S. Floridians Bet On 'Lost & Found' Treasures At MIA
MIAMI (CBS4) – South Floridians looking for a good find showed up Saturday at Miami International Airport for their Lost & Found auction.
Every year travelers leave valuable items, from cell phones to luggage to laptops, behind at MIA.If the items are still sitting around after two months in 'Lost & Found' they're put up for sale to the highest bidder.
Auctioneer Paul May is doing part to sell more than 700 items of 'left behind treasures,' including laptops, digital cameras, music players, sporting equipment and cell phones. Hundreds of suitcases in a variety of shapes and sizes were up for bid but there's a catch – you have to buy them to see what's inside. In addition to the electronics there are also some unique items up for bid including art work and sporting goods.
"I'm always amazed at what they find," Mark Henderson of MIA said. "But I'm always amazed at what I see here and what is here. It's just amazing."
Most of the items up for sale were lost and never claimed. Others were left behind when passengers had to fly, and realized they couldn't afford to pay to carry them on the plane. The airport holds auctions of 'lost & found' items several times a year. And on Saturday they're hoping for a pretty good pay off.
Bid on a suitcase and you'll be in for a surprise.
"Sometimes you never know," May said. "You might open a bag and it might be all dirty clothes and you might open another one and people were going back to a foreign country so you got all brand new clothing. So you just never know what's in those suitcases."
The auction began at 9:30 a.m. at 5600 NW 36th Street, Building 845, Third Floor. Auction attendees were able to preview the items prior to the auction from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
The auction is cash and carry; cash only and you have to carry out your purchased items. And be sure before you buy. There are no returns.
