Archive - 2015

Online Storage Auctions: The Future of an Industry

July 15, 2015

For years, the storage auction business went on with few changes. Auctions were small, and the idea of forming a resale business from the contents of abandoned storage units was something unheard of to all but a small group of sellers who found their niche doing exactly that.

“Today’s storage operators and resellers must understand the shifting landscape of technology and learn to apply these changes positively to their businesses or they will fall behind the curve of technological progress.”

Opportunities spread by word of mouth and notices in the local paper, and resellers hawked their wares at flea markets or opened thrift stores to sell what they had found.

All of this has only recently begun to change, and the changes are rapid enough to make today’s storage auction business almost unrecognizable to the professionals who have been doing it for a decade or more.

Today’s storