Unclaimed Baggage Store is a Gold Mine for Louisiana Shoppers

Louisiana shoppers are known for being thrifty. Okay, some of us are known for being downright cheap. There's a reason your Ma Maw saved that bacon grease in a jar by the stove, you know that don't you? And while Ma Maw saved a few pennies on her bacon drippings many of you and shoppers just like you are saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars at one of the most unique stores on the planet.

The store is called Unclaimed Baggage and there is an actual store near Hollywood. Hollywood, Alabama that is. Actually, Unclaimed Baggae is located in the town of Scottsboro Alabama. That's about halfway between Huntsville, Alabama, and Chatanooga Tennessee.

And as the name implies, the merchandise that is available for sale at this store comes from unclaimed baggage that was purchased from the major airlines. The company has an agreement to purchase wayward or unclaimed bags at a set price. They then open the bags, sort through the items, and either resell, repurpose, or recycle the items depending on their condition.

You're probably wondering, do I really have to go to the middle of nowhere in Alabama to shop here? The answer is, no. They have online shopping and you still get to peruse the same inventory in-store shoppers get to look at. The store's management estimates that about 1/3 of the items recovered from the lost baggage are in resale condition.

Now, if you're a thrift store shopper you already know the value of purchasing pre-owned goods. But think about this, the items that people would pack for travel are probably going to be in better condition than some of the thrift shop merchandise. Heck, some of the stuff is probably brand new.

The store offers a selection of items for men, women, and children. There is a large assortment of shoes. And perhaps the best deals can be found in the electronics department. Think of all those gadgets folks like to bring on a trip. Now, imagine those gadgets coming home with you for a fraction of their retail price.

In case you were wondering if you report your bag as lost to the airlines they spend at least three months attempting to track it down. What's truly amazing is that 99.5% of air travelers experience no issue with their luggage. Of the .5% that cannot be immediately connected with the rightful owners only .03% of bags actually go unclaimed. And when they do they get sent to this store.

By the way, if your luggage is lost here are the steps you need to take. The first one involves filling out some paperwork at the airline's lost luggage desk. From there you'll be instructed what your next steps need to be. In many cases, the airlines will offer a voucher so you can purchase some items while your suitcases are being located.

But if those cases remain disconnected from you, as we mentioned there is a retail outlet in Alabama and shopping is available online. And, after seeing some of the items that are available for sale on the online site, I think I am going to start carrying all my stuff in my carry-on bag from now on.