Where Can I Buy Decent Luggage

[Jack_Dawson]

w/o mortgaging my future? Thx in advance...

[JVS]

1. What makes luggage decent.

I usually find stuff at the Target or Wal-mart or K-mart that seems to do the trick. Samsonite stuff usually

[cally]

2. Do you have a "Tuesday Morning' near you

I think they have great prices on luggage.

[SharonAnn]

3. "Decent" luggage will still get damaged when traveling.

Just plan to replace it from time to time.


I have found that Tuesday Morning often has very good buys. Also, Kohl's and Penney's when they have sales.

[Jack_Dawson]

6. Where the hell do you people live?

WTF is Tuesday Morning? I went to Costco and got something (hopefully) serviceable.

JD

[King Of Paperboys]

4. Hmmm...

Yesterday, Jack needed a passport FAST. Now he wants luggage.

Jack? SOmething you want to talk about? DId you get some poor girl in trouble?

[Jack_Dawson]

7. LOL! Very astute

Unrelated trips, believe it or not. :-)

[frylock]

5. i bought mine online

http://www.worldtraveler.com/

[SoCalDem]

8. Warning about expensive luggage

Years ago when I was a travel consultant, a client came to me with a baggage horror story.. She had pink Hartman luggage (VERY expensive leather luggage), and one of the pieces was terribly damaged, and she wanted compensation from the airline.. I sent pictures to our airline rep, who wrote me back and told me that "Luggage is intended to protect what is inside, and a certain amount of damage is to be expected." He also chided her for spending too much for luggage..

Since I got no satisfaction from him, I wrote to the airline ombudsman, and omitted the fact about the expensive luggage. The letter I received back cautioned my client about the folly of buying "cheap luggage", and reminded her that expensive luggage fared better..

Using both letters, and my charming way with words, I did get her a settlement check, but it in no way compensated her for what she paid for that bag..

My advice... Buy something sturdy..Look for a sale..Buy luggage that nests, and pack light when you go.. Pack the clothes in the smaller one nested inside the empty bigger one.. When you return from your trip you will have plenty of room to pack the stuff you will certainly buy on your trip..

Do not bother to lock your luggage, so do not take anything valuable.. Homeland Security means no locked luggage.. Strangers will be pawing through your stuff at several junctures of your trip..

Better yet.. Take very little.. Buy what you need when you get there.. Box it up and send it to your address before you head for home.. No luggage hassles if you only have one small bag, and nothing "valuable" to worry about :)

[SoCalDem]

10. Another tip on luggage

Buy an ugly or odd color.. It will be easy to spot when the "luggage goes round and round"..

It's amazing how many people have the same kind of bags.. It's annoying to stand there and think that one's yours....and it's NOT..

Get red or Purple or some other odd color.. Sometimes those are "on sale" because no one wanted them :)

[Kellanved]

9. don't get something fancy

From my experience I can tell you that it'll get damaged anyway. Expensive ones might be more attractive to criminals at the airport, so I'd pick something that doesn't attract attention.
Oh: should it get lost or be destroyed at the airport: the re-compensation is flat-rate. It doesn't matter what it was, nor what was in it.

And remember: don't lock the thing, Homeland Security gets disappointed when they can't show their appreciation for you by adding a "We love you" letter to your stuff. And when they're disappointed they tend to do rather drastic things - as opposed to the old times when security would just call for the passenger to open his/her luggage.

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. Well...does it have to be new?

If not, you might want to look for used Zero Halliburton suitcases on Ebay or other online auction sites...you'll probably be able to get 2 or 3 pieces for under $500 (about half what they'd cost new), and they're indestructible (aircraft grade aluminum...picture below).



If that's still a bit much for your budget, Samsonite is probably the way to go...quite sturdy, and it'll last for years.

[Beaker]

12. Army/Navy Surplus stores...

Pick up a couple of sturdy canvas duffle bags- usually less than $20.00 each. they can be locked shut with a regular padlock.
Lots of airline ramp people are ex-military, and they tend to treat them well, assuming that the owner is ex-military also.



plus- you can fit A LOT of stuff in them. I've used mine for years, and they've never been dented or scratched.