Archive - 2013

Storage Wars: New York: Season 2, Episode 6: “Pigs in a Pug.”

John Luke ate goulash. Joe P listened to the grapevine in search of future fortune. Tad encouraged to find a ‘Whoo-Hoo’ item. Chris agreed. Mike bent on breaking the Brooklyn curse. Candy and Courtney rode their banana-bikes to the facility. That was not a good idea.

1^st Room
Tall glass display case, air conditioner, rubber containers, canvas bags, boxes, small safe, and miscellaneous items tossed about the storage unit.

Joe P: This is the room of the wishful thinker.

Fierce battle between Candy and Tad until the bid rose a bit above $300. Tad thought he had it in the bag until The Hustler bumped the bid. That discombobulated Tad and Chris. Tad bid $400. Chris bid $425 and won. They bid against each other.

Blunder-Nuts!

As they rifled through the storage unit, they found papier-mâché masks, clown costumes including clown shoes, and a small helium-filled tank. Oh yeah, they both inhaled and sounded like munchkins.

They did find an electronic scoreboard. Took it to Prudential Center. Gamecraft board used in man-caves or sports bars. Valued at $400.

2^nd Room
Room divider, luggage, and a few small boxes neatly packed and stacked. Joe P showed little interest. Tad and Chris out. Candy and Courtney liked the small items. Easy to haul.

Mike: I think the girls like it. Which means I like it.

Oh, the games they play. Chris nudged Mike to place a bid and that he did, much to C&C’s chagrin. Frustrated, Courtney flipped-the-bird bid.

John Luke: No obscene gestures!

Hey, it’s New York. What did you expect? Courtney won at $450. How did Courtney retaliate at Mike for making them pay double for that room? She pulled on Mike’s ear. Ow!

Mike: Don’t hate the player. Hate the game.

Put ice on that ear, Mikey. Candy then made an ominous prediction (or quote from Game of Thrones).

Candy: Winter is coming, Mike B. Winter is coming.

Chills, Mike, feel the chills.

Candy and Courtney returned the following day in their banana van. Gals entered their storage unit. Not much there. Luggage contained vacuumed sealed clothing (hit and miss). Gals also discovered an airbrush machine, tool, blanket, and a mother-of-all cleavers.

At the butcher shop, the gals were told it’s not a cleaver but a Foster Brother’s “pork-splitter.” (I’m not explaining its use, guess.) Dated back to the 1950s. Sold to butcher for $50.

3^rd Room
Instrument case, tripod, Polaroid film, art, photography prints, duffel bag, and boxes.

Candy and Courtney encouraged Mike to buy the storage unit. But when it comes to art, it had Joe P’s name written all over it. He wonat $450.

First box mish-mosh, whatnots, and what-have yous (his words, not mine). Ukulele, 18-carat jewelry, 40-pieces of photography art, 50-pieces of photographs, and an enormous lens.

Lens made in 1904. Very rare (according to expert), but in its present condition valued at $800.

Mike could not break the Brooklyn curse. He decided not to leave the auction empty handed. He broke the lock to Candy’s and Courtney’s banana-bikes. Loaded bikes onto the back of his pick-up. Drove away.

Goodbye, Brooklyn!

Profit Scorecard:
Joe P: $1,800
Chris Morelli & Tad Eaton: $375
Candy Olsen & Courtney Wagner: loss of -$258
Mike Braiotta: $0

Do you think Mike will ever break the Brooklyn curse?

Please leave your thoughts and opinions on this comedic episode in the comment box below.

Storage Wars: New York: Buy Smart, Buy Safe

July 23, 2013

Guest Contributor

Storage Wars: New York: Season 2, Episode 5: “Da Bronx Tale.”

Welcome to the Bronx! New location for auctioneer John Luke. This hard hitting part of the city proved to be unfamiliar territory for most of the buyers. Mike felt right at home as this was his old neighborhood. Even the auctioneer had some trouble finding the auction. Maybe he needs a GPS? No wait, he’s got one and still managed to get lost. Buyers wisely adjusted their strategies accordingly.

