The problem with that theory is that it will eventually catch up with you. It may take 15 years but when it does bite you in the a$$, you will regret not paying your taxes. Especially if you already have considerable wealth. If you own your cars and house and have money in the bank, why risk losing it all?

If you sold your own lawnmower for less than what you paid for it it would be considered a depreciated loss. Plus, you have already payed sales & income tax on that money you purchased it with.

Also, it depends on how you are buying. If you buy 1 unit every week or so and you're mainly doing it for fun, then you will be okay. But if you are bringing in over 10 grand a month like I was, you need to give Uncle Sam whats his before he takes whats yours.

My post was in response, to him stating that this was a hobby. I whole heartedly agree, that if you are knocking down 10K per month, you'd better be paying taxes on it. Unless you're burying cash in the back yard , in a coffee can!

We've all been there !

As to the tv box being there, I've bought lockers that had those and they were in the back BURIED by other stuff.
I think SOME people save boxes in case they have to take something back or want it for protection when they move the stuff later from one house to another. Still, if you see them up front you have to wonder if they aren't "bait".

Edit:

What was the crowd like and how were the prices for the "junk" ?

About 12 people there. Nothing went for over $300. I couldn't figure out what the heck they were even bidding on. A bunch of broken crap, that wasn't worth much new.
I know that there will be plenty of times when the lockers just don't pay, but this was a scam through & through.

Last auction I went to was hillarious! I watched people bidding on absolute garbage & spending $150-$200 for absolutely nothing.
I bid on a few, and was ready to spend some $$, but of course, there was a "high roller" there who would not be beat. He overpayed for everything.
Got one for tomorrow. Hoping it goes well.

I am the Service Manager, Project Manager, & Estimator for a heating & air company in the Metro Atlanta area. I've been doing HVAC for about 21 years now. I have a pretty flexible schedule, that has allowed me to explore my new hobby somewhat.
Wouldn't mind going full time with the auctions eventually. No stranger to long hours and hard work. Thinking that the auctions could possibly allow me to make a modest living, while letting me set my own schedule.
Also, my wife and I enjoy doing this together.

Went to a "PODS" type auction last Saturday. They had about 19 crates to sell.
The 1st 4 had household items in them & went for way too much $$.
The last 15 crates were sold as a set. They were full of Herman Miller cubicles, desks, & chairs.
I threw out a $100 bid. someone else came back with $150. I went to $200 & got it!
This is literally a tractor trailer load of office furniture. The kind folks at the auction site, were good enough to give me 1 week to get it gone.
I got really excited when we inventoried what we had, & estimated the retail value to be about $250k! Only problem, was that noboby wanted it!
I found a reputable used office furniture dealer to give me $500 for everything.
It won't exactly put my kids through college, but we made a quick $300 profit & never lifted a finger!