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The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I forked out £136 trying the lost luggage trend – I doubled my money but my most exciting find turned was a BA freebie
WE'VE all heard of return pallets, but have you seen the lost luggage trend that's taken social media by storm? Recently, influencers have been going wild for Advertisement 7 With everyone going wild for the lost luggage trend, I ordered myself an unclaimed suitcase to see what I could find Credit: Abigail Wilson 7 Personal details are removed from cases, but 'apart from that, everything is left as is' Credit: Undelivrd 7 Not only did I spot dirty boxers and worn socks, but the smell left me close to gagging Credit: Abigail Wilson 7 There was a football scarf and a toiletry bag from The White Company Credit: Abigail Wilson But would you risk spending over £100 on someone's After seeing many TikTokers and YouTubers open lost luggage and finding all things from a Kindle, a huge selection of clothes and even hair straighteners, to a Last year alone, Google Trends saw a 100 per cent spike in searches for 'lost luggage' - abandoned suitcases usually full to the brim with clothes, souvenirs and random items. The 'lost and unclaimed' luggage comes from 'the world's busiest airports' and while some may find designer buys, quirky gifts or sometimes even gadgets, the possibilities are as varied as the travellers who once packed them. Advertisement Read more Fabulous stories But there are a number of major drawbacks when buying lost luggage…the size and brand of the suitcase you receive will be totally random. Not only this, but if a person loses their luggage on the way back from a holiday, there's likely to be worn clothing inside - yes, you heard that correctly. After hearing countless content creators order theirs from According to those at Undelivrd, selling the lost luggage is a 'sustainable and economical way of dealing' with it. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Rather than piles of suitcases heading straight to the dump, airports are auctioning them off to give the Of course, personal details are removed, but those at Undelivrd claimed that 'apart from that, everything is left as is.' Unveiling the Shocking Reality of Lost Luggage Purchases So I ordered myself a suitcase, which was listed online for £129.99. It ended up costing me £136.98 once the postage fees were piled on top, so not cheap. Advertisement But would I find some steals? Or just a bunch of tatt and some dirty knickers? Much to my surprise, the suitcase only took a week to arrive. No box in sight, the case was wrapped in a black bin bag and was far from luxe. Not knowing the contents made it very exciting, but unsure on the condition of what I would find, I nervously got my Marigold Gloves at the ready. Advertisement The sweaty, stale smell that was equivalent to the stench of a teenage boy's bedroom was horrendous Abby Wilson In the hope of stumbling upon some unexpected treasurers, I eagerly ripped off the bin bag, to find a black After a quick Google search, I spotted that such suitcases are available to buy online for £129 - so technically you've made the money back on the case itself, even though it had clearly been used on numerous occasions and was visibly quite battered. But I didn't even have to unzip the case for the grim, musty smell to invade my nostrils. Think of a room full of years of Advertisement The sweaty, stale smell that was equivalent to the stench of a teenage boy's bedroom was horrendous and is still, days later, giving me flashbacks and lingering in my nose. 7 The American Tourister case was pretty battered Credit: Abigail Wilson 7 These Asda shoes were practically new Credit: Abigail Wilson 7 My haul proves that ordering lost luggage is definitely a gamble Credit: Abigail Wilson Advertisement While I was hoping to get my hands on a woman's suitcase, in the hope of topping up my wardrobe with some new clothes or maybe even some jewellery, I was disappointed to see that I had been sent a man's case. And I was even more gutted when I noticed that it was full of clothes that had clearly been worn. If you thought smelly socks were bad, I was on the verge of gagging when I spotted three pairs of worn pants. It appears that the man this case belonged to had potentially been on holiday to Portugal, as I immediately spotted two Algarve Jazz Festival grey t-shirts. Advertisement Alongside this, there was an empty toiletry bag and an unbranded navy hoodie, which wasn't short of stains. How to buy lost luggage THE famous US store which sells off unclaimed baggage has launched an online shop - so you can buy more travellers' lost items. The Unclaimed Baggage Center, located in Alabama, has long been a destination for treasure hunters wanting to find a bargain from the abandoned suitcases. Located in the tiny town of Scottsboro, which has a population of 14,000, it is an unlikely tourist hotspot. Inside is a megastore of misplaced possessions taken from tens of thousands of suitcases, rucksacks and duffel bags, all lost on commercial flights across the US. Now, you don't have to travel to the US and can do your shopping online with their new online store. The centre has launched the online shopping experience as part of their 50th anniversary, having opened in 1970. Everything from clothing to electronics are found on the website - current items for sale include high-street dresses from $8 up to They also have a weird and wonderful section which ranges from gold necklaces and diving equipment to designer gowns and signed memorabilia. Legally, airlines have a duty to reunite luggage with their owners within 90 days, but if that fails, bags end up at the centre. So frequent are these deliveries that the Unclaimed Baggage Center has around one million items on sale at any time, with 7,000 new items added to the shop floor every day. Not everything that is found is sold - a third is binned, including all underwear, while another third of it is donated to charity. Brenda Cantrell, the store's brand ambassador, says: 'Less than half a per cent of all lost luggage fails to make it back to its owners, but that's still thousands of bags every year. 