Chris and Tad aimed to stay focused – buy smart (laugh, laugh). As such, Joe P brought another pair of hands to help him spot designer vintage clothing. Meanwhile, Candy and Courtney’s impending pop up shop at a burlesque show meant they needed merchandise. ASAP! Not even Mike’s warning that the Bronx doesn’t take kindly to strangers deterred our fashionistas.

Candy: I have some wheat thins I can give them.

What? It makes perfect sense. Just nod along.

1^ST Room

Messy, dirty, with nothing of value in plain site. Candy and Courtney placed a few bids solely to empty Mike’s pockets. The Hustler won at $125. Joe P relieved it wasn’t his mess to deal with. Fortunately for Mike, he proved the naysayers wrong when he dug out a brand new gas powered remote control boat. Appraised for $900 – cha ching!

Mike: After you dump a body in the river you get hungry. You need a picnic.

Everyone knows hauling dead bodies is hard work. Let’s just hope that’s not his workout regimen.

2^nd Room

Bit of a quarrel. C&C didn’t quite agree as to the quality of the clothing. Fortunately, another buyer jumped in to bid. Stopped a cat fight. Joe P however, bumped everyone’s bid and won at $350. Chance to find some buried treasure.

Chinese checkers board isn’t normally what comes to mind when one thinks of treasure. He took the game board to Connecticut. Appraiser valued at $3,700.

3^rd Room

With the pressure of the pop up show weighing on them; Candy flirts with Chris prior to the third auction. C&C spot a gumball machine that sparked their decision to bid. But wait – Tad bid on the room, too! Chris visibly upset Tad didn’t confer with him. But then Chris realized Tad up the bids to dump the room on the gals. Candy and Courtney won at $350.

Chris: Who knew he had it in him.

Unfortunately, aside from the gumball machine there wasn’t anything of value. Their pockets took a hit albeit temporarily. The pop up shop was a huge hit for Candy and Courtney. They earned back what they spent. Candy was a huge hit at the burlesque show (that woman knows how to work it).

On an unrelated note, does anyone have any insights into Mike’s obsession with Rodney Dangerfield? Seriously, what’s up with that?

Mike: No respect!

Profit Totals:

Joe P: $4,300
Mike Braiotta: $890
Candy Olsen and Courtney Wagner: -$300 +$1,300 = $1,000
Chris Morelli and Tad Eaton: $0

Do you think Mike gets no respect?

Please leave your interesting opinions in the comment box below.

Container Wars: Biggest Loser

July 22, 2013

Container Wars

1 Comment

Container Wars: Season 1, Episode 7: “Secrets of the Orient.”

The crazies back for the second half of season one. Deana, former beauty queen, gorgeous as ever. Ty sported a Mohawk, which was so 1980s of him. Mo hadn’t changed, still crotchety as ever (his words to Deana).

Matt still in need of anger management classes or yoga to calm his inner core. Jason, two words – Jenny Craig (hey, he gained a few pounds, don’t look at me that way). And the Israelis: Shlomi, Uzi and Eval, two words – group therapy.

Let’s go auctioneer John Kunkle and pop that can!

1^st Container – Port of Origin – Los Angeles
Used ratty lawnmowers, box with wrapped motors (a guess), and the rest of the merchandise in crates or boxes.

Shlomi gambled until Uzi and Eval cut him off. This was not a WOW factor container which is why the bids didn’t really escalate. Mo won.

Mo and Ty found new lawnmower motors and twenty newly assembled electric bicycles which included a racer, cruiser, and chopper.

Cost: $10,000
Profit: $10,000

Mo: I had a hunch.
Ty: I had a feeling before that.

Yep, they still try to one-up each other.

2^nd Container – Port of Origin – Hamburg, Germany
The container damaged which was not a good sign. Once the doors opened there were two huge crates that leaned like the tower of Pisa.

Broken glass scattered in front. Boxes in back still intact, but what if everything else in crates were broken during the sea haul?

Matt surmised the glass visible was 5/8^th inch thick; display glass for museums maybe. Even that type of recycled glass worth money. Did anyone else want to take the same risk? Uh, no. Matt won with his Matt attack bid.

