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Messages - rockin the retro

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31
Out of my Air Jordan unit~
Tons of hip-hop jeans and the like~selling/sold GREAT on ebay, but the kicker was a Gucci hat.
Saw one (used in similar condition) go for $80.  Thought I'd throw it out there for $45 with a $125 BIN.  Sucker sold within 30 minutes!

Now if anybody can help me move 7 pairs of Air Jordans and 2 pair Lebron James size 8 shoes.....I'd love the help~ :-\

32
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #7...July, 2012
« on: July 10, 2012, 08:56:25 AM »
Only a couple minutes this morning as Don & I each landed a locker yesterday.
His is cleaned out and the former owner was a Native American school teacher.  We found gold, Indian jewelry, old Papago baskets and the like.  Will update when I have time.  He paid $225 and I believe the potential is 5X+.  Much will depend on the value of the old baskets and the like.

My unit is untouched as of right now as it took us all of yesterday to dig out the other.  I paid $130 after battling with a very green newbie.  It's a 10X20 and full of dust and junk.....have no idea right now.  There is a Hornets NBA jacket (really rough, but what got me bidding), a snow board, a torn apart gun (stock and barrel) and beyond that...........I have no idea.

Prices were not bad and crowd was minimal.  When Don did his he had 5 people and all were regulars (he didn't get a unit until he hooked up with ours).  My auction initially had about 20 folks with only two of us being 'regulars'.

Our Dave Hester is on vacation and the rest of us are living large while he's gone! ;D

Will update with some photos in the next few days.....time permitting~




33
Garage Sales / Little traffic, but those that showed.....bought~
« on: July 09, 2012, 09:09:37 AM »
We rarely do yard sales as we live quite rural and foot traffic is quite minimal.  But with us landing 5 lockers in a week and a half our yard was overrun and storms were threatening, so we went for it.

3 days of sorting and organizing and sweating and moaning and we were ready.
I billed the thing as 5 storage locker accumulation sale and had folks calling to find out more.  Expected a big crowd, but alas......it was quiet.  When we opened (at 5:30) there was nobody here.  Usually we have people waiting at the gate, but it was after 6 before we heard tires in the gravel.  Folks slowly trickled in.  I'd say we had a total of 80 customers all day and of those maybe 70 purchased items.  Most folks were great with only two (groups) that I wanted off my property due to rudeness.  I did mention in the ad that prices were subject to customers attitude (so smile!)~

We ended up making over $500 which added nicely to the $440 we did the day before selling some 'old' stock in the jbl speakers & a brush guard.  Oh yeah and sold just over $100 of mother-in-laws items~

Just a couple highlights~
I had the air jordans displayed and this young hispanic kid saw them.  It was instant draw with his eyes growing huge as he made an immediate beeline to them.  The young black man that was with him followed his gaze and both were devastated to find they were all too small.  I had such a good time with those two and they helped me immensely with all the hip-hop items.  A couple things I learned is that my prices were more than fair and that yes.......those hats & jeans are supposed to look ripped and torn.....dang I'm gettin' old!

Another great experience was with Steve.  A great older biker kinda guy who, at our last yard sale, bought a bundle of old coins in which he gave us market value.  we sat and talked and I mentioned our gold (very small amount of 10k).  He wanted to take a look at it.  He was digging through some of our 'cheap' jewelry so I thought I'd bring out our bowl of crap jewelry which he painstakingly went through. 

He pulled out maybe 8 pieces and told me to check these for silver and these for gold.  We haggled about the 10k and he said he could only go about $10 a gram on it as 10k is iffy.  We couldn't agree on a price and I told him I'd just hold it for now.  I got his number and said I'd call if we came across any coins.

After he left traffic was light so I sat and tested the items he pulled.  Most were crap but I found one sterling chain bracelet and the one piece he thought was German hollow link gold (white).  It tested out at 18K!!

I called him back and told him I'd agree to his price for the 10k as he just found me a 100 dollar bill.  He came back and we struck the deal and I threw in a questionable piece with the stipulation if he made millions off it to remember me.
Fast forward to yesterday morning when Steve showed up and said "About that heart pendant? Well we both have to get better at testing as it was 10k."  He handed me another $10.

I'm telling you folks......honesty like that just isn't seen too often these days.

All in all it was a great sale with numerous new friends/customers!

We've sold another $80 or so since the sale ended so even with the sweltering temps and threat of rain, things are looking up.  And my inventory has never been so well organized!!

Have auctions (two different caravans) today and again on Weds/Thurs so I'm glad I found my backyard.....hopefully I have the opportunity to muck it all up again~ ;D

34
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #7...July, 2012
« on: July 05, 2012, 10:42:30 PM »
Did Cubesmart Tues with minimal crowds (and prices) but lockers were mostly trash.
Cubesmart day two was today, but we decided to hit a more 'popular' auctioneer as he is here every other month.  Last time out with him I landed my second pool table unit and the art unit.

