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Welcome to the Online Storage Auctions Forum / Re: Hello Everyone
« on: February 18, 2014, 08:08:53 PM »
Hello from sunny California. So glad to see someone new on the boards. Looking forward to your additions. 
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Storage Facilities / Re: Storage Managers talk about legalized "pot" and their facilities
« on: February 18, 2014, 03:06:50 PM »
I had a lengthy discussion with a facility manager about this a while back. When he first started ten years ago at a mom and pop facility he had major problems. Very little security led to people storing all kinds of illegal stuff. His biggest issue wasn't the actual storage of this stuff but the theft.
Lets say "Joe" finds out that "Bob" has pot in a storage unit. Joe doesn't know exactly which unit it is in but he is going to find it. He breaks into "Janes" unit by mistake and sees some good stuff so he takes that instead. Manager now has a very pissed off Jane he has to deal with.
His solution was to offer up the facility to local law enforcement for training for their dogs. He gives them an empty unit to plant with whatever they like and in return they search his entire facility with the dog. If the dog hit on something other than the planted unit he evicts that tenant. He has his facility searched every three months.
He said the problems cleared up quickly when people started talking about what he was doing. He did also have the owners take some security measures but felt like the law enforcement presents was the most useful thing and it is free.
Lets say "Joe" finds out that "Bob" has pot in a storage unit. Joe doesn't know exactly which unit it is in but he is going to find it. He breaks into "Janes" unit by mistake and sees some good stuff so he takes that instead. Manager now has a very pissed off Jane he has to deal with.
His solution was to offer up the facility to local law enforcement for training for their dogs. He gives them an empty unit to plant with whatever they like and in return they search his entire facility with the dog. If the dog hit on something other than the planted unit he evicts that tenant. He has his facility searched every three months.
He said the problems cleared up quickly when people started talking about what he was doing. He did also have the owners take some security measures but felt like the law enforcement presents was the most useful thing and it is free.
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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: What are some items or conditions that will keep you from bidding on a unit?
« on: February 18, 2014, 02:45:02 PM »
Mattresses and couches as well for me. $20.00 to dump a mattress and $35.00 for a couch. If you are the lucky winner of a hide-a-bed you get to pay both fees $55.00.
Toys and baby furniture because according to my liability policy I cannot sell them or I will get canceled.
Boxes and boxes marked books. I spent this last weekend filling an empty 3 yard recycle dumpster with book I have had in the store since we opened. I really don't want anymore books.
If the unit has gotten wet. I have seen three different units that the fire sprinklers went off in and the contents had gotten wet. First most stuff is ruined and then the smell of mold is awful. Not interested in a unit that has been wet.
Toys and baby furniture because according to my liability policy I cannot sell them or I will get canceled.
Boxes and boxes marked books. I spent this last weekend filling an empty 3 yard recycle dumpster with book I have had in the store since we opened. I really don't want anymore books.
If the unit has gotten wet. I have seen three different units that the fire sprinklers went off in and the contents had gotten wet. First most stuff is ruined and then the smell of mold is awful. Not interested in a unit that has been wet.
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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: What is the ONE item if seen in a unit that will drive the price beyond reason?
« on: February 17, 2014, 11:40:19 PM »
Tools... Why are you guys willing to spend so much for a chance at crap tools?
Safes... The last one the guy paid $60.00 to have it opened only to find several prescription bottles in it.
Boxes... I still haven't figured out why box units go for so much in my area. I really want to see something else besides just boxes.
Safes... The last one the guy paid $60.00 to have it opened only to find several prescription bottles in it.
Boxes... I still haven't figured out why box units go for so much in my area. I really want to see something else besides just boxes.
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Storage Facilities / Re: Storage Managers talk about legalized "pot" and their facilities
« on: February 14, 2014, 10:58:31 PM »
Went to a facility last year that had 3 units for sale. This place is set up so you open a door and there are 8 units inside each entry. They opened the door so we could view one of the units and the smell of skunk started gagging everyone. It was not in the unit that was for sale but was definitely in that section. The owner didn't even know what the smell was. Needless to say people didn't take a very good look at the unit and it didn't sell.