Jason: Matt attack? What is he attacking?

No clue, Jason, but he just won container full of glass. Would it pay off? Yes. One tilted crate all the display glass intact. Matt found privacy glass for high-end homes, four boxes full of beautiful hand-blown glass, and 45-pieces of Plexiglas. Matt attacked the profit bank!

Cost: $8,000
Profit: $11,000

3^rd Container – Port of Origin – Gujarat, India
Man cave! Though everything was wrapped the merchandise was obvious; two pool tables, Foosball, and gaming tables. High quality and everybody still had money to blow. Last stand between Uzi and Deana. But the bid rose too high and she was not going to take the bait.

Deana: You want it? Keep it.

Israel’s camp happy to unload their goodies. They uncovered two more pool tables inside a crate, plus an air hockey table, ping-pong table, and five rolls of green felt for pool tables.

Uzi: I had a feeling it would be a good container. I’m a genius!

Shlomi refuted that remark but because he used such colorful metaphors, I won’t repeat it.

Cost: $30,000
Profit: $20,000

4^th Container – Port of Origin – Tokyo, Japan
This was the hyped container of the day, possibly full of electronics from Japan which meant $$$. Everything inside however wrapped in plastic.

Deana thought she had bid beyond Jason’s proclaimed budget limit, but he lied and won. But did he score?

First few items Jason pulled out into the open were furniture pieces. First box he cut into full of display fake phones. Second box full of display fake wide screen TVs. Uh, oh. Not looking good. Next box, you guessed it, full of fake small flat screen TVs.

What did he buy? Display shells of fake electronics. Worthless!!! He wanted to go home and cry himself to sleep.

Cost: $29,000
LOSS: -$26,000

Did you think it was worth the risk for Jason?

Please leave your thoughtful and insightful opinions on the show in the comment box below.

Storage Wars: New York: Text Me

July 17, 2013

Guest Contributor

Storage Wars: New York: Season 2, Episode 4: “Hi Text…Hi Jinx.”

In this episode of Storage Wars New York, the devilish duo of Candy & Courtney devised a scheme to distract and ultimately outbid the other buyers. Prior to auction, they discussed the failure of their plan to produce substantial results thus far. To beat their competition, they came up with their own strategy for the day.

Courtney: When the guys notice me bidding, I’ll text Candy and she’ll go in for the kill.
Candy: They’re not even going to know what’s coming.

Tad left Chris to fly solo, but not without specific instructions as to what to look for – dust and well packed boxes. Mike drove a box truck. He expected to come away with plenty of materials. JoeP acknowledged that in order to make money, one has to spend money. Needless to say, all did not go as planned for the parties involved. But let’s be honest, it rarely does.

1st Room

Auctioneer John Luke kicked off the show with the first room. Candy & Courtney quickly divided and conquered as the former distracted JoeP with a hair flip while she inconspicuously placed a bid. However, Mike was on his game. He matched Courtney’s bids and didn’t appear to back down. Time for diversion. Courtney texted Candy. Courtney stopped her bids. Candy slipped in the last stealth bid. Candy won! Mike left with whiplash.

Mike: That’s dirty pool.

While Candy & Courtney dug up the treasures; they came across a device resembling a rolling mechanism. Perhaps for making pizza. Gals took it to have it appraised.

Alas, the pizza maker told C&C it’s not a cooking utensil. Pizza maker sent them to his friend the hairdresser. Guess it might have something to do with crimping hair. Hairdresser subsequently sent Candy & Courtney off to a designer. He ultimately solved the mystery of their find – it’s an old fluting iron for making pleats in fabric. It’s not worth much. Classic case of much ado about nothing.

2nd Room

For Chris and the second locker – it’s love at first site. Guess what? Room packed with exactly what Tad did not want. These boxes were about as far away from well packed as it gets. Of course, Chris just couldn’t resist the mystery of this haphazard storage unit and won. Inside he found a silver platter with cups. He realized he would need more information to determine its value.

Tad arrived and scolded his partner for doing exactly the opposite of what he asked him to do. Their only shot at making money was the silver platter and cups.

Tad: Chris might have gotten lucky here, but it certainly wasn’t skill.

Unfortunately, at appraisal the silver platter and cups worth only $251. They did learn that this set was meant for pouring wine.

That left both JoeP and Mike without storage units (the boys grudgingly admitted the girls snagged a good room). They’re each determined to not walk away empty handed. For one of them, the third locker panned out.

3rd Room

JoeP was determined to win the and did exactly that. He came across what was perhaps the most interesting item in this episode. While opening a container, he found an item he thought was used to hold tools. Wrong! It was a portable solar panel. Green item that yielded JoeP plenty of green in the form of cash. At appraisal, he was pleased to find its worth was $1,400.

Mike, who never got the chance to score a locker, left with an empty truck.

Mike: I hate Brooklyn.

No matter, another day will bring another auction.

Profit Totals:

JoeP: $2,050
Candy Olsen & Courtney Wagner: $1,390
Mike Braiotta: $0
Chris Morelli & Tad Eaton: LOSS-$34

What did you think of C&C’s secret text bid?

Please leave your insightful thoughts in the comment box below.

Storage Wars: New York: David & Goliath at Auction Brawl

July 16, 2013

Storage Wars: New York: Season 2, Episode 3: “An Embarrassment of Richards.”

Courtney arrived with a broken wrist. John Luke worked on his tan. Chris sang out of tune. Mike called every male ‘Richard.’ Oh, he’s not a cast member. That’s Mike’s way of saying you’re a ‘D—k.’ Mike had one hour’s sleep. We’ll cut him a little slack, but only a little. Giant (Big Steve) ran late. His presence would create serious trouble.

1^st Room
Uh, your guess is as good as mine. Room blocked by something that’s wrapped in blankets. Few mystery boxes in back, but actually the whole room a mystery.

Mike had a hunch the item that blocked the view was a ‘smart board.’ Joe P and Mike faced off. The Hustler won at $925. Mike unraveled the blankets. Yep, it was an electronic smart board.

Mike: Smart board for a smart guy.

(Cough, cough). Sorry, something got stuck in my throat. Anyhoo, Mike continued to dig through his room. He found wall art, new tires, new Zippos lighters, new gas masks, and new respirators. Mike put on a gas mask. Danced the Hustle because he was in the money.

The unusual items he unsurfaced were three freak show photos in a small plastic case. Two were cabinet cards. One of albino sisters. One of small woman (circa 1920s). The other was a French postcard of a two-headed lady (you read that right). Valued at $350 for the collection.

2^nd Room
Mattress, furniture, boxes, and uh, stuff.

Joe P: This room is a real crap shoot, meaning it’s crap.

Big Steve, two hours late, finally arrived to the auction with a big attitude. He slammed a locker door. Demanded people to move it along. Who made him King of the land?

What did Mike do? Called the Giant ‘Richard.’ Mike gave Steve a nudge. Steve gave Mike a shove. PUSH then came to mighty SHOVE!

BRAWL!!!

Not a fair one at that, but neither was David and Goliath.

John Luke: If you ask me, they’re just a couple of “Richards.”

Big Steve won the crappy room for $200. Other than household items, he found a box that contained cricket cages. One egg shaped. One boned cage. One flask-like container for cricket fights. Why was this find so fitting for Big Steve? Valued at $800.

3^rd Room
Danish furniture, metal cabinet, and boxes labeled in German. Mike wanted this room in the worst way. He boosted the bid to $1k then $1,500. Joe P would not give in and won at $1,600.

Joe P sifted through his furniture room. He found 150 boxes full of books, quality danish furniture, and a glass-tube item. It’s a contraption used to determine butterfat milk back in 1880s. Precision glassware, plus it’s rare, valued at $1,500. Chris & Tad and C&C could not leave the storage facility fast enough because of Big Steve.

It wasn’t an auction – it was a brawl.

Profit Scorecard:

Mike Braiotta: $4,425
Joe P: $3,250
Big Steve: $1,150
Candy Olsen & Courtney Wagner: $0
Chris Morelli & Tad Eaton: $0

After this fight fiasco, do you think Big Steve should return to the show?

