A staggering 8,000 lost and found items have been put up for sale as Pittsburgh Airport’s annual auction returns on Saturday, October 22nd.
Lost, found and sold – the lost and found auction
Taking place at the Heavy Equipment Building located in the airport, the auction will be selling a variety of lost and forgotten items left abandoned at the airport. All lost and found items are held for 30 days before going into the auction once no one has claimed them, proving to be a much better and more sustainable option than destroying the items. The idea has been hugely successful since Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) launched the feat in 2011.
An extensive collection
Doors open at 8:30 am and from 10:00 am; once bidding is underway, shoppers can enjoy browsing through an eclectic assortment of objects. From skateboards and laptops to necklaces and accessories, the auction has something for everyone, whether you’re a tech lover or a fashion enthusiast. In fact, of the 8,000 pieces up for sale, around 300 include electronic gadgets such as computers, kindles and Apple products, and another 350 are bracelets and rings.
If this weren’t enough, the lost and found auction would also be selling past travellers’ forgotten instruments as well as tools perfect for those interested in DIY projects. The airport has even stated they are auctioning some of their most obscure items this year, such as a surveillance camera and a rice cooker.
A driving success
Surprisingly, the extent of the lost and found auction’s product line does not stop there, with fliers even forgetting and deserting their cars in the car park. Despite the airport staff trying to contact the owners when such items are left behind, they are sometimes unable to get hold of them. When this happens, the government or police often declare the cars abandoned, leaving the airport within its rights to sell them. This year, eleven vehicles are up for grabs.
With so many items going unclaimed in airports all over the globe, perhaps more need to get behind ACAA’s initiative.
Do you like the idea of auctioning lost and found items? Are you hoping to attend the auction? Let us know in the comments below!
