What really happens to all those items they confiscate at the airport?

My husband and I were traveling in Sept. and they took his package of new digital camera batteries & my expensive bottle of perfume. Am I the only one who thinks there's something wrong with this picture?

they take them home

They destroy them after a while.

All the personal items { shaving cream, shampoos. colognes, perfumes, etc } are all give to senior homes, children shelters [teenagers] and hospital wards where people there can't afford any thing.

Everything else goes to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Some of the items get thrown out, others get recycled, and still others get auctioned off for charity. I think CNN did a package on this topic a couple months ago.

You can have them mailed back to you, but I heard that is a pain in the butt too. I have found that the best thing to do is to put everything in your checked bag, then they wont take your stuff.

They all go in a bin which eventually winds up in a back room. From there they go to a warehouse type store and sold at a discount. Sucks doesn't it?

they sell them

I have heard there is a huge auction house in Georgia somewhere. Lost luggage etc. Who really knows. I know they have tons of lighters. I imagine no one at the airports will ever have to buy another lighter again. lol

Some airports sell the confiscated items at a super discounted price.

You're not the only one that thinks there is something wrong. Personally, I'd rather be blown up than treated like a common criminal.

They sell em on ebay!

I know the lighters get sold at a discount. A lot of the toiletry items got thrown away, at least at my airport. I'm not sure why camera batteries would be taken away in the first place. If you dont want your stuff taken away, read the rules before you travel. If you really think something should not get taken away according to the rules, fight it and ask for a supervisor. If something is taken away, it is only your fault. Prepare better next time.