Please leave your insightful opinions in the comment box below.

Using Consignment Stores for Your Resale Business

July 10, 2013

Tiana Bodine

Storage Auctions 101

If you’ve been in the resale business for a while, there are probably a few venues you’re comfortable and familiar with.

You are probably accustomed to selling items on Craigslist, eBay, yard sales, swap meets, and flea markets. One venue you may not have considered, however, are consignment stores.

Consignment stores are usually somewhat like a high-end thrift shop or pawn shop. People leave items there to sell on consignment.

The store receives a percentage of each sale, and the seller gets the rest. In general, most consignment stores focus on collectable items or high-end clothing or furniture. They advertise to people who are knowledgeable about these items, so the items will usually sell for a higher price than if they were simply being sold at a garage sale.

If you have antiques, high-end furniture, designer clothing, or any other valuable but hard-to-resell items, you might consider placing them with a consignment shop.

Depending on the shop, you might need to pay a small fee to keep the item there until it sells. Others only charge you a percentage of each sale. Either way, you can get your items in front of a whole new group of buyers and get the best price for things that are worth good money.

The folks who run the consignment shop will also be a good resource for information about the items they specialize in. If you tend to run across a lot of antiques in your storage auctions, you can usually talk to the people at the local consignment shop about getting these items appraised.

They’ll know where to direct you for help, and they might be able to give you some pointers for doing the appraisals yourself. If nothing else, they might be able to provide you with a nudge in the right direction so you’ll know what you’re looking at the next time you find antiques at a storage sale.

Please leave your insightful opinion in the comment box below.

Storage Wars: New York: Mike Explores His Feminine Side

July 10, 2013

Storage Wars: New York: Season 2, Episode 2: “A Turtle Grows in Harlem.”

Chris and Tad needed to score big! Unfortunately, it’s because their shop was hit by Hurricane Sandy. Store completely flooded. They lost thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

Chris: What’s done is done. It’s now time to rebuild and restock our shelves.

Candy and Courtney also desperate for merchandise, concocted a plan to stealth bid. They approached auctioneer John Luke to apprise him of Courtney’s ‘Hair Flip’ bid. Good luck, gals!

1^st Room Marble table top, cheap furniture pieces, small flat screen TV, suitcase, and a ton of boxes. Joe P’s out. Mikey’s out. C&C and Chris & Tad to battle, but really, think about it. The gals buy furniture pieces to fit in their banana van? Uh, no. Maybe C&C were in it for the mystery boxes.

Mike: Mystery boxes are for suckers and there’s no mystery who the suckers are around here.

Ow, Mikey. Tell us how you really feel.

Courtney: Begin Operation Secret Bid.

Hair flip, bid. Hair flip, bid. At $1K. Hair flip, stop. Oh, well. Chris won at $1,100. The guys dug through the room. Found a vanity desk, box of books, taxidermy turtle (poor sap), and a 1^st edition of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.

Chris and Tad went to a rare book expert.The three indicators to verify this copy was a 1^st edition were all there. Cover just in fair condition valued the book at $3,000.

2^nd Room Vintage suitcases, rubber tubs, antique chandelier, and boxes galore. From all appearances, it definitely had Candy and Courtney’s flavor.

Candy: This is a lady’s room. No men allowed.

Operation ‘Hair Flip’ engaged. Candy used her umbrella to block Mike’s bid. How did that go over with “The Hustler?” Mike bumped the bid to $500. C&C stunned. Mike won at $1,000. He dug through the storage unit.

Mike: I guess it’s time to explore my feminine side.

Come on, Guido, you’re a manly man! Mike found a kitchen bench, new designer dresses with price tags, shoes, and a pair of plastic designer purses. Eat your heart out, C&C! Mike went to Soho to get the purses appraised.

Plastic purses dated from 1949-1959, made only in the US. Very expensive at that time. Mike’s purses (that sounds so wrong) however had issues. Gold corroded. Green gunk on handle. Valued at $250 for both.

3^rd Room H-u-g-e! Maple dressers, cut-out marble piece, chaise lounge chair, guitar cases, and a little bit of everything for everyone.

