Airport confiscations showing up on eBay.

nelsonmc

nelsonmc

Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Messages
1,225
What do you all think of this? Recently I've noticed a lot of "Airport Confiscation" knives being sold on eBay. How does this make you feel? Personally it kind of ticks me off, they take your knife, then sell it for profit, ick... Seems like stealling to me, but maybe I'm wrong?

I did though read a story that said some airports are setting up kiosks to mail "banned items" home... I guess that's a start.
 
Hmm, they sell off all sorts of other seized property. Can you think of any other alternative, besides destroying them? I doubt they profit much from the sales, given the cost of security. I guess if it helps cut down on tax increases and surcharges to pay for increased security, I'm OK with it.
 
Personally I fight em on confiscation........ I leave my good stuff at home :) If anyone is still getting stuff taken away, they can't say they haven't been warned.
 
I've never flown, afraid of heights lol, but I'd still be pretty pissed if I happend to see my knife up on eBay someday heh. I guess you're right, they're not going to destroy them. I'm glad they're starting to put in kiosks to mail stuff home, but that option should have been there from the start.
 
I "heard" the kiosk thing didn't fly (pardon the pun). Something about too many liabilty issues. I think I heard that from someone here on the forums. Do you have hard information that the kiosk thing is going to be a reality? Just curious.
 
Airport Kiosks Allow Travelers To Mail Banned Items
Kiosks Use Touch-Screen Technology

POSTED: 11:22 am EST February 15, 2005
UPDATED: 11:32 am EST February 15, 2005

LEAGUE CITY, Texas -- Now you may not have to forfeit that heirloom pocketknife that airport screeners took away.

The Transportation Security Administration is setting up mailing kiosks at major airports to allow travelers to mail home items that are forbidden aboard aircraft.

The kiosks developed by Texas-based ReturnKey Systems use touch-screen technology and audio and video prompting and feature step-by-step instructions.

The kiosks already have been set up at Newark, Washington Dulles, New York LaGuardia and Houston Bush airports, with more planned this year.

ReturnKey Systems said the TSA hopes to reduce arguments at checkpoints that can hold up lines.

ReturnKey: http://www.itemreturn.com/
News story: http://www.ktvu.com/travelgetaways/4199746/detail.html
 
Wow, they're a reality. Thanks for the info and the link.
 
I think the kiosk idea is good. If you get in line and they find something you shouldn't have they can give you the opportunity to send it home, but I think an extra charge for tieing up security with something you shouldn't have should be applied.
 
It would really suck to lose something because its confiscated. But by now, everybody pretty much knows they can't take some stuff on the plane. I can see a problem if you've got a miniknife hooked to your keychain or something, its pretty easy to forget.
 
One of the reasons why my truck has such high mileage :D . If you have the opportunity to drive, the sights you will see (if you stay off the interstate). Theres a lot of America out there, as soon as I see the East Coast, I'm heading west. On the agenda, Maine seashore, Florida Keys, North Carolina seashore, NJ seashore, Gloucester MA, Virginia Beach VA. Then the mountains of PA and MD. Then I move west.
 
Anybody know if you can carry on a minimaglite? I don't see it on the tsa website as either okay or not okay.

I'm flying to Florida this weekend. Normally, I have an atwood prybaby and a little light on my keychain but I'm not bringing my keys with me. I don't want to be without a light.
 
what shocks me more is the sheer amount of confiscations... a single ebay seller has sold about 1000 pounds or more of this stuff that he/she claims to be from a single airport, and is still going strong.
 
neosporin said:
what shocks me more is the sheer amount of confiscations... a single ebay seller has sold about 1000 pounds or more of this stuff that he/she claims to be from a single airport, and is still going strong.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the airports are giving permission for their employees (if that is the case) to sell off these...
 
neosporin said:
what shocks me more is the sheer amount of confiscations... a single ebay seller has sold about 1000 pounds or more of this stuff that he/she claims to be from a single airport, and is still going strong.
Click to expand...

There's a LOT of people on this planet that never read a newspaper or watch the news. It WASN'T long ago that you COULD carry a Swiss Army or small knife on a plane. Not to mention older folks that have gotten used to it or think all this has blown over by now.
 
I am willing to bet some of the best stuff just gets pocketed by the security and auction people. That pisses me off even more, you don't even get a remote chance of buying your stuff back. At least with the auction you have a slim chance, but not none at all. The idea that some creep could just pocket my knife and not be accountable to anyone for it burns me.
Maybe I should apply for a job and get the pick of the litter myself. ;)
 
nelsonmc said:
I've never flown, afraid of heights lol
Click to expand...
Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

Plans-38528.jpg
 
Tried to bid on a confiscation auction, I saw an Emerson CQC maybe a 6 or a 7, five min after I bid, it was already five times the amt I bid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top