SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (WBRC) - Alabama’s Unclaimed Baggage is giving shoppers a chance to search for hidden treasure during its second annual Unclaimed Auction on June 13.
The event features authentic, unprocessed suitcases and unique items discovered in lost luggage. This year, people can bid in person or online.
Jennifer Kritner with Unclaimed Baggage joined Good Day Alabama Weekend to talk more about the event and some of the unusual finds discovered over the years.
“One of my favorite things in the late 90s, we found a Colombian emerald that was raw and unset in the toe of a sock,” Kritner said. “It was 40 carats. It was amazing.”
The emerald was worth $32,000 at the time and still wasn’t the most expensive thing they’ve found. That title belongs to the a men’s platinum presidential Rolex.
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“It retailed for $64,000 around 2017. We sold it for 32,000,” she said. “The gentleman recently had it reappraised over 100 grand.”
Thanks to contracts with major airlines, Unclaimed Baggage processes and sells lost luggage that wasn’t able to be returned to its owner.
However, shoppers will have a chance to buy luggage that is unprocessed, not knowing what treasures may be inside.
“Beginning at 10 a.m., we’re going to auction off suitcases that are unprocessed, unclaimed, authentic suitcases just as we found them. And every hour, four suitcases will go up for auction,” Kritner said. “And at the top of every hour, whoever the winner is, we get the thrill of opening the suitcase together.”
More information is available at UnclaimedBaggag.com.
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