BID WAR!!!

Everyone ran out of ammo, except for Joe P who won at $5,800. He found vintage clothing, jewelry, a ton of furniture, and a nautical lamp. Joe P went to the Maritime Museum to appraise the nautical piece. Discovered it’s a marine search light to help mariners to navigate through dark rivers and seas. Made of brass from 1940s. Valued at $400.

Profit Scorecard:

Joe P: $10,880
Chris Morelli & Tad Eaton: $6,165
Candy Olsen & Courtney Wagner: $0
Mike Braiotta: LOSS -$25

What did you think of Mike buying a girl’s room?

Let us know your insightful opinions in the comment box below.

Storage Wars: New York: Zombies Rocked, Big Steve Annoyed!

July 9, 2013

Storage Wars: New York: Season 2, Episode 1: “The Walking Bid.”

Zombies and Giants. Zombies were in Candy’s dream. Cast full of blood and gore. Rock on!

The Giant was a new player, Big Steve (6 feet, 8 inches). Mike called him ‘Lord of the Fleas.’ Big Steve runs a flea market in Brooklyn. Did he add to the show?

Not even.

Instead he sucked the air right out of the room. We’ll take our chances with the Zombies!

1^st Room
Sparse-o-la. Two corner bookcases, ugly mattresses, old TV, art, wicker basket, trash bags, rubber bin, and boxes. Really not worth a holler yet Big Steve SLAMMED a storage unit door to cast his first bid.

FEE-FI-FO-FUM, how obnoxious can Big Steve become?

In a word – Very!

Courtney covered her ears as Big Steve shouted his bids. Obnoxious and annoying! Did he win? NO! Joe P sniped bid at the last possible second and stole the room from under Chris and Tad at $425.

Chris: I hate it when he does that.

That’s why Joe P does that, Chris. Doh! Room didn’t hold many surprises, though. Bag full of stuffed animals, DVD player, kitchen items, and an antique hearing aid.

European Vibrophone hearing aids. Contain small reeds inside the metal to assist with sound. Did they work? Um, no. However, because they Vibrophones are rare and a collector’s item, they were valued at $300.

2^nd Room
Mattresses, suitcases, plastic bins, toys, household items, dog bed, definitely a household room.

Courtney bet Candy $20 to slam a locker door next to Big Steve. Candy “ditto” then stared up at Steve. She’s a red-head. You don’t scare her big guy.

Candy: I’m gonna bite you in the knee cap.

Considering how tall Big Steve stood, that’s anatomically in the right spot. Chris and Tad won at $475. What did they find? Wigs, leather jackets, shoes, junk, and a pyrotechnic machine for fireworks. Why didn’t that look good? Maybe because the wires looked really old.

Le Maitre Pyroflash with twenty-four circuits. The switch board did not have corrosion, but because the fireworks detonator was well used, not worth a dime.

No fireworks profit here, Chris and Tad.

3^rd Room
Triple column brand new vending machines in boxes. C&C out. No way to haul thirty-two boxes into their banana van. Joe P out. Chris and Tad out. That left Mike and Big Steve to battle.

Mike bumped the bid to $1K. Big Steve took the room for $1,100.

Mike: I came to Trenton with my truck to buy big. Unfortunately, all I got was a big pain in the ass, his name is Steve.

Big Steve sold the majority of his vending machines at Aquaduck Flea Market at $100 a pop. He had a venue to sell, but still can’t stand the guy nor can the viewers. Big Steve achieved only 6% of popular votes during the broadcast. America didn’t warm up to him.

Big Steve: You tell all those guys Big Steve is coming next week and he’s coming for blood.

Did he think that would scare the other players?

Not even.

Profit Scorecard:

Steve Valenti: $1600
Joe P: $517
Candy Olsen & Courtney Wagner: $0
Chris Morelli & Tad Eaton: $0
Mike Braiotta: $0

What did you think about the new player Big Steve?

Give us your opinions on Zombies and Giants of this episode in the comment box below.

Storage Wars: Goodbye, Barry Weiss

July 2, 2013