A question in the craigslist forum made me wonder if attendance is higher or lower depending on the way the auction is advertised.

Around here in North Alabama I haven't noticed any craigslist advertisements for auctions.  So The question is in your experience which form of advertisement leads to the bigger attendance at the auction?

Legal ads? Craigslist? auctionzip? or private website?

I have a couple guys I sell my gold and silver to.  they both pay about the same amount. right now it is about .50 per gram on silver and $24 per gram on 14k not sure about 10k haven't had any in a while.  The best part is they pay in cash.

I almost always glance around the garage or yard before I leave the yard sale (sometimes I don't think about it) you never know what they may have laying around that they didn't even consider for the sale.  This past Saturday I was at a sale and saw a pet taxi sitting in the corner of the carport (my dad's booth at his flea market is right next to the animal section, so he can't keep these things so I am always on the lookout for them) I asked the guy if it was for sale, he said no but he had a big one in the shed if I was interested.  We walked out back and it was the next to largest size they make.... he asked if I would give $20  so I just paid him .... carried it home, gave it a little bath ...... next morning at the flea it sold to the first person that asked about it for $40

about 2 years ago I was at an estate sale (got there before it started) when they guy running the sale showed up I asked him about the stuff in the barn...... he said "Nah, there are a couple items we are keeping and we are gonna let the rest of the junk go with the house when it sells" .... I told him to point out the things he wanted and I would try to buy the rest......after he showed me a couple things he said how about $60 for the rest ...... I about broke my arm giving him the money...... sold $480 before daylight the next morning at the flea.

At estate sales I ask if they thought to check the attic or under the house.... sometimes they miss those areas...... I have bought truckloads of stuff from attics because they didn't think to bring that stuff down and the other buyers didn't ask.  (always try to wait until no other buyers are around)

Sometimes if it isn't in the sale it isn't for sale though.  you definitely won't get it if you don't ask .....kinda like winning the lottery without a ticket.... ain't gonna happen
You have to check for things that people don't think about.  I mean if everything was just handed to us everyone would be doing it.

here is a story that just popped up today


http://www.abc3340.com/story/23145918/bodies-found-in-west-virginia-storage-facility-believed-to-be-missing-walker-county-women

My flea market officially opens at 5 am but there are no gates for buyers and if dealers that prepaid for their spot get there before 5 they can just drive through the gate.  I usually get there around 4:45 get my flashlight and check on the other dealers before setting up .  You usually know the "regulars" and I usually hit the non regs, the ones that cleaned out the shed the day before.  Competition is fierce where I go so you have to be quick or you miss the goodies.  I ALWAYS have guys come by my booth bragging about something I missed and they didn't.  but at a market with about 1000 vendors you get it all. lol

First let me say hello.  I have been reading all of the posts here for a while now but only recently had a reason to register and post.  I have been buying storage lockers off and on for a few years now.... so far no big losses, the only loss came from a $30 unit that was all trash..... I think i sold about $15 out of there.  keep in mind I live in the country so I can burn the junk instead of the costly dump runs.

Now to the more recent.  About a month ago I went to an auction in a small town not too far from me that had 6 units listed.  At auction time there ended up being 8 units and 3 bidders (2units were leftovers I think) well I bought 2 small units for a total of $70 Then 2 side by side 10x20 units came up with the same owner..... they were both being auctioned together.  these units were full front to back and I could see furniture, tool boxes, tackle boxes and lots of mystery boxes I started the bid at $200 every time someone would bid I would up the bid right behind them trying to intimidate them...... it worked and I got them both for $350.  as it stands right now I have sold ove $1200 off of these 4 units and still have a ton of things left.

Now to this past weekend the same facility had 2 units and a truck (1989 Toyota), and again only 3 bidders.  the first unit had belonged to a Mexican that was buying new in the box stuff up to take to Mexico and for some reason on the last trip down there....... he never came back.  The Unit was being sold together with the truck from the same owner.  From the door you could see sofa and love seat, air conditioner in the box, push mower, excersise equipment new in the box, and some HUGE mystery boxes.   I started out at $500 and only one bidder was against me until I got to $600 he backed out and the manager's son bid $700 so I imediately went to $800 ... son was out.... manager said " I can't let this go for less than $2500"  we all walked to the next unit...... he opened that door and there was furniture, boxes with kitchen items, filing cabinets, book shelves, but in the back I could see a couple of weedeaters and some vintage guitar amps and a flat screen tv (the big floor model) ...... So I started this one off at $300... everyone walked away... then the manager said he had to have $750.... again I walked away

after everyone left I walked in the office and told the guy that he was asking more than I could get for the stuff and offered him $1300 for the 2 units and the truck and he accepted.

in the Mexican unit I found new chain saws, a computer tablet, a NIB Iphone 3gs, there were even 2 like new refrigerators that I couldnt see from the door, new in box printers and lots of nice name brand clothing (probably 500 pounds of it judging by the weight of all the boxes full) lots of brand new Nikes, Pumas, adidas and cowboy boots

the 3 vintage guitar amps were early 70's Ampeg amp units that should bring anywhere from $500-1500 each

now gotta figure out what to do with the truck


Thank you for letting me ramble on forever, lol.