I told him to call the Sheriff and ask if their drug dog could do training at his facility. They do it all the time around here and if the dog hits it gives them probable cause to get a search warrant. I know several faculties that do this to keep the drugs out.
I told him to call the Sheriff and ask if their drug dog could do training at his facility. They do it all the time around here and if the dog hits it gives them probable cause to get a search warrant. I know several faculties that do this to keep the drugs out.
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Other Forms of Selling / Re: Has anyone had experience with Worthpoint?
« on: February 14, 2014, 12:01:53 AM »
I ended up with a subscription to Worthpoint and I can say don't waste your money. It mostly gives you the price that an item sold on ebay for in the last five years. I don't use it very often.
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eBay / Re: eBay Wants to Use Pictures We Take in THEIR catalog
« on: February 12, 2014, 01:29:44 PM »
I have gotten in the habit of signing every one of the pictures I put online. I simply go into my draw program and put my name in the bottom corner. I always take a lot of time and consideration into taking my photos. It really pisses me off when someone else uses them without my permission.
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New to Storage Auctions? / Re: Reupholster?
« on: February 11, 2014, 11:13:43 PM »
I don't agree with not painting. I have found that a piece freshly painted will bring at least twice as much as not newly painted. I don't spend a lot of time painting. Maybe half and hour on a small side table or an hour on a dresser. Just my experience with painted wood pieces.
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Online Storage Auctions Support / Re: Share button in left margin?
« on: February 11, 2014, 11:08:25 PM »
Thank you Travis for fixing this issue. No more freezing. Yeah.
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New to Storage Auctions? / Re: Reupholster?
« on: February 09, 2014, 05:57:38 PM »
Upholstered pieces are tough. I have recovered a few but most I just sell or give away. Like Travis said if it is an unusual piece or very old than it is worth it otherwise just flip it and move one.
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Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: It's raining! Time for one big sale.
« on: February 08, 2014, 12:04:58 AM »Quote
Long story short, he flaked and two weeks later I sold it to someone else for $1500.....he actually made me more money by being a jerk.....lol.
Love it!
Now I just have to find some fantastic western art or an Indian rug to replace it. LOL in my dreams but you just never know.
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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: What's something you find all the time but when you need it you can't?
« on: February 07, 2014, 11:59:16 PM »
Today it would be a washing machine as mine just took a crap. LOL
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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Is California a more lucrative place to buy lockers than other states?
« on: February 07, 2014, 11:55:43 PM »
Units on the Central Coast very just like most places but we see some pretty good stuff. Like most say though the quality has gone down dramatically in the last couple of years. I guess it just depends on what you expect to find in a unit. For me I am buying for a couple of good pieces of furniture. Those kind of units come along quite often and I don't have a lot of competition on them. If you are buying them expecting to find an art stash then you are in the wrong business. Though as rare as it is it does happen and I do know that first hand.
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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: The locker tenant who pays for years and then loses his stuff
« on: February 07, 2014, 11:42:05 PM »
I have a friend that has a unit he has been paying on for over 10 years. It is a 10x20 and he pays $90.00 a month for it. I asked him one day out of curiosity what was so valuable that he could pay that much money to store. His answer was a riding lawn mower his ex-wife who has now passed away bought for him 20 years ago and a bunch of paperwork. He has put a dresser and a table in there over this time but really? How can someone be sentimental over a riding lawn mower?
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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Getting the most out of your dump runs
« on: February 07, 2014, 11:36:02 PM »
Look in to what your local garbage collector will take in the recycle. I ended up getting a recycle dumpster. Not only can you put the common things in there but my garbage company allows fabric, shoes, video taps, dvds, plastic toys and a few other things I can't remember right now.
I keep a metal bin that I take to the recycler every few months.
Anything made out of wood (even pressed) that is not sellable goes on Craigslist for free. Usually get picked up in a day or two.
I donate things that are good but I don't want to sell to several local non-profits.
When you sort you end up with very few dump runs.
I keep a metal bin that I take to the recycler every few months.
Anything made out of wood (even pressed) that is not sellable goes on Craigslist for free. Usually get picked up in a day or two.
I donate things that are good but I don't want to sell to several local non-profits.
When you sort you end up with very few dump runs.