Watch Baggage Battles

Baggage Battles is a popular reality show that aired on Travel Channel from 2012 to 2014. The show featured a group of auction specialists who travelled around the United States to attend various auctions of lost and unclaimed luggage, hoping to strike it big by uncovering hidden treasures within the bags.

The show was hosted by a team of experienced auctioneers including Laurence and Sally Martin, owners of Studio Antiques in El Segundo, California, and William Leroy, owner of The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse in Sumner, Washington. Together, they travelled to different locations where luggage auctions were held, such as airports, train stations, and storage facilities, and competed against each other to find the most valuable and interesting items.

The premise of the show was simple - the contestants would bid on unclaimed bags and reveal their contents piece by piece. They could only see the contents of the bags once they had bought them and were not allowed to open them before the auction. The bags were often filled with a plethora of items ranging from clothing, jewelry, and electronics to unexpected items such as sports memorabilia, rare antiques, and even vintage cars.

As the contestants uncovered the contents of each bag, they would try to outbid each other for items they deemed valuable. Every item found was carefully appraised by the team of experts, who would give their opinions on whether they thought the items had any commercial value. The contestants would then decide whether to keep the items or sell them at auction, potentially making a substantial profit.

The show was not only about the competition between the auction specialists but also about the thrill of discovering something unexpected and unique. The audience got to see the excitement and anticipation of the contestants as they bid on bags and waited to see what treasures lay inside. Sometimes what the contestants hoped would be valuable turned out to be worthless, and the opposite was also true. These unexpected discoveries kept the show entertaining.

Baggage Battles also delved into the history behind some of the items found in the bags. Occasionally, the show would feature an expert in a particular field, such as antique or art expert, who provided insights into the history and value of some of the items found. The show highlighted the fascinating stories behind objects that had been forgotten or misplaced by their owners, giving new life to these unclaimed objects.

The auction specialists themselves were also an interesting bunch. Laurence and Sally Martin were a married couple, and their ongoing bickering and friendly competition added a lot of humor and entertainment to the show. William Leroy, the third auction specialist on the show, was often the voice of reason, adding a calm and collected perspective to the fast-paced auctions. The audience could identify with these personalities, making the show more relatable.

In conclusion, Baggage Battles was a captivating and unique reality show that blended the excitement of auctions with the thrill of discovery. The chemistry between the auction specialists and the interesting items found within the bags kept viewers engaged and entertained. The show brought attention to the world of luggage auctions, which is often overlooked but filled with surprises.

Baggage Battles is a series that is currently running and has 5 seasons (60 episodes). The series first aired on April 11, 2012.