Crowd was about 30 which is not terrible.  6 lockers.  Saw very few I even bothered to bid on.  Prices stayed low.  One unit that was a money maker was a 10X20 about 3/4 full and 3/4 of that was toys!  We're talkin' tons of toys.  It went for $200 and I know they'll make money.....we are just overrun with toys right now so we took a pass~

Decided to pass on the next facility due to distance.  Was told we missed some good ones, but we're always told that so......

Next facility had a couple lockers and nothing we were interested in.
Then on to a facility that had 14 lockers.  Saw a locker go for $25 that was full and a decent leather chair showing.  Didn't bid as I love the couple that won it.  A few more units then we got to one that 'intrigued' me.  a 5X5 with a few suitcases, a couple boxes and one Air Jordan white high top showing.  Told Don I was going on this one and set the cap at $100.

Bidding started and I bid once or twice and we were suddenly at my max.  My nemesis got the $100 bid and another lady bid $110.  I figured what the heck.....we can lose that in no time at the casino, so went to $120.  I got it and Don was shaking his head.............well............
Turns out it was a rapper type gangsta wannabe couple.  At last count:
12 pairs nice tennis shoes, with 80% being Air Jordans, two pair Lebron James
Several (over 20) pairs of jeans like Affliction, True Religion and the like
Numerous Oakland A's hats
A gucci hat we found online that retails for $265~was a used one that sold on ebay for like $80 and it was in about the same shape as ours so....
Coach tennies
Lots of dvd's (yes....they were actually in their cases....shock...), but unfortunately most are of a rap/hip-hop variety
Did find one small 10k chain with a heart pendant, but kinda questioning the purity of the pendant.  Test came back positive, but fearing a plating~

All in all this was a great unit that I'm thinking will make us some nice change.  Not too shabby and the best part was it was the easiest clean out we've ever had.  Loaded in 15 minutes!

The last week of June found Don buying 4 units and if I ever have 'free' time I'll update ya on those.  Nothing grand, but prices and crowds remain down.  Don't know if that is the trend or the temps~

Oh and for those that saw and remember the picture of our yard a couple months ago.....imagine that yard with 4 lockers worth of inventory and sheet flooding................ugh~

Still all is pretty good here in Southern AZ~

35
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #6...June, 2012
« on: June 27, 2012, 06:46:37 PM »
OK~updates for the past two weeks~
A couple weeks ago Don landed a locker for $30.  Quite astonishing as he joined me at the 'popular' auction.  Had a womens mtn bike, some shelves (fallaparticle board), totes, bags (garbage variety) and it had been turned.  We found one jewelry box that contained.....wait for it.....quite a few mercury dimes.  Sold those for $25.  Bike for $45 and a header (brand new in box) for a 02-03 Chevy Cavalier for $50.....too funny as Don swore it would never sell~:)  Still have a bit of inventory, so that was a nice unit.

Last week no auctions and no swapmeeting as temps are well over 100 degrees (and that is by 10am).  Luckily craigslist has been good to me!

This week......Don and I again divided and again....he conquered.....I wasted gas~
He landed another $30 locker, which will barely break even, but then later landed one for $100 that I just sold the AC unit ($90) and has a ton of toys, a few collectibles, some really cool vintage tools and other oddities.  My rough calculations has the unit netting about $300 and I ALWAYS figure low so.....fingers crossed.  Oh and there was a ps2 in this unit.  Since we have numerous games/controllers and the like (from various other units) the girls are playing that on occasion.....I told them they have until the end of July then it's up for sale and they're stuck with their ps3 again...... ;)

Don's going to PS tomorrow then we get ready for July which brings our Phoenix auctioneers down (every two months) so that means numerous hours spent melting in 105 degrees with humidity and daily thunderstorms.....yippeeeeee (no really.....I love a good storm!).

Hope all is going well for YOU~

36
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #6...June, 2012
« on: June 12, 2012, 09:44:27 PM »
Hey Cheesehead~ran like heck from a locker today as the door opened and there was a Packers Favre jersey staring me in the eye~

We Vikes fans want nothin' to do with that~ ;D

37
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #6...June, 2012
« on: June 12, 2012, 09:13:34 PM »
Hit the most popular auctioneers caravan (day one) today.  Crowds were HUGE, but amazingly prices stayed relatively low.

Not much to comment on.  Don bid on 6 different lockers.  Me~only one that had my interest.  Went to $525~it went for $625.

I'll be heading out for day two while Don takes a lesser known one tomorrow.  I'm hoping the divide and conquer works again~


38
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #6...June, 2012
« on: June 10, 2012, 09:43:23 AM »
OK~a few minutes of 'down' time.

