Expensive luggage a target for theft?
 

I am trying to decide which luggage to buy. I have read through many threads and I'm still not sure what to do. TJ MAXX has two Tumi pieces in green, a 24" suitcase ($300) and a nice sized expandable duffle bag ($200) to match. Marshall's has a 24" Victorinox NXT expandable ($144-clearance) in black and a 21" duffle ($50-clearance) to match. Marshall's also has Briggs & Riley Baseline 24" expandable in Crystal (light colored silver/grey) for $130 and matching 17" duffle ($60) and shopping tote ($48). After reading through many posts and articles online I still don't know which one to pick! The B & R is light colored and I'm afraid it will get dirty very easily but it's a great brand. The Tumi is also a great brand. I've always wanted one but I'm worried aobut it being a target for theft. An important issue that people don't think about as much when buying luggage until it happens to them. Any Tumi owners out there have any problems with theft? The Victorinox seems like the most practical of the group, but least fun. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it!! Thanks!

If you're walking around the streets with your bags, it's a good idea to keep a low profile; however, if you are taking taxis or limousines from 5-star hotel to 5-star hotel, buy the kinds of bags that give off whatever message you want to convey to hotel workers and fellow travelers.

I wouldn't characterize the luggage you are looking at as all that expensive. It's not cheap when compared to no-name brands but there is plenty of luggage that's a lot more costly.

I doubt any of the luggage on your list would be a target for luggage theft based soley on it's perceived value.

If I were you I'd get the one that most closely matched the style design to fit your particular needs. As to color, obviously lighter colors will show dirt and smudges more than darker colors. The fact is luggage is luggage and it gets tossed around, stacked on top or underneath other luggage, dropped on the tarmac, falls off the conveyor belt, left out in the rain, etc., etc. After one or two flights it will looked "used" no matter what color it is. There's no way around that fact unless, of course, you confine your travels to flights in your own private aircraft and even then the ground crew may mishandle your luggage.

Expensive luggage gets the same beating from airline baggage handlers.

We favor black bags, no matter the brand, with a brightly colored leather (plastic breaks) tag or other identifying item.

I don't think the brand makes that much difference as to your theft issue. At least at the airport, most people, like me, are just looking for theirs and hoping it made it. I've got a B & R expandable and really like it. Also like the life-time no-fault guarantee. It's been well used over the past 2.5 years and is still in great shape, and I've never had a problem (I probably just jinxed my next trip). I got a steep discount because the color (burgundy) was being discontinued. Turns out that's a bonus since it's pretty easy to spot. DW and DD have American Tourister and North Face respectively and they like them very much. My SIL has had Tumi for years and has never had a theft problem. She travels about 10K-20K miles per month all over the globe, and she wouldn't have any other brand.
Buy what you like and what suit your needs best.

Do people steal bags? I used to fly 100,000 miles a year with Tumi luggage and never had a problem at the airport, at hotels, or in transportation.

I wouldn't consider any of the luggage you have listed to be that upscale to worry about.

Our Tumi has made it through thick and thin too, no problems.

it seems as if everyone has Tumi, i wouldn't worry about it being a target for theft.

My Briggs Riley bags have outlasted my more expensive Tumi bags. And I think they are better designed.

Dang, Samantha... what city are you in?
My TJM and Marshall's stores never have such good choices!
HURRY so you get the ones you want!

After one of my expensive pieces of luggages got shredded on a conveyor belt in India, I have not bought name brand luggage, not worth it. After a couple of trips, the sides will have dirt streaks and the luggage will look worst than "used" sometimes.

Basic black with a color ribbon/something to identify it.

I look for less weight, sturdy and big wheels, sturdy zippers, and pockets in the right places.

Why would anyone want to spend that much money for luggage? It is just a box to hold your stuff. Go to Sam's Club and buy a great bag for $50. Spend the rest of your money on travel.

I agree with fmpden - I have been travelling 30 years. To me it is a waste of money to buy expensive bags when a reasonable inexpensive one will do. And I look askance at the bells and whistles.

But, each to his/her own. ((*))

I have had my leather Tumi luggage tags stolen, and one suitcase. The suitcase was being stored in Pisa at the train station when it mysteriously went missing.
I love Tumi. The only one I use now is a carry on, and that never leaves my sight. My other luggage is Patagonia rolling duffel bags. Fantastic.

<""Why would anyone want to spend that much money for luggage?"">

Because as any road warrior will tell you the cheap stuff doesn't hold up.

I had one bag that literally didn't last through one trip.

The airlines are so tough on luggage.

My Hartmann luggage cost twice that much and I wish someone WOULD steal it. I hate it. We've had several problems in the 10 years we've owned it. You have to ship it to Hartmann for repairs and you never know what they will just consider normal wear and tear. I'd stay away from light colors.

A photographer friend of mine had a very expensive Mamiya reflex 120 camera, and he carried it and its accessories in a dime-store suitcase.

When I asked him why he would store anything so valuable in such a cheap box, he said "because thieves are looking for equipment in Zero Halliburton cases."

I think if you had Louis Vuitton or Gucci luggage it would be a target for theft but Tumi? I seriously doubt it.

BTW, the light colored lugguage will get filthy. I bought a light pink suitcase and it was very dirty after the first use, I still like it though.

<""Why would anyone want to spend that much money for luggage?""> <Because as any road warrior will tell you the cheap stuff doesn't hold up.>>

READ IT carefully, GoTravel, I said nothing about cheap. I wasn't talking about cheap bags sold at cheap prices but good bags solded at discount. This is a difference between cheap and low price. Have a ten year old plus old Atlantic bag from Sams for $25 which is worn on the edges, scuffed a bit but will be very servicable for years to come. Recent bought a very well built Docker bag with several bells and whistles from Tuesday Morning for $40. There is no justification for expensive luggage other than image.

On my last flight, more than 70% of bags coming off were black. If I were a thief, I would take one of the faceless black bags, so no one would notice me.

I travel with a really colorful bag that eveyone notices when it comes down on the carousel. I have no problem finding my bag, and it sure would be easy to follow someone who took it.

My sister has Louis Vuitton suitcases and has had things stolen from them (not the entire suitcase) many times. I believe she does not use them so much anymore.

On a side note, I hated traveling with her when she used that luggage. I thought it was rather obnoxious all together - the LV suitcase, the LV carryon, the LV handbag.

ah fmpden, yes, sometimes the expensive luggage IS worth it. I looked at about 20 suiters before I bought my Tumi. It had absolutely nothing to do with 'image'. I looked at all brands and prices, and posted on Fodors immediately after my first trip with it:

I have to share. I just broke down and bought the $700 Tumi vertical suiter after I said I would never buy another Tumi.

It is the bomb.

Oh. My. God. The best CARRY-ON suiter I have ever owned. I know it is expensive, but you HAVE to check it out if you do a lot of 3 to 5 day business trips & like to go with just a carry on.

First off, it is 22inches and rolled easily down the aisle of the nyc-atl delta shuttle. Fit in the overhead with no problemo. But could be an issue on a small plane if you stuff the outside pouch too full.

Next, it held the following (and NOTHING was wrinkled or creased):

In the suit area-
2 suits on hangers
1 black tie top & pants on hanger (could have been a 3rd suit)
1 shirt on hanger
5 days worth of undergarments

In the bottom zip area-
6 or 7 shirts folded
1 pair of pants
5 pair socks
2 pair shoes

In the outer pouch -
Toiletries (I carry minimal because most of the hotels I stay in have what I need in the room, or I will buy anything liquid when I get there).

Happy Happy Happy!!!!!

A $700 SUITCASE !!! You have to be kidding. No rolling bag can be worth $700 unless it is lined with gold. Glad you enjoy it. We all have our priorties. None of my friends understand why I spent $2000 on custom bike. Now, that is truely worthwhile.

$2000 on a bike? It must be gold plated!

See, it is all relative. I probably use the suitcase more than you asume, so it is a worthwhile investment for me. Also, the way it is set up, I am able to arrive into town on a 10 AM flight, get to my hotel at the convention center, whip out a suit, and make it, fresh as a daisy, to a noon meeting. All my other suiters required the packing of a travel steamer and my shoes were always an issue. That alone, is worth its weight in gold. And never underestimate being able to roll down the aisle of a shuttle. That is the worst.

We had to buy an additional bag. We were traveling in New Zealand and very concerned about the weight allowance. We selected an inexpensive Rick Steves carryon - just a little over $100. It looks fine, it is less than eight pounds, and it works very well. We bought it in green which is easy to locate among all the black ones. We're happy with it.

I think I have that bag as well. The backdoor bag? The only issue is that because it is lightweight it does not have wheels and is completely unstructured--not good for suits. You may have a different one though.

I have medium priced 5 piece set of Atlantic luggage and it has been to Europe and Africa 3 times each. It is khaki green colored and only one (a 24" with wheels) has a gouge in it. Price doesn't really matter, look for how the zippers are concealed since they take the biggest beating. As for easy finding I have a one inch red ribbon about six inches long on each handle. Have not lost my luggage in years and no one has mistaken it for theirs.

Don't buy luggage with a black or dark interior! Lighting in hotels tends to be horrible and you can never see or find anything in a dark suitcase. I also find that none of them hold up worth a darn and features are alwasy improving, so I don't recommend "investment" purchases. Figure if you travel a lot it is a 3 year asset. By the way I am a big believer in those oversize ziploc storage bags. I pack an outfit in a ziploc and then it stays together and I can sort through multiple outfits easier. Also should you suitcase sit out on the runway in a rain storm you contents have a better chance of staying dry.

>>>$2000 on a bike? It must be gold plated! >>>>

Nooooo but sure rides like it is !!!!!