Storage Auctions

The Storage Locker => Stories about Storage Auctions => Topic started by: ncali on April 04, 2013, 11:59:48 PM

Title: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: ncali on April 04, 2013, 11:59:48 PM
 So I met this guy today that is selling some pretty nice stuff on e bay classifieds. I ask him where the item came from that I was interested in, and his story goes like this
  He is disabled confined to a wheelchair, and he buys storage units. so I continue to stick my nose in his business and he starts bragging about how he has become friends with several managers of storage facility's in the area. Because he is disabled they let him pick through the lockers  that are about to be sold and he gets to the good stuff first that way
  I know, this is Northern California and we should expect stuff like this to take place,  But WTF
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: alloro on April 05, 2013, 02:50:21 AM
I know, this is Northern California and we should expect stuff like this to take place,  But WTF

Him and the manager are only part of the problem, you're the rest. There's a crime going on here, you've been made aware of it and you did what? Did you notify the local police of both the thefts and the defrauding of the auction buyers or did you just post about it here? Don't bi+ch about it if you're not willing to do something about it.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 05, 2013, 07:40:10 AM
Him and the manager are only part of the problem, you're the rest. There's a crime going on here, you've been made aware of it and you did what? Did you notify the local police of both the thefts and the defrauding of the auction buyers or did you just post about it here? Don't bi+ch about it if you're not willing to do something about it.

You're kidding right ?  How in the world would they ever be able to make an arrest or prosecute something like this?

For one thing, it wouldn't be worth their time or effort. Looks like  (IMO) just another of the regrettable aspects of this business. In my opinion it's like a facility doing staged units. Sure, it's not right, but is it illegal?  It is certainly unethical. It may be fraud, but again, proving it and prosecuting it doesn't seem likely.

The solution (IMO) is spreading the word about the wheelchair guy and the facilities (if known) that he gets his goods from. That boycotting or semi-boycotting might do some good, but there will always be people who will continue to frequent even those "evil-dooers"  ;D.

Then there is THIS possibility: the wheelchair guy might have been lying.

Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Leota on April 05, 2013, 08:37:26 AM
  He is disabled confined to a wheelchair, and he buys storage units. so I continue to stick my nose in his business and he starts bragging about how he has become friends with several managers of storage facility's in the area. Because he is disabled they let him pick through the lockers  that are about to be sold and he gets to the good stuff first that way
  I know, this is Northern California and we should expect stuff like this to take place,  But WTF

Too bad you didn't get the name of he does this with and we spread the word. I can only think of one at this time that has his wife push him around. (assuming it's his wife).
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Cobia on April 05, 2013, 08:41:28 AM
Just another example of why it's important for everyone who is a full-time re-seller to find other ways to source inventory as cheaply as possible and not solely depend on the storage auction market for your inventory.

There are probably hundreds of ways to get inventory to re-sell and storage auctions use to be VERY lucrative. Now it is mainstream, high competition, low return. 

I hate to use the cliche "Think outside the box" but if you depended on storage auctions for 80% or more for your inventory before the TV shows aired or you tried to get into storage auctions since the TV shows aired; to be successful & profitable in re-sells, you have to think outside the box!
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 05, 2013, 08:42:03 AM
So I met this guy today that is selling some pretty nice stuff on e bay classifieds.   

Tell us two items he is currently selling on eBayclassifieds. I'll track him down.  ;D
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 05, 2013, 08:45:12 AM


I hate to use the cliche "Think outside the box" .....

You mean like this one:

(http://webs.lanset.com/rjsmovie/images/openbox.gif)
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: alloro on April 05, 2013, 12:55:15 PM
You're kidding right ?  How in the world would they ever be able to make an arrest or prosecute something like this?

No I'm not kidding. An arrest and prosecution will not happen unless a complaint is first filed. Since the OP was made aware of the crime being committed and failed to report it, then he is allowing it to continue. Taking items out of a storage unit first is stealing from the tenant, and second it deprives the buyer of the unit at auction of the full valve of the unit, hence the fraud.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: ncali on April 06, 2013, 11:00:35 PM
Movieman;

Tell us two items he is currently selling on eBayclassifieds. I'll track him down.  ;D


eBay Classifieds  » For sale » Antiques
Two foot sward & Two others with - $25 (Sacramento
posted by CJ Smith

1885 Presadent Madeison C.B. ALL 11 meeter 25.650--27.750 - $75 (Sacramento)
posted by the same seller

Him and the manager are only part of the problem, you're the rest. There's a crime going on here, you've been made aware of it and you did what? Did you notify the local police of both the thefts and the defrauding of the auction buyers or did you just post about it here? Don't bi+ch about it if you're not willing to do something about it.