The past couple weeks have been chaotic, as we've been attending every auction available and headed 200 miles north to help my mother-in-law move down here (24' truck filled to the brim....unloading in 105 degrees was a b****).

Don landed one unit on the 29th of May (I know....should be in #5, but I don't feel like bouncing all over).  10X10 full.  Items seen side by side fridge, large glass & metal display shelves, gardening wagon, about 35 tubs. He thought he had it at $120, but one of our buddies decided to go for it too.  Landed it at $200.  Tubs were mostly crafting and Christmas, but we found some nice western items (NFR buckles, belts and boots).  Should be a double + locker.  

Last week was Cubesmart.  Minimal crowd to start.  First locker opened and there was a cheap dining table, dart board, misc crap.  Then they announced that two lockers for the price of one.  opened the next door and there was a full-size mattress set, wrought iron headboard and black floral couch.
I ended up with both lockers for $65.  Will probably make 3 X and clean out was a breeze.  Only 'hidden' treasure was a pair of Ocelot motocross boots.

Since then we've been trying to organize, fix and sell.  Times are kinda tough here as we've been running a steady 100 + degrees.  Craigslist has been ok and I don't have any 'good' ebay items nor do I have the time (right now) to list what I do have.

I'm gonna try to post a random ramblings thread later today to sum up a bunch of what I've been experiencing here in Southern AZ......some great....some sad.....


39
Crowds have been down here in Southern AZ, but prices have not.
Don grabbed a locker two weeks ago and I landed one last week, but I've been too busy sorting and processing to take the time to jot a note.  Heck.....I have a buyer (from this board) for one of my paintings and I have yet to find a box......I promise bdm I will right after the weekend! ;)

I think here we've started to melt and enthusiasm tends to wither when the temps hit 106 degrees.
We're getting ready to hit the 'other' flea market as they have a night session.  I have NO idea what to expect as a seller there, but it's where 80% of our local auction buyers sell, so.....

Crowds this past week were pretty typical, with prices staying somewhat 'reasonable'.  Of course most of the lockers were trash, so...........

We've got a good one coming up next week that will tell the true tale of attendance/cost/interest~
will update if I have any 'free' time~ :-\


40
Pretty vague~what is the one item you can't sell?
Swap meet, craigslist and ebay in that order for me.

Have you checked 'true' value of item?  If you just price off what folks are 'asking' on ebay, you're probably too high.

w/o more info.....can't offer more help~

41
Well cripes.....there goes the neighborhood.
It was actually pretty well done, but.......
If I ever run into Som in a dark alley, I'm gonna kick him in the knee!!  His final line ticked me off....especially with his sleazy grin~

ugh.........
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/18609765/southern-arizona-storage-wars

I don't know where the auctions were that showed the inside of a facility, as they were not allowed anywhere but the parking lot for our auctions.  Did see Don in the crowd (6' 4" stands out) but I didn't see hide nor hair of myself.  I think I scared the camera man when I stated "I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON TV!!!"~ 8)

edit to say that I just finished watching it again and they didn't put the final lines in the replay as in the live 'report'.  He had ended it by saying
"The regulars aren't going to like me doing this but there is a link to help you find storage auctions in the Tucson area"

grrrrrrr~ >:(

42
Well that's what the promo said.....who knows what the attention-seeking newbies said......
ugh~

43
Update~talked with one of the guys who was interviewed and asked why he was bumped.  He said it was going to air tomorrow (now today) at 9 on our local Fox station (seems the two channels are affiliated).

So I tuned in last night to see if I had the times/date right.  They ran a big promo about tomorrow's upcoming feature of storage auction buying~the new form of gambling............ugh................

I will update ya within 24 hours of what all was said.  No good can come of this I fear.
 :-\

44
Well.....if ya wanted it...........too late!!
Yes, I just sold our 2nd pool table.  So update~won that unit for $225 and right now we're UP about $580 on that unit and I still have the JBL speakers and some other items......all in all~I'm thinkin' a grand in profits.

Now the art unit~still $150 shy on that one, but we'll recoup and ended making about $500 on it.....but somebody please slap me twice if I ever buy another 'art' unit......yikes......

All in all we were getting a bit worried as we had a terrible day out our local flea and the phone (craigslist) wasn't ringing.....now today?  We did $1000! 

I can't wait for the next pool table!! ;)

45
Flea Markets / Re: Might have found a home !
« on: May 21, 2012, 07:59:20 AM »
Hey Money~hope it all works out for ya!

We're also looking at alternatives as our local flea has started to die.  Temps are supposed to hit 106 today and once that is upon us Tucson sorta dies.
We may check out the other big swap meet that has night sessions.  It's where 80% of our regulars sell, so.....they may be on to something~


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