Storage Auctions
The Storage Locker => Stories about Storage Auctions => Topic started by: Ironman on January 29, 2011, 06:07:03 PM
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Sheesh, I normally don't go to auctions on weekends but decided to go to one today. 11 units mostly trash bid on two and didn't win, which was ok. Problem is that the normal 10 or 12 people on the circuit had grown to over a hundred looky loos. Only 3 or 4 of us were bidding and all the rest were just crowding around taking up space and time like it was some sort of athletic event. People who must have been watching the tv shows and were curious or nosy. Women with babies in strollers, whole families of mom dad and 3 or 4 kids from age 2 to 15 or so. What should have taken an hour took three and a half. Then on top of that when the single decent unit came up, a couple of the Looky Loo Daddies decide to show their bidding prowess and run the bids up to three times what the unit showed as worth...........The normals on the circuit (me too) just quit and walked away. Guess we'll have to put up with it until they get their taste and fill of the show..........Sorry everyone just felt like venting............ :'(
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I agree with you. It used to be me and 4-5 other guys. Now its on average 40 at an auction though one auction 300, not uncommong to see around 100.
Like you said it's 3-4 of us bidding and the rest just looking clearly no intention of buying anything, never even bid.
It's frustrating. In the past you could really check out a unit. Now when they give you 5 minutes to look and 100 people have to look you literally have about 5 seconds to scope it out as your walking in a single file line by the unit. It's especially hard with indoor units with those narrow hallways.
I agree, things will thin out soon enough. Peopel who are just looking will get their peak and move on and those who think every unit has rare guns, gold bars, and valuable antiques in them will realize that majority are crap and you really gotta hunt for the good stuff. The will move on as well.
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Some of the crowds will indeed thin out over time, but I wouldn't expect it to ever go back to just being a handful of people showing up to these auctions. Much of the world, myself included, did not know these auctions existed until the reality shows. The "secret" is out, and people like myself are here to stay. Hopefully things will even out a bit and a little extra competition will bring out the best in everybody.
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I'am not going to lie, the tv turned me on to it as well. But iam here to do for a while, it is a new hobby/income for me. I currently am outta work, so its going to help keep me busy and making a little cash on the side and also look into other peoples worlds in a way. But am not gonna be one of the putz that go all ridiculous with bidding and all.
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Here in Memphis we have the same problem. Alot of passive onlookers. all they do is taking up space and making it take longer.
The real problem as i see it, is that they don't know the unwritten rules of the game, and they cause so much anger among the people who do this for a living or a side business.
So what have happen here in Memphis is that some of the old timers has started to give the newbies a taste of their own medicine.
Last auction this newbie know it all guy was bidding and thinking he was all pro. Well some of the regular guys bid him up on a unit and it stopped at $1425, for a unit that normally would have gone for 250-300
10 min later they guy was gonna pay for it, but did not have the full 1425, so the auctioneer guy said to the people that was in the room, " anyone wants to make a second bidding. Two og the regulars was then bidding again and it sold for 330.
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Wow they bid him up $1100 that is pretty brutal!
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Here in Memphis we have the same problem. Alot of passive onlookers. all they do is taking up space and making it take longer.
The real problem as i see it, is that they don't know the unwritten rules of the game, and they cause so much anger among the people who do this for a living or a side business.
So what have happen here in Memphis is that some of the old timers has started to give the newbies a taste of their own medicine.
Last auction this newbie know it all guy was bidding and thinking he was all pro. Well some of the regular guys bid him up on a unit and it stopped at $1425, for a unit that normally would have gone for 250-300
10 min later they guy was gonna pay for it, but did not have the full 1425, so the auctioneer guy said to the people that was in the room, " anyone wants to make a second bidding. Two og the regulars was then bidding again and it sold for 330.
Now that is JUSTICE !
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Now that is JUSTICE !
Is it really though? I understand defending your livelihood, but I also sense some immaturity in some of these posts. I hear a lot of people on here commenting about people showing up and not even bidding. Did all of you bid and buy at your very first auction? Did you know all of the unwritten rules of the auction world at your first handful of auctions? I doubt it. If you did, more power to you. The point is, the game has clearly changed. The once private storage auction world has now been exposed, and the new competition is likely here to stay. I'd guess that just as many "regulars" will end up being pushed out of the business as newcomers.
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Is it really though? I understand defending your livelihood, but I also sense some immaturity in some of these posts. I hear a lot of people on here commenting about people showing up and not even bidding. Did all of you bid and buy at your very first auction? Did you know all of the unwritten rules of the auction world at your first handful of auctions? I doubt it. If you did, more power to you. The point is, the game has clearly changed. The once private storage auction world has now been exposed, and the new competition is likely here to stay. I'd guess that just as many "regulars" will end up being pushed out of the business as newcomers.
I don't think the most of the new crowds are here to stay. As silly as it sounds I think some people really do believe it's really like the show and every unit contains some 50k rare item or cash or gold. That's the only way I can imagine people would bid some of the prices they do on some of these units we are seeing go upwards of a grand that used to be like $35.
I imagine people will see you really gotta buy a lot of units to find quality ones. I think people will discover they spend money and make nothing in return. I also think some people think it's all about buying the unit. What really makes you money is how many avenues you have to get rid of stuff. Every item you give away or throw away is money comming out your pocket. The people who can get rid of everything from old paper to scrap metal to clothes for a profit are the ones that will make it.
Oddly enough I actually did wind up buying a unit at my first auction and was surprisingly the best unit I have bought in the past year and a half or so.
I don't think this is uniqe to the storage game. Lots of hobbies and livelihoods are not welcoming of newcommers. Do a google search of how do I become a tattoo artist, tattoo artists are brutal on people looking to learn. Same thing with glass blowing. I ride motorcycles and found that when I first started out people as a whole weren't very welcomming of a new rider. I don't agree iwth it but its in all different aspects of life.
I do agree though its actually probably not wise to go out gungho and buying stuff your first time without scoping out how auctions run, what things go for, etc. In the same token its easy to see why those who have been doing this for 10 or 15 years and this is their sole livelihood are frustrated that some people see the show and just want to come out and look and have no intention of buying or getting into it and are essentially just taking up space and time.
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Is it really though? I understand defending your livelihood, but I also sense some immaturity in some of these posts. I hear a lot of people on here commenting about people showing up and not even bidding. Did all of you bid and buy at your very first auction? Did you know all of the unwritten rules of the auction world at your first handful of auctions? I doubt it. If you did, more power to you. The point is, the game has clearly changed. The once private storage auction world has now been exposed, and the new competition is likely here to stay. I'd guess that just as many "regulars" will end up being pushed out of the business as newcomers.
A newbie buys one for $1400 or more and doesn't have the cash to pay for it. Mistake one and two.
Auction is resold and goes for the more realistic price of $300 or so.
Yep I call that justice. The final buyer will make some money. The first buyer would have lost big time most likley.
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A newbie buys one for $1400 or more and doesn't have the cash to pay for it. Mistake one and two.
Auction is resold and goes for the more realistic price of $300 or so.
Yep I call that justice. The final buyer will make some money. The first buyer would have lost big time most likley.
When worded like that, I'll agree that it's justice. I thought you meant it was justice that the experienced bidder ran the newbie up that high, and basically left him embarrassed when he didn't have the cash.
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I don't think the most of the new crowds are here to stay. As silly as it sounds I think some people really do believe it's really like the show and every unit contains some 50k rare item or cash or gold. That's the only way I can imagine people would bid some of the prices they do on some of these units we are seeing go upwards of a grand that used to be like $35.
I imagine people will see you really gotta buy a lot of units to find quality ones. I think people will discover they spend money and make nothing in return. I also think some people think it's all about buying the unit. What really makes you money is how many avenues you have to get rid of stuff. Every item you give away or throw away is money comming out your pocket. The people who can get rid of everything from old paper to scrap metal to clothes for a profit are the ones that will make it.
Oddly enough I actually did wind up buying a unit at my first auction and was surprisingly the best unit I have bought in the past year and a half or so.
I don't think this is uniqe to the storage game. Lots of hobbies and livelihoods are not welcoming of newcommers. Do a google search of how do I become a tattoo artist, tattoo artists are brutal on people looking to learn. Same thing with glass blowing. I ride motorcycles and found that when I first started out people as a whole weren't very welcomming of a new rider. I don't agree iwth it but its in all different aspects of life.
I do agree though its actually probably not wise to go out gungho and buying stuff your first time without scoping out how auctions run, what things go for, etc. In the same token its easy to see why those who have been doing this for 10 or 15 years and this is their sole livelihood are frustrated that some people see the show and just want to come out and look and have no intention of buying or getting into it and are essentially just taking up space and time.