'And the vast majority of those make their way here. We have exclusive contracts with all the major US carriers, making us the only store of this kind anywhere in the country.' According to journalist Jonathon Thompson Customers have also found bargains while shopping there - one person bought a £65 vase, only to find out later it was worth £15,000, while one piece of art valued at £45 was actually worth £20,000. The guy this suitcase belonged to was clearly a football fan, as I also stumbled across a As well as this, there was also a Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2023/24 home jersey, which are being flogged online for just under £70. Next, I spotted a H&M black hoodie, which is currently on the website for £27.99, as well as a pair of blue Adidas shorts, which if you buy them new, are £35. Advertisement Much to my dismay, I was only halfway through and incredibly disappointed. Having said that, things appeared to look up when I saw a small Yes, you get them free when you fly with British Airways, but it was the most exciting thing I'd seen so far, without a doubt. The beauty bags, which contain an eye mask, ear plugs and a mini toothbrush, are being flogged for £7 on eBay and are perfect for travelling. Advertisement While many may think that selling-on lost luggage contents could be a good earner, my haul proves that it is definitely a gamble Abby Wilson It was un-unused, unlike a lot of the other stuff in this case. Following this, I found a pair of barely worn, brown leather shoes from Asda, which are still available to order from the site for £25. And that's not all, as I also (unfortunately) found three pairs of Jack & Jones boxers, which when bought new, are £45 a pack. In total, the contents of my lost luggage - bought new - came to £223.98, not as high as I had hoped. Advertisement If you add on the cost of the actual suitcase, it totals just over £350. What was in the box and what's it worth? Bayer 04 Leverkusen football scarf - £14 Bayer 04 Leverkusen jersey - £69.99 H&M hoodie - £27.99 Adidas shorts - £35 The White Company toiletry bag - £7 on eBay Three pairs of Jack & Jones boxers - £45 Asda leather shoes - £25 While many may think that selling-on lost luggage contents could be a good earner, my haul proves that it is definitely a gamble. The smell of the case is still haunting me, so the thought of going through it all again and posting it on Vinted in the hope of earning a quick buck is not something I'm up for. Despite the battered hoodies and worn socks, everything was in reasonably decent condition, so I guess you could say it wasn't a total waste of time. Advertisement But if you're hoping to find a new iPad or a posh designer bag, you should be aware that you'll have to take a chance when searching through lost luggage. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nobody's content with the 'content'
Recently, Fahad Mustafa's old comments against family vlogging and the overuse of the word 'content' resurfaced online and caused an uproar among Tiktokers and YouTubers. "'Content' is the most overrated word in this country. There is no such thing as content. Everyone is selling their families. They haven't even left graveyards alone. They go to their mother's grave, and record themselves saying I'm missing my mother, please pray for her. What kind of 'content' is this?" Mustafa had said when asked about sharing the screen with digital content creators during a TV appearance. "I can tell a good or a bad story. But I can't sell my family. I can't sell myself. If you go on a film or TV shoot, it takes time to do this. They can't understand that this takes us 8 to 10 hours since they live in a 10-second world." While the comment offended the Instagram, TikTok and YouTube content creators especially Rajab Butt, as Ricky Gervais says, "Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right." This back-and-forth has sparked a debate between the traditional media vs digital 'content'. But it's not a clash between Mustafa and Butt. The actor didn't even mention the YouTuber by name. The scope of this is much bigger than a forced, illogical personal feud. Content overload What Mustafa spoke about is a worldwide concern of artists in the face of countless challenges faced today. Be it AI coming in as a wrecking ball to destroy authentic human expression, shorter attention spans engineered over the last decade by social media overconsumption or the declining understanding of storytelling and art due to the aforementioned issues, there are already more than enough battles artists today are fighting to preserve their chosen media and forms of expression. This is not to defend shows like Mustafa's Jeeto Pakistan, which feed into the same Black Mirror-esque humiliation-in-exchange-of-gifts convention. But Mustafa has created work with a certain artistic integrity in film and TV both, namely Actor in Law and Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. However, phone cameras and social media platforms combined today have created an illusion that everyone is an artist, actor, or filmmaker. While the democratisation of the media has had numerous benefits, and this is certainly not an issue of gatekeeping, talking into a camera and showing what you cooked for lunch does not exactly require