And that call to the police would go something like : no he didnt tell me who he was buying it from or what facility they are getting their stuff from.....but his name is  xx xxxx
   I would be willing to say that the police would need a little more info before they could do anything about it. 
  I have done something about it, I brought it up here,  where others in the business can be aware of it
 



Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 06, 2013, 11:21:50 PM
Movieman:

Tell us two items he is currently selling on eBayclassifieds. I'll track him down.  ;D


   I would be willing to say that the police would need a little more info before they could do anything about it. 
  I have done something about it, I brought it up here,  where others in the business can be aware of it
 

I'll look into it the listings and see if I can find out anything else.

As to Alloro's idea to turn it over to the authorities, I'm with you; just outing this guy (and if possible the mgrs he might be dealing with) is a good start. Little "communities" of buyers can exert pressure and get things done. Proving something like this from a legal standpoint would seem more difficult than worthwhile...it would be a "he said, he said" situation (IMO).

Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: ncali on April 06, 2013, 11:27:09 PM
Movieman

   I met him on Del Paso blvd in the north sac area and his contact number is listed on both of those ads

Thanks
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 06, 2013, 11:42:23 PM
Movieman

   I met him on Del Paso blvd in the north sac area and his contact number is listed on both of those ads

Thanks

I did a quick look at this eBayclassifieds. He actually has 88 items listed right now. Over the next couple of weeks I will talk to some other buyers who shop sacramento and see if they have any input about him.

Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 07, 2013, 09:08:05 AM
ncali....

Sunday morn, 4/7/2013. I have sent a private message to a person who is a member here and who I know goes to Sacramento auctions frequently enough to possibly have seen this fellow. I asked if that member had any input; we'll see if we get a response.

Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: ncali on April 07, 2013, 09:38:30 AM
Movieman

yea 88 items , they are more than casual sellers.Thanks for looking into this
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 08, 2013, 08:56:07 AM
ncali....

Sunday morn, 4/7/2013. I have sent a private message to a person who is a member here and who I know goes to Sacramento auctions frequently enough to possibly have seen this fellow. I asked if that member had any input; we'll see if we get a response.

I had a private message response from the member who freqents the Sac auctions. The member will be making a post here soon.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: alloro on April 08, 2013, 09:44:43 AM
I had a private message response from the member who freqents the Sac auctions.

Hopefully they're not in on the scam! :)
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Leota on April 08, 2013, 02:02:53 PM
I had a private message response from the member who freqents the Sac auctions. The member will be making a post here soon.
Hi all, when I read the original message I also tried to do some research and checked with a few other people in the Sacto area but we are not recognizing this person. Granted a lot of times the picture doesn't look exactly like the person but this guy doesn't seem familiar at all. I am sure IF this is happening it will spread very quickly throughout the caravans. I know I for one will be opening my big mouth and telling anyone that will be affected by this issue. Reading his ads on eBay this guy is "hooked on phonics"  ;) but still smart enough to con a manager into doing something illegal or visa versa. If this guy is blowing smoke then he is making the facility look crooked, if he is telling the truth then they all are crooks. If I hear anything through the grapevine,  I will be posting.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 08, 2013, 02:29:51 PM
If I hear anything through the grapevine,  I will be posting.

Thanks, Leota !  ;D
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: ncali on April 08, 2013, 11:40:01 PM
 ;)
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 10, 2013, 08:26:24 AM
Wouldn't buying something from this guy be a crime as well?

I mean, aren’t there laws outlawing buying stolen items?

I don't know all the details and it probably varies by state, but one aspect is that it is a crime (misdemeanor) to be in "possession of stolen merchandise", but part of the process is that the person accused of that had "knowledge" that it was stolen merchandise and acquired it under those circumstances.

Half a dozen years ago there was a stir at the flea market where I sell. The police were at a vendor one row over and several spaces down from me. Turns out a customer had found several tools with his driver's license number on them at this guy's space.