All good points. I've actually been wondering, how would one go about finding local facilities in which they can get money for scrap metal, paper, etc? As far as clothing, I figured the best bet was yard/garage sales for low dollar price tags, or donation to Good Will for tax write offs. Is there a better way to maximize profit on clothing?
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Newbies will be run up and that's a fact. Been going on for years, not just since the tv shows.
Logic is to have them spend their money, get a lesson in economics and move on. It's a business not a charity organization of like minded entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, look at this side of bidding someone up. Sometimes the person trying to take the other person for a ride will get STUCK with the unit when the other bidder stops bidding. You have to know how to read people...know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.
I saw an experienced buyer do this just the other day. He winked at me when he bid $400 for a locker that I would have paid $200 for. His face quickly changed when the other guy stopped and my friend got his $400 lkr. I offered him $200 for it but he decided to tough it out. I have seen people cut their losses though and this is yet another way of making money.
By the way, experienced bidders will do this to other experienced bidders. Some bidders are hogs who want to get every locker; if this is the case some of the other old timers will make them pay for the privelege. Once again, it's a business not a tea party.
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Here in Memphis we have the same problem. Alot of passive onlookers. all they do is taking up space and making it take longer.
The real problem as i see it, is that they don't know the unwritten rules of the game, and they cause so much anger among the people who do this for a living or a side business.
So what have happen here in Memphis is that some of the old timers has started to give the newbies a taste of their own medicine.
Last auction this newbie know it all guy was bidding and thinking he was all pro. Well some of the regular guys bid him up on a unit and it stopped at $1425, for a unit that normally would have gone for 250-300
10 min later they guy was gonna pay for it, but did not have the full 1425, so the auctioneer guy said to the people that was in the room, " anyone wants to make a second bidding. Two og the regulars was then bidding again and it sold for 330.
LOL, I love it !!!
Thanks for the laugh
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I can see both sides of the debate here. I'm a newbie and I'm frustrated that the crowds are so big. :D However, I'm here to stay and the old heads need to get used to it. I know my financial limits and I wont be "run-up" by anyone, ever! I treat this like the business that it is.
If you are world class and have a tough auction game then newbies dont intimidate you, they just make you stronger. I hate the bellyaching. The good-old-boys-club has been exposed. Either up your game or quit your crying.
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I can see both sides of the debate here. I'm a newbie and I'm frustrated that the crowds are so big. :D However, I'm here to stay and the old heads need to get used to it. I know my financial limits and I wont be "run-up" by anyone, ever! I treat this like the business that it is.
If you are world class and have a tough auction game then newbies dont intimidate you, they just make you stronger. I hate the bellyaching. The good-old-boys-club has been exposed. Either up your game or quit your crying.
You really can't be frustrated, you have no idea what the auctions were like before so crowds is all you know. Even just 8 months ago auctions would be me and 3-4 other guys literally taking turns buying units at $25-$35 a pop.
Also, best of luck to you but you don't know your here to stay until you've actualy bought some units and made some money.
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Also, best of luck to you but you don't know your here to stay until you've actualy bought some units and made some money.
No, I'm here. I have been doing other things similar to this. And Ive done my homework. Ive got the warehouse, the crew and the ability to make money in several channels. I'll be someone to recon with in my area in a year or less. Not bragging, just sayin.
I feel your pain. It was a secret society that brought a lot of profit for very little investment. And that has to suck. But the times are a changing and with the economy the way it is people are looking for all kinds of avenues. But mostly you can thank Hollywood for interrupting your all-boys-club. Had they not produced those shows a lot of people would have never known. :-\
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Personally I take exception with your Belly aching comment. Not BA about added bidders thats just business, BA'ing about looky loos who have no intenion of bidding and are there with the families like its a picnic because they saw a show. I hope anyone who is serious about this is successful (including me) but there is also no place for arrogance either........nuf said.
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Its not arrogance if you can back it up. ;D
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Its not arrogance if you can back it up. ;D
Since your new to the storage game you have no track record and can't back it up now, only time will tell if you can, so you should probably get a few profitable units under your belt before you get so cocky.
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Since your new to the storage game you have no track record and can't back it up now, only time will tell if you can, so you should probably get a few profitable units under your belt before you get so cocky.
You have no clue about me. And I find that refreshing. ;D
If I were you, I wouldnt worry about me. You have better things to do.....atleat I would hope. ::)
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You have no clue about me. And I find that refreshing. ;D
If I were you, I wouldnt worry about me. You have better things to do.....atleat I would hope. ::)
Yep, we're clueless all right. People are just commenting about your attitude. If you read a good number of the comments in several forums you should see that people here are for the most part a pleasant group and there is a difference between complaining (or belly aching) about looky-loos, bidders without a clue (too) and serious contenders who have a head on their shoulders.
You've made it abundantly clear which category you fall into now put a couple of years under your belt and all will be fine.
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You have no clue about me. And I find that refreshing. ;D
If I were you, I wouldnt worry about me. You have better things to do.....atleat I would hope. ::)
Hey auctionNinja, how many units have you bid on?'
How many units have you won?
How many units have you trippled your investment on? or maybe even more then trippled?
How many units have you cleaned out dead rats and garbage from?
How many units have you cleaned out in below 0 degress or in rain or in 100 + degrees?
If your answers is a donut to just one of them, you have nothing to say about it. Because you have not even gotten your feet wet.
Talk is cheap, doing it in a forum is even cheaper.
Come back when you have 10+ units and done it non stop for at least 6 months. But until then, just hush it! your opinion do not count unless you can prove your self.
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Hey auctionNinja, how many units have you bid on?'
How many units have you won?
How many units have you trippled your investment on? or maybe even more then trippled?
How many units have you cleaned out dead rats and garbage from?
How many units have you cleaned out in below 0 degress or in rain or in 100 + degrees?
If your answers is a donut to just one of them, you have nothing to say about it. Because you have not even gotten your feet wet.
Talk is cheap, doing it in a forum is even cheaper.
Come back when you have 10+ units and done it non stop for at least 6 months. But until then, just hush it! your opinion do not count unless you can prove your self.
Mr. A..... see the thread link below. Your questions are answered there. http://storageauctionforums.com/index.php?topic=625.msg1436#new
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Yep, we're clueless all right. People are just commenting about your attitude. If you read a good number of the comments in several forums you should see that people here are for the most part a pleasant group and there is a difference between complaining (or belly aching) about looky-loos, bidders without a clue (too) and serious contenders who have a head on their shoulders.
You've made it abundantly clear which category you fall into now put a couple of years under your belt and all will be fine.
I couldn't agree more. I find pretty much everyone at the aucitons is very welcomming and friendly to newcommers. I find people to be pleasant overall as well, I've made a few friends with some guys I see at the auctions regularly and we'll grab a beer sometimes after teh last auciton of the day.
Your cockiness and atttitude are not going to go over well if that's how you act at auctions. I've seen people like you before and everyone hates you instantly if you come to the auction with that attiutde. All the regulars will run prices up on you not b/c your a newbie but b/c your acting like a jerk.
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I find it interesting how people on here and at the actual auctions think they own the profession. Just in this thread alone people bid up others and admit to bidding each other up in fun. So that means that in most auctions you are paying more than a true auction because someone is having fun at your expense. In the long run people bidding up others will get their butt handed to them. If the guy in this thread had stopped at 1350 or whatever the bid was before you would have eaten 1000 bucks. See if your "buddy" stepped in to "offer" half then.
In my experience over the years the auction is really for a lottery ticket that you have 2 of 6 certain numbers. After that you are gambling the rest is like what you see. You may get the other 4 but in reality you will probably only get 1-2 more.
And when all is said and done treat people like you want to be treated.
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I have experienced nice people at auctions as well. And I am treated well. You just WISH I was treated poorly because that would make you feel good about yourself. Your upset cus the good-old-boy net work has been outed. So you come here to bellyache.
Instead of putting energy into upping your game you try to run new people off, because you cant handle the competition. If you arent able to change with the times then you are not a true business person to begin with.
Furthermore, I have no need to PROVE myself to you, about what I have accomplished in my business career. Or to answer your childish 20 question essay. I have already stated that I have done something similar and plan to do this extreamly well. I am allowed to say that. SO YOU JUST HUSH.. as you put it.
Its a forum for commenting and not for you to own. I see why its the SAME group commenting over and over...welcoming..your not. Try again. You are welcoming of like-minds. You don't want new-comers in the forum and its abundantly clear why NO ONE posts on these threads. I deal with rednecks like you all the time. Same insecurities different face. ::)
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I find it interesting how people on here and at the actual auctions think they own the profession.
Amen, well said.
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I find it interesting how people on here and at the actual auctions think they own the profession. Just in this thread alone people bid up others and admit to bidding each other up in fun. So that means that in most auctions you are paying more than a true auction because someone is having fun at your expense. In the long run people bidding up others will get their butt handed to them. If the guy in this thread had stopped at 1350 or whatever the bid was before you would have eaten 1000 bucks. See if your "buddy" stepped in to "offer" half then.
In my experience over the years the auction is really for a lottery ticket that you have 2 of 6 certain numbers. After that you are gambling the rest is like what you see. You may get the other 4 but in reality you will probably only get 1-2 more.
And when all is said and done treat people like you want to be treated.
You are missing two very importent factors.
1. It is a competition, live with the unwritten rules and how the game plays. Up bidding has always been there, in all types of auctions. Thats why you bid, to get the higher bid so you win it. But you also have a limit, and you stop at that limit. If someone else then wishes to overbid you and maybe pay more then the market value is, so what? it is the game.
2. We have all been newbies at some point. We all have been up bid by someone that are a "vet" It is a part of the learning curve. So in it self it is good for the newbies to learn how to play the game, and in the end it will be better for all of us.
Your comment stands out like you are a grumpy person, and you want everything to be fair and peachy, well you should know better after all these years that storage auctions are evrything but that.
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I have experienced nice people at auctions as well. And I am treated well. You just WISH I was treated poorly because that would make you feel good about yourself. Your upset cus the good-old-boy net work has been outed. So you come here to bellyache.
Instead of putting energy into upping your game you try to run new people off, because you cant handle the competition. If you arent able to change with the times then you are not a true business person to begin with.
Furthermore, I have no need to PROVE myself to you, about what I have accomplished in my business career. Or to answer your childish 20 question essay. I have already stated that I have done something similar and plan to do this extreamly well. I am allowed to say that. SO YOU JUST HUSH.. as you put it.
Its a forum for commenting and not for you to own. I see why its the SAME group commenting over and over...welcoming..your not. Try again. You are welcoming of like-minds. You don't want new-comers in the forum and its abundantly clear why NO ONE posts on these threads. I deal with rednecks like you all the time. Same insecurities different face. ::)
Grow up!
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well said ::)
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Well, I am neither part of any good ole boy club, nor a newbie in business and from the people I have seen on this forum so far, all have been positive and helpful and I find that refreshing. Having said that it appears to me that one "auction ninny" err ninga is either full of himself, full of **** or both............I'll continue to listen, learn and help others the same way I always do. There's more than enough to go around and when I bid against others it's highest bidder wins. Doesn't matter who, doesn't matter what, where or when and the best part is I hold no ill feelings or ill will when someone else wins. If what I see at an auction is worth my continued bidding, I'll bid and win, if not I'll stop when I reach what I am willing to bid. No attitude, no animosity none of that I'm the greatest ninny err ninga crap.............
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Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we all have one.
I think the biggest mistake being made in this thread is buying into the rhetoric. Let people have their opinions.
It's performance that counts and each of us can see how it works for us at the auctions.
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Good news on the crowd situation on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011 in Central California.
See my post in the WEST section of Your Neck of the Woods....crowd was down on a sunny day.
I also include in that post a couple of short stories on 3 "new buyers".
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I find it interesting how people on here and at the actual auctions think they own the profession. Just in this thread alone people bid up others and admit to bidding each other up in fun. So that means that in most auctions you are paying more than a true auction because someone is having fun at your expense. In the long run people bidding up others will get their butt handed to them.
And when all is said and done treat people like you want to be treated.
I like what you have to say, Beach64.
I am new to the storage auction scene, but certainly not new to resale. I started looking into auctions while searching for additional ways of obtaining inventory.
After some research (including these forums), I felt rather prepared for my first auction experience. I was not prepared for the amount of people there. I can definitely see where anyone-new or old- would be frustrated with the crowds.
I can’t really grasp why anyone would be frustrated or complain about people not bidding, though (other than them contributing to a large crowd)? Obviously, many of these units contain really nothing but garbage. That’s the point. Renters never came back for the stuff, so in a lot of cases it wasn’t even worth their money to keep it. Not everyone is interested in going through a unit that is mostly just dirt and grime. They will wait for the cleaner looking units. Crowd or not, people not bidding leaves it free for the interested bidders to win.
