California Airports Selling Confiscated Goods On eBay

from the free-money dept

With the increase in airports confiscating absolutely anything that is considered "pointy", you might wonder what they do with all those items. Many travelers are annoyed to find out that they don't get their confiscated items back (and I've even heard some people suggest you travel with a self-addressed stamped envelope, in case you need to mail yourself your confiscated items). Most airports simply cart the stuff off to a recycling center, but now two airports in California have realized the profit potential. What do you do when you have a ton of junk? You sell it on eBay. That's right, CaliforniaGold2000's auctions are all the confiscated pocket-knives, nail clippers, and scissors you could possibly dream of. People who have had their items taken are not at all pleased, but the buyers don't seem to mind - CaliforniaGold2000 has pretty good feedback.
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  • identicon
    dorpus, 28 Feb 2003 @ 11:35am

    YUCK!

    Do you want other people's toenail clippers, nosehair clippers, scissors? Who knows where they've been.

    I visited the San Jose flea market this morning on a whim, and that was enough sleaze for me.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2004 @ 8:57am

      Re: YUCK!

      And yet you probably go to the salon to get hair cuts and pedicures etc. Ever hear of soap and disinfectant. The world we live in today needs to recycle as much as possible and that means everything,don't be such a snob!!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dr_Stein, 28 Feb 2003 @ 11:47am

    Old news

    This is *really* old news. There have been a lot of old news articles floating around these days.

    The Sacramento Bee had this same article several months ago. I don't know why it's showing up again.

    Anyway, this is the same place that sells a lot of state surplus stuff as well. Sometimes they have cool stuff.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Special Agent, 18 Jan 2004 @ 9:22am

      Airport Confiscated items

      First, those items confiscated by TSA becomes the property of the US Govt.

      Property of the the US Govt has to be disposed of in the proper manner.

      Those airports and the TSA personel who "give" the confiscated items away, are doing so ilegally.

      The money being made on Ebay is TAXPAYERS money.

      Just more fraud, waste, and abuse by TSA.

      link to this | view in chronology ]


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