Since he (the actual property owner)  had reported the theft (from his garage) to the police months earlier, it was a no-brainer they were in fact his and had been stolen.  Luckily the vendor had a receipt from the storage auction sale that had the locker number, etc showing he had bought the goods in good faith (had no knowlege they were stolen). We all followed this with interest from the time of the confrontation right up to the point where the vendor reported to us that the police had gone to the storage facility and talked to the mgr about the locker in question.  We don't know if they ever got the guy (or his girl friend) who had rented the locker and then defaulted on it.

Meanwhile, of course any item that had the DL number on it went back to the legal owner and the vendor was out the bucks for those. He had probably sold some items prior to the discovery and smaller things wouldn't have been confiscated I would guess, though the cops were there for a good long time.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: alloro on April 10, 2013, 07:31:58 PM
Meanwhile, of course any item that had the DL number on it went back to the legal owner and the vendor was out the bucks for those.

Just an FYI...That should've only happened if the homeowners insurance didn't pay up for the loss. If they did and the homeowner was compensated, then the tools actually belong to the insurance company. The insurance company most likely wouldn't want them, making the vendor the legal owner.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on April 10, 2013, 07:40:02 PM
Just an FYI...That should've only happened if the homeowners insurance didn't pay up for the loss. If they did and the homeowner was compensated, they the tools actually belong to the insurance company. The insurance company most likely wouldn't want them, making the vendor the legal owner.

Yep, a lot of room for different things to have taken place. The homeowner may have had a deductible of "x" dollars  and would only have been paid for any loss over that amount. Who would own the things that weren't covered by the deductible?

When it gets to that level it's not even worth fooling with.

Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Leota on April 23, 2013, 08:16:33 AM
Well, I finally saw the guy that has been mentioned. He wasn't in a wheelchair but a scooter and with a dark haired short woman. Also, surprisingly enough it was in Brentwood that I saw him. Once I saw his face and the woman I remembered them from before. I never got to talk with him but got a picture, of the crowd of course. :-) I haven't been to too many auctions in the Sacramento area for a while to run into them again. I don't think I have been to any auctions on Del Paso (the location that was mentioned originally) so I don't know which one it might be.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: ncali on April 28, 2013, 11:55:09 PM
Leota,
Thanks for looking out. Brentwood is surprising, were they Bidding or watching?
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Leota on April 29, 2013, 08:38:47 AM
Leota,
Thanks for looking out. Brentwood is surprising, were they Bidding or watching?
They seem to be there to bid but didn't have much going on. Mostly junk units.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Streets on May 02, 2013, 02:22:24 AM
I did some sleuthing (not hard) and found this guy's facebook page.  There is a very clear picture of him, with the same phone number posted, as well as the same terrible grammar/spelling.  That being said, I won't post it out of respect for his privacy.  No need in slandering someone who may have been blowing smoke.  However, if this guy is accessing units before auction and removing items, I believe he and the managers are committing a crime and should be investigated & brought up on charges.

I can provide the info to an admin/moderator upon request.
Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: MovieMan on May 02, 2013, 08:24:57 AM
However, if this guy is accessing units before auction and removing items, I believe he and the managers are committing a crime and should be investigated & brought up on charges.

I can provide the info to an admin/moderator upon request.

I think if any crime is being commited it would be a manager selling him something before the unit goes up for auction, but I repeat my thoughts from several posts above. Involving police in this would be a non-winner. They don't have the time for this kind of thing for the most part.  In my area they won't even come to a traffic accident unless someone has been hurt or traffic is being obstructed.

I believe the best way to handle this is (as stated before) is for buyer's in the involved area (Leota and ncali) to put out the word to everyone they know at auctions. Peer pressure would shut any thievery down...managers don't want a bad rep.

Sure, it was easy to find him and anyone here could do it....even the moderators !  But when the guy is showing only two friends on Facebook and doesn't offer his goods on Clist (that I found) how much trouble does he need?  eBay classifieds is now at 97 items (May 2, 2013) and they are no great movers of goods IMO. I've sold one item on there in two years but it WAS a high-ticket item so proved worth the effort I sometimes put in.....even cList won't take some items depending on who is working at any given time.

Title: Re: Storage Managers in Sacramento
Post by: Streets on May 02, 2013, 10:42:32 AM
I agree, the police would probably do nothing.  On a side note, he currently has 14 items on craigslist, amongst a ton of other sites.  I'm not even sure how this guy posts on so many oddball sites.  That being said, nothing looks that great anyway... mostly your run of the mill storage odds & ends.  If he's getting "the goods" they are not that great, haha.