This “bidding up” business for newbies is something I can’t comprehend. It’s foolish, selfish and just ridiculous. Especially when you are doing it to new people. Obviously, if there are new people, many will be new also to resale. People new to resale might have a very different definition of profit than someone who has been doing it for years. I know that I, personally, don’t buy a thing unless I can make a minimum 100% profit (unless I can get something that is a super easy sale.) But someone new might think that a 30% profit for listing some items on craigslist or whatever they decide to do, is great! If you get people in the practice of “overpaying” early on, good luck ever getting low bids back. Geez if you don’t really want a unit, don’t bid on it.
Not to mention the fact that you never know why someone is there. Of course that new tv show brought attention to this not-so-new auction scene, but that doesn’t mean everyone there is there to resell and make money. I have seen units with almost full houses worth of furniture. While a unit like this might’ve gone for $600 or less 9 months ago, it may be very worth it for a family to pay over $1,000 to get a new house worth of furniture. A new bedroom set alone costs well over that. And perhaps that is why you see entire families at auctions.
I have been enjoying reading all of these posts. It is definitely informative! Just wanted to include my 2 cents, cuz that’s what I do.
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As a "newbie" I have been going to auctions for a few months now. My Wife and I talked about doing it for years and the shows did inspire us to get off the couch and go do it. We have bought 5 units now. Turned a quick profit on 4 of them and are still preprocessing the 5th unit and expect to at least triple our investment on it.
With that back ground out of the way, I get frustrated by the crowds too. I understand wanting to try something for the first time. But standing there and not bidding is not trying. Further adding to the frustrations are the people that bring the whole family. I have seen 1 & 2 year old kids getting carried from auction to auction in the middle of January in Michigan. It's dang cold here. Leave the kids at home and send only 1 person to bid.
Many of the more experienced bidders are welcoming to the newbies. I have had several good conversations with them. They are helpful and will give pointers to newbies. As a newbie I am not going to go after the units that the experienced bidders go after. There are many things to consider other than price. Size of the unit, how much stuff is in it, if there is a way to get rid of it etc.
Some lessons are learned best the hard way. Units with stained mattresses are best left to someone else. Units filled with garbage bags are filled with garbage. Units larger than your garage are going to take longer than 48 hours to empty.
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Many of the more experienced bidders are welcoming to the newbies. I have had several good conversations with them. They are helpful and will give pointers to newbies. As a newbie I am not going to go after the units that the experienced bidders go after. There are many things to consider other than price. Size of the unit, how much stuff is in it, if there is a way to get rid of it etc.
All your points are good ones, but just responding to the partial quote above. I talk to new buyers at auctions and for the most part am friendly to them, but there does come a point when I draw the line. That line is when they ask if there are any other auctions today. No point in spoon-feeding that request. They should do the homework and if they aren't smart enough to get the current auctioneer's list then oh well.
I often ask them how many they have bought and the answers is usually zero to 1...usually zero. Once in a rare while they will ask me how many I have bought. When I tell them over 300 the usual reaction is "oh."
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To Movieman.
Most of us here in Memphis are friendly to the newbies.
But like you said, their is a point where we draw the line.
Weekly i get asked at auctions the same thing, @when is the next auction@ @@where can i find the info on upcoming auctions@ I normally say, you have to find that out your self. I mean this is part of the job of doing storage auctions, none of us got it handed to us on a silver plater.
I even get 5-6 emails a week where people ask me about next auctions, and again i tell them that they have to find that info on their own. Except a few guys i have given a list to.
I mean if you are serious about this as a newbie, you have to do the groundwork your self. Do not expect the old timers to help you with that. Because they will not help you with that information. And to me thats just fair.
Any newbies in here having a problem with that ??? If you do, then you are lazy and do not deserve to do auctions
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Mr. A...
Yep, newcomers need to do research. That's what the majority of the members here are doing...I figure the bulk of the 900 lurkers who haven't posted are new or wanna-be auction buyers.
That research is a good thing. I belong to several other specialty forums and it's amazing how many want to be spoon-fed the answers to basic questions that have already been answered in the forums a thousand times.
At least here the question "where can I find information on upcoming auctions" (and similar ?s) haven't come up that much. The "search" button here must be working!
