Finding xmas presents in your suitcase

Shopping, especially at Christmas time, is problematic for two basic reasons. Firstly, what do you get someone they haven’t already gotten for themselves? Secondly, where can you get a gift cheap, without looking cheap?

Since my family are not big chocolate lovers, all those Cadbury and Lindt Christmas boxes (you can find in Shoppers Drug mart) have melted off my option list. Although I could buy some new dress shirts for my dad and brother, I’m pretty sure my mom has their cupboards lined from wall to wall. And what about my mom’s gift? Perfume, lotion, shoes, books – they’ve all be done and done again.

Okay, so this basically leaves me with two options. Tell my parents that I’m broke (because of my Starbucks addiction) and promise to get them something in the New Year. Or, get the creative juices flowing and search high and low for a unique, but reasonably priced gift.
To be honest, I am broke because of my Starbucks addiction, but I decided to put on my thinking cap, and search for some treasures outside the mall.

Doing the usual Google search I came upon an interesting website about the unclaimed baggage centre. Although I’m not a frequent flyer I have often wondered where unclaimed baggage ends up once it gets separated from its owner. I remember misplacing a suitcase on a trip to Barbados. Thankfully it was returned with all my dirty clothes, flip flops and of course those mind numbing philosophy books, which I wouldn’t have minded losing. Adios, Plato!

Anyways, according to the unclaimed baggage centre, after at least 90 days of tracking by the airlines, baggage or luggage is declared unclaimed. Capitalizing off these misplaced pieces, Doyle Owens in 1970 began a one of kind store in Scottsboro, Alabama selling unclaimed and lost baggage. Additionally, the center also sells unclaimed cargo from various freight lines. Today, the center stocks more than 7,000 new and pre-owned items daily including designer clothes, jewellery, electronics and sporting goods. All the items are priced 20 to 80% off retail value.

Although you may turn up your nose at the idea of getting somebody else’s stuff, the center does wash, clean and repair everything they intend to sell. According to the website they operate the busiest laundry and dry cleaning facility in the area.

Some of the more interesting items that they happened to find include a 40.95 carat natural emerald. The centre has also stumbled upon odd items like a Barbie doll stuffed with a roll of $500 in bills, a live rattle snake, a full suit of armour, and the life size face of Hoggle, a Muppet character from the movie, Labryinth.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time to fly down to Scottsboro, to see all these quirky but very interesting things that would make great Christmas presents.

But, as we all know, it’s the thought (not necessarily the gift) that counts in the end.