcase opened at our demonstration was a bit boring, but perhaps it will be more exciting for you if you visit!
From there, Michael and I parted ways to explore the men’s and women’s departments.
Much like a standard department store, the women’s section was nearly twice as large as the men’s. I began my search in the coat section, and within a few minutes gave in to rolling over a shopping cart to carry the heavy garments. The aisles are barely as wide as the carts, and they can be hard to maneuver, but chances are you’ll find a lot to try on (I did!).
The largest sections of women’s clothing during our visit were coats and jackets, tops and tees, and sweaters. The sales associate I spoke with during our visit mentioned that the dress section is her favorite part of the store, but it was only a few racks wide and mostly filled with cheap polyester numbers.
The shoe section was also a bit disappointing, but that could be due to the fact that certain styles and sizes are snapped up quickly. Due to the crowds and not needing them, I passed on browsing through the athletic clothes, swimwear, scrubs, and other uniforms. I also passed over the “unclaimed cargo” racks, which are sourced from lost cargo shipments. According to the staff at the baggage-sorting station, approximately 30% of their items are sourced from unclaimed cargo.
Finally, after about two hours of searching, I headed for the fitting room.
I entered the store with a purposefully picky mindset and left with just three garments (my friends and family reacted with a stunned “That’s all?” when I mentioned how many items I’d purchased).
After downsizing my wardrobe over the past few years, I am eager to avoid returning to my old ways. I did not want to let the allure of a cheap t-shirt or almost-fitting pair of jeans sway me into taking them home, just because we’d come from so far away.
And honestly, the clothing prices are not what you’d expect if you primarily shop at Goodwill. Except for the fast-fashion clothes, the majority of items from nicer brands hovered around the price I’d expect to pay on a platform like Poshmark or from a well-informed consignment shop. That “Salut!” top from J. Crew (top left)? About $6. Same for the Eileen Fisher silk and linen button-down (okay, those are pretty good deals but they didn’t fit as I wanted). The J. Crew field jacket (bottom right) was about $45. And that lovely grey coat from Marlowe (bottom left)? $500.
To my eye, prices for clothing hovered around 30-50% off the retail price, depending on the garment’s age and state of wear. Garments that have flaws include a little note on the tag indicating the issue and location of the flaw, but of course, it’s good to give everything another once-over. Even items priced with flaws listed are not discounted as much as I’d expect (see the damaged Jimmy Choos, below, selling for $150).
After I visited the fitting room (which miraculously did not have a line, despite the number of full shopping carts surrounding the area, awaiting try-ons), I met back up with Michael.
He mentioned he’d tried a few things on, but nothing suited his tastes. I was surprised when he told me that during our visit, announcements came through the intercom informing customers that new inventory was being rolled out onto the floor. Whether it was due to the music or the chatter of the other shoppers around me, I couldn’t hear any of this at all.
He described checking out a new assortment of instruments and electronics with a small crowd of customers as staff retrieved the new items from bins. After a little final searching together through the men’s clothes, I checked out with my clothing purchases and loaded them into the car before heading to the annex of the store, called “Etc.”
Etc. houses children’s wear, housewares, and clearance items (and supposedly new roll-outs, but we didn’t see anything that matched that description). If the main building is organized like a clean, upscale(-ish) consignment store, the Etc. annex is the slightly scary and divey thrift shop in town that you wonder how they manage to stay in business.
The kids’ section was fairly normal, if a little sad (all of those poor stuffed animals who have been separated from their little friends!), but the vibe kind of changed as you moved upstairs. There were shelves upon shelves of old digital cameras, cheap glasses, and… medicine. Most of it was still sealed in boxes, but the number of damaged condom boxes was a bit frightening. We marveled a bit at all of this before leaving Etc. empty-handed.
So, what did I end up with after four and a half hours of shopping (yes, I’m exhausted just recounting all of this)? If you read last week’s Journal post or follow along on Instagram, you already know. Just these three things:
I’m actually proud to admit that I only added three things to my wardrobe during this trip. My one somewhat impulse purchase was this Nasty Gal Tee (left, linked to similar) because I love the color but I also know that the quality is not made to last.
The A.P.C. Mac Coat (middle, linked to current) was the best-value item I purchased, and I’m pleased with its oversized fit (I believe it’s a men’s coat, but was marked as a women’s).
My favorite purchase, though, is this wool AllSaints Coat (right, linked to current style), which I wore for the next few days as it was quite cold in Alabama! Heavy wool coats like these aren’t often found secondhand in my hometown, and it can be costly and a hassle to order them online and potentially deal with returns. I estimate the retail value of my three items is just around $1,000.
My cost? About $135 (approximately $6 for the shirt, $25 for the A.P.C. jacket, and $95 for the AllSaints coat – plus tax, of course).
TRAVEL TIPS FOR VISITING UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE
Unclaimed Baggage is located in tiny Scottsboro, Alabama, and the two nearest major airports are in Huntsville, Alabama (HSV – about an hour away), and Chattanooga, Tennessee (CHA – about an hour and fifteen minutes away).
Lodging is available in Scottsboro, but I recommend staying in either Chattanooga or Huntsville (our pick). While you’re making the drive, why not give this YA novel set in the store a read? It’s a fun one, promise! The store is open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturdays (Unclaimed Baggage, like many places in Alabama, is closed on Sundays).
During our visit, I overheard a customer complaining she “would never visit on Saturday again,” and while it was certainly busy and complete sensory overload, our visit wasn’t unmanageable. Regardless of the day you visit, I highly suggest eating beforehand if possible, and if you’re visiting around lunchtime, a stop at the Magnolia House is a great introduction to Southern cuisine and a traditional “meat and three.”
The advice of the salesperson I spoke with was to break your visit down by category if you feel overwhelmed, and to go in knowing you won’t be able to see it all. It may be worth your while to check the events list to see if the store will be highlighting a specific category of items you are interested in (say, ski gear or swimsuits).
I understand that the store can get extremely busy on event days, so it’s worth considering if that’s an ideal environment for you. And although I didn’t make use of them, I appreciated the presence of a cafe onsite and plenty of seating around the store to rest achy feet, as well as the available shipping services for large or bulky items.
Michael and I both agreed that we’d make a return trip to the store if we ever were in the area again, both for the thrill of the hunt and the sheer novelty – and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
UPDATE FOR 2022: UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE’S 50-YEAR CELEBRATION
Here’s a fun update for 2022: Unclaimed Baggage is on tour!
The lost luggage store is celebrating its 50th anniversary by touring the U.S. with its vintage Chevy, Hugo. Hugo was used to pick up the very first unclaimed bags back in 1970 and is now offering folks all over the country the chance to stop and take selfies. I had the chance to meet up with the team during their stop in Charlotte (about halfway through the tour!), and they shared a few fun things that you can expect at certain stops along the way:
The Unclaimed Baggage Experience: Along with Hugo, the team packed several unopened, unclaimed bags! Selected participants will have the chance to open and sort through the luggage just like in the store.
Exclusive Shopping: Since my 2019 visit, Unclaimed Baggage has added an online store – but if you’re stopping by a pop-up event, you’ll have the chance to shop exclusive unclaimed items, not available to anyone else.
Fun Games: Unclaimed Baggage is hosting a game they’re calling “Finders Keepers” using their vintage logoed suitcases, where participants have a 1-in-3 shot of finding an incredible prize inside. AirPods, designer goods, etc. are all up for grabs.
Museum of Oddities: Hugo and friends are hauling a fun collection of odd things they’ve found in suitcases over the years – but I promise they’ve left the live rattlesnake at home.
Learn more about upcoming stops here, and follow along on Instagram for in-the-moment content – but don’t delay, as the tour wraps by September 8! Can you think of anything better than having the chance to road trip across the country?
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Have you ever filed a missing bag claim? Have you ever visited Unclaimed Baggage? I’d love to hear your story!
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