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Ive been reading over this thread and find truth to many of the posts both positive and negative. Ive noticed the old men staring at the crowds in disgust as if someone found their hidden gold. Also heard rude comments about how stupid people are that are new to the auctions. Only time will weed out the people. The new generation will be here to stay in my opinion. Alot of the older more experienced buyers will be retiring. From what I have seen, many dont have the patience for the crowds and younger people. Some Ive met both new and old are nice, and some are cocky.. but mostly all seem to "know it all" Territorial??? most definitely!!!! Most of the guys and a few gals look at you like you are stealing eggs from their henhouse when you bid or win an auction. And the newbies.. well,. they go crazy over a concealed container or box. Around here if ya put 5 plastic storage bins in a locker, it will sell for $300. Throw some dust on it and it will sell for $600. I hope their pockets are deeper than their treasure hunting patience. Newbies seem to be everywhere in droves and the old timers just sit back in disbeliefat all the monies people are paying out. I think the old timers arent going to have the easy money anymore and 400 % profit on a good unit. More like 50%. I also see alot of uneducated people looking to spend crazy money on what they think is a treasure because of tv. They wont last long for sure. All in all, the auctioneers is the ones making out like a bandit. They dont even register here anymore becuase of the crowds...
Just my two cents worth. Not new and not old to the game.
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Think again, The old timers and some of the regulars knows where to look and where to go.
And here in Memphis they are now starting up a new thing. Wohooooo could not come sooner.
All storage auctions in Memphis,TN will from March 2011 start with fees for newbies.
It will cost you as a newbie 100 dollar to even be able attend the auction. Bring your family and it is 100 dollar per head.
If you can not show that you have bought more then 10 units or attended more then 50 auctions the last 3 months you will have to pay up to get in. Of course they give this deposit back to you if you don\t buy a locker. And if you buy a locker you get it back after the locker is inspected by the manager.
This will here in Memphis,TN reduce the crowds with atleast 40-50%
The same thing is beeing looked at in Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas. And more and more places will be doing it.
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Since some local auctions in Florida have dropped the registration for time purposes I am not sure I can see them going back and charging a deposit.
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State law in Tennesse says everyone have to register.
And the new practice of a attendence fee started today, i am glad to report that 15-20 people ( newbies / onlookers ) turned around and left. Suddenly the crowd was down to 20 people. Nice to see "waste of time" people are gone.
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WISHED THAT WOULD SOON HAPPEN IN NC. WENT TO 9 AUCTIONS IN THE PAST 2 DAYS. BID ON SEVERAL BUT WAY OVERPRICED IN THE END. 100 + PEOPLE AT ALL AUCTIONS.
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You know, as much as I get annoyed with people at auctions, the whole trying to get the newbies to turn away sounds like bad business on the auctioneers part. Wouldnt he want to get the higher bids and make more money? And also, I know some of the newbies get annoying (I'm not new and I'm not old either) but we all started out as newbies, so whats with all the griping?
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The problem is not the newbies it self.
Of course do they want new players into th game, of course do they want as much they can for the locker.
Thats not what the problem is all about.
The problem is the ones who only show up just to hang out, and watch the auctions, because they have seen it on tv. These are the people who have increased the processing times at each unit with 300% or more. And when you have 75 to 100 units a day that becomes a problem.
Then on top of that they cause problems for the ones who really want to bid any buy a locker, because they get fed up and moves on to another auction. Then you start to lose your regulars as well. And that is bad for business.
Newbies who intend to become a part of the game and be an active bidder is not the problem in this game. The problem is all the passive people who takes it as a sunday trip to the park.
The second problem is that many newbies, when they win a locker, they do not clean it out, tht means that the management has to clean out the locker them self, and spend time taking it to the dump. This costs alot of money for the storage places.
To many of these newbies who don't clean out their unit and we all in the future would have to pay more to rent lockers.
Another thing is, if this goes on, the auctioneer might say that the starting price on a locker is what is owed. In many cases that is 400-600 dollars. Do we really want that to happend???