an abundance of talent or skill. There are many arguments to be made against family vlogging. The internet is full of stories of disgruntled and traumatized individuals forced by their in-house vlogger, be it a parent or a child, to be documented 24/7 for the sake of views. But the crux of the matter isn't even that. It's the fact that 'content' has replaced art, cinema and storytelling. The issues start with the usage of the word 'content' which piles up every artform into one giant automated factory where every creation serves the algorithm and the algorithm, in turn, feeds it back to us. It disintegrates the distinguishing characters of each art form and strips it of any value. This is why Mustafa's comments about the word ring true. If everything is content, then there's no difference between a feature film that takes years to produce and a bag of apples. This argument doesn't devalue platforms like YouTube which can be used for a myriad of purposes from education to art and music and everything in between. It criticizes the forced homogeneity of all art forms. And family vlogging is definitely not an art form. Casting influencers In recent years, even in Hollywood, we have seen a number of so-called social media influencers turn to film and TV. But none comes to mind when thinking about who has excelled and been recognized for their skills. One can bring up Logan Paul but he has succeeded in WWE and pro-wrestling is a vastly different kind of storytelling than film or TV. Films which star the influencers usually land on streaming platforms which again play by the algorithm and casting content creators becomes essentially the same as product placement or a gimmick to cater to the said individual's social media following. Earlier this year in an interview with Variety, Ethan Hawke also lamented the fact that filmmakers are being forced to cast based on Instagram following. He said, "Sometimes I'll be setting a movie up and someone will say, 'Oh, you should cast Suzie.' I'm like, 'Who is she?' 'She has 10 million followers.' I'm like, 'OK cool, has she acted before?' 'No, but ' And you're like, 'Wow, so this is going to help me get the movie made? This is crazy.' So if I don't have this public-facing [platform], I don't have a career? And if I get more followers I might get that part? What?" Just because someone is a social media 'content' creator doesn't automatically mean they'd be good at acting or creating any kind of art. The mindset involved in both is on the opposite ends of the spectrum. That ties in with another question: aren't most studio films made with the intent of profit and hence, they cast bankable actors to attract their fanbase. How is that different from casting a digital content creator? One response to that would be that the bankable actors can usually, if not always, act and do their job well. It's the same as when Pakistani media networks and digital platforms tried to make the 'Chaiwala' into the next big star after he went viral for his looks. It didn't work. As a filmmaker, there's a massive difference between working with trained professionals and amateur enthusiasts. Most of the time, the lack of understanding of the process results in a low-calibre work. But we live in a world where everyone only wants to be on screen and get those 15 minutes of fame. And if 10-second reels can do that, who would spend months and years to tell a good story?
The Drive
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Putting Wheels on a Snowmobile Makes for a Rowdy All-Terrain Trike
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Ever find yourself wondering just what sort of trouble you could get into with a snowmobile in the summertime? If you live in one of many parts of the country that winter has seemingly abandoned, you may find yourself pondering this more often these days. But what would it take to have some real fun on a sled when there's not a snowflake in sight? How about sticking a set of wheels on it? That's exactly what the YouTubers behind mycustomgokart did with this beat-up, 600cc Ski-Doo Formula III. As builds go, this one's actually fairly simple. The bulk of the fabrication work involved removing the snowmobile's track and creating a new axle setup for the rear wheel. A set of wheels with nice, knobby tires went over a set of custom bearings designed for the front end, mounting where the skis were removed. It made for a simple swap, but it makes the Ski-Doo look a bit like a demonically possessed landscaping cart, especially once they fit the 12-inch-wide slick to the new rear axle. With that all squared away, the Ski-Doo needed some mechanical attention. For starters, the engine was experiencing some sort of fueling issue that kept fouling the spark plugs, so a carburetor service was in order. The guys also suspected that the snowmobile's stock cooling system wouldn't be up to the task, so a new radiator was fabbed up and installed in the rear of the engine bay—not the best spot, granted, but it's what they had to work with. And with that, it's time for some testing. Sure enough, it works. Their fearless test driver (hardhat and all) needs a little time to get acclimated to this squirrelly snowmobile-turned-street-rod, but after some trial and nearly spectacular error, he manages to string together a few five-star donuts. Fearing that they may be drawing unwanted attention, they retreat to private property for some more playtime. After some off-pavement foolishness, the gang reconvenes to see how the sled is holding up. While it drives better than the team expected, the Ski-Doo is showing signs of distress after its first shakedown run. The mounting plates for the rear axle were welded to the rear tunnel of the Ski-Doo, which was clearly not designed to handle the kinds of load being thrown at it by sticky rubber on pavement. The entire structure has started to deform, so the guys set about shoring up their mounting plates with some lateral support, which they fab up from a piece of pipe. With a new, more terrain-friendly tire on the rear, it's time for some proper three-wheelin'. Believe it or not, it handles a lot like a snowmobile. Getting power down with the single rear wheel is a challenge, and each test driver spends about as much time getting the Ski-Doo's nose pointed someplace that won't kill him as he does actually putting any power down. It looks like a laugh, but certainly not the most effective way to get around off pavement. As the guys point out, a rear suspension would go a long way—that and a longer battery cable. Got a tip? Send it in: tips@
The Independent
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
What to know about The Grand Tour's new line-up
The Grand Tour is being rebooted with a new team of younger hosts following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond. The new hosts are reportedly YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman - the pair behind the Throttle House channel. Social media star Francis Bourgeois will reportedly complete the line up. Throttle House, known for car reviews, has over 3.2 million YouTube subscribers. Bourgeois gained fame for his trainspotting videos. The original trio's production company, W Chump & Sons, has reportedly been dissolved.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The Grand Tour's new 'younger and cooler' line-up 'revealed' including huge social media star - following the departures of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May
The brand new presenting line-up for The Grand Tour has reportedly been revealed, following the departures of original hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. It is said that Prime Video bosses have drafted in YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman to front the popular motoring show, in addition to social media star Francis Bourgeois. Petrol heads Thomas and James host their own YouTube show Throttle House, in which they and test and review cars, which impressively boasts over 3.2 million subscribers. While Francis, real name Luke Magnus Nicolson, is best known for his love of trainspotting and counts the Prince and Princess of Wales and Stormzy as fans. A source told The Sun: 'Thomas and James are as knowledgeable about motors as Jeremy, Richard and James - the only difference is they're younger, cooler and a lot more social media savvy. Francis became famous for his love of trainspotting and will be bringing his humour to the show.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. MailOnline have contacted Prime Video for comment. Canadian biology graduate Thomas initially launched his YouTube channel in 2015 'out of boredom'. He was joined three years later by fan James who had reached out to him asking to be part of the show. They had first met in person at a gathering of Miata car owners. Meanwhile, since his first TikTok clip, back in February 2021, Francis has risen to social media superstardom. After soaring to fame thanks to his eccentric and loveable trainspotting videos, Francis has gone on to interview stars including Louis Theroux, Craig David, Sheridan Smith and Tom Daley. He now commands a following of millions, with his TikTok account boasting more than 3.3million fans, while his Instagram has 2.4million. Previously speaking about his hobby during an interview with This Morning, he said: 'I was just fixated by these big machines. 'Ever since, I've had a passion for trains, cars, planes.' In 2023 Francis was joined by his most royal fans, the Prince and Princess of Wales as they brushed shoulders with the internet royalty during a hilarious video. Jeremy, 64, Richard, 55, and James, 62, bowed out of The Grand Tour in September last year. The original series followed the trio on a worldwide mission to meet different car manufacturers and had been on air since 2016, following their departure from Top Gear two years earlier. Their exit marked an emotional end of an era for the trio, who first started working together on Top Gear more than two decades ago. Since then, the trio have featured in Amazon Prime Video's The Not Very Grand Tour which aired its first episode on April 18 earlier this year. While Jeremy returned to the world of motoring TV after filming an episode of Car SOS. Jeremy's appearance on the motoring show came just months after the final episode of The Grand Tour aired in September. Meanwhile, Richard and James reminisced on their time on Top Gear as they took a 'traumatising' visit to their old studio - ten years on from their final show. In a video released on Wednesday, for James May's YouTube series, Planet Gin, the duo decided to revisit the office for 'reasons unknown.' James began: 'Well that is the old Top Gear studio. And that is the old Top Gear green room.' Walking a round the complex they pushed open the door to one of the abandoned trailers and reminisced on their days on set. Richard said: 'It smells the same, terrible. It's weird it seems like only yesterday but also 100 years ago. 'This is where we assembled, worked on scripts, had arguments. I feel funny. I feel funny as well. I felt really odd being here. Every week we would come here for years and years and years.' James: 'The smell of it is almost traumatising... do you think if I opened this door we'd slip through a portal and be back in 2000 and whatever it was? 'I sort of want to find something that we left here.' Richard joked: 'What like? Hope, ambition, vigour?' 'I was in the bronze Land Rover. And I sat up and thought, well, that was that.'