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Eventually people will get their fill and the numbers will dwindle. The number one reason why most noobs will struggle to find success in this line of work is a majority see it as a get rich scheme. Unfortunately for them, they will quickly realize that notion couldn't be farther from the truth. People are lazy as hell and once they realize how much work is actually required to make profit, they will be turned off and look else where. I was at an auction the other day and some noobs were shocked that they had to deposit money to the storage unit and wouldn't get their money back until the unit was cleaned out, and at this particular business, it was a $100 deposit. That definitely turned them away from bidding. I could be wrong I guess, lazy people can change too. I also avoid all auctions listed on auctionzip.xxx, to much traffic, and those auctions are the easiest for noobs to search.
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I do agree that a lot of the new people will weed them selves out. For example, I have been a paranormal investigator for years. When Ghost Hunters came out, the field was FLOODED with people who thought it was just going into somebodys house and finding ghosts.
What they quickly learned that you have a ton of work to do, let alone all the people who have legitimate mental problems as well. The number of ghost groups in the last year or so here in gettysburg has started to drop.
I think this may be the same way with the storage auction scene. People are going to spend a lot of money, and realize that not every locker has a stash of rare gold coins in it.
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I do agree that a lot of the new people will weed them selves out. For example, I have been a paranormal investigator for years. When Ghost Hunters came out, the field was FLOODED with people who thought it was just going into somebodys house and finding ghosts.
What they quickly learned that you have a ton of work to do, let alone all the people who have legitimate mental problems as well. The number of ghost groups in the last year or so here in gettysburg has started to drop.
I think this may be the same way with the storage auction scene. People are going to spend a lot of money, and realize that not every locker has a stash of rare gold coins in it.
I can see your point, but there is one huge difference. People do not do ghost hunting for a living, they do not depend on that as they way of income. Alot of the regulars/old guys, they do this because it is their way of income. When you then have 40-50 IDIOTS running around not knowing better, and just causing hell, then thats a huge problem.
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I do agree that a lot of the new people will weed them selves out. For example, I have been a paranormal investigator for years. When Ghost Hunters came out, the field was FLOODED with people who thought it was just going into somebodys house and finding ghosts.
What they quickly learned that you have a ton of work to do, let alone all the people who have legitimate mental problems as well. The number of ghost groups in the last year or so here in gettysburg has started to drop.
I think this may be the same way with the storage auction scene. People are going to spend a lot of money, and realize that not every locker has a stash of rare gold coins in it.
So any cool ghost stories??
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3rd auction was like the first....6 units, 75+ ppl, a little more reasonable prices, but still to me, they went high. The only locker I was considering was a small 5x5, had a nasty looking bed, a wooden table with 4 wooden stools, and some infant toys that looked in good shape. No one bid at first then someone started at $15 and in about 10 seconds it went up to $75, $5 at a time. It finally sold for $125. If it didn't have the bed I might have considered, but I didn't want to have to pay good money to take the dang thing to the dump...it was in that bad of shape. The rest of the stuff could have made some money, but I don't know how much. Next stop - Tuesday and then again on Friday!!!
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I can see your point, but there is one huge difference. People do not do ghost hunting for a living, they do not depend on that as they way of income. Alot of the regulars/old guys, they do this because it is their way of income. When you then have 40-50 IDIOTS running around not knowing better, and just causing hell, then thats a huge problem.
Actually people do do ghost hunting for a living. Its hard, but its done more often than you think. There are about 3 here in the Gettysburg area that are registered businesses and they roll in a good amount of income from it.
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Actually people do do ghost hunting for a living. Its hard, but its done more often than you think. There are about 3 here in the Gettysburg area that are registered businesses and they roll in a good amount of income from it.
Most people i know that do ghost hunting they do it for free or as a hobby. Sure there is some doing it for money to, but thats the minority of them.
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So AuctionNinja, been to any auctions yet? Have you gotten any lockers under your belt?
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Auctioneers are getting with the program.
Line them up and get them thur. And the bids are getting more in line.
Still a little on the high side,But I think everybody is learning that this work. Not a treasure hunt.
I love the Boony run it keeps my faith. They lock the gate and its just you and the sun.
So here's my rant.
Next time you bring your kids to work remember to pack a lunch.
NO, your civic WILL not move a 10 x 20 locker. So don't forget to add the cost of a moving van to your bid.
And no I will not give you $700 for your $200 dollar locker.
No! Buy your on trash bags. But I will sell you a broom for $15
And here is why I keep doing it.
2 pair of nikes will pay for all $ I spent. And the flea market was packed. So I made enough to do it again next week. And my wife says that if I make this much every week I don't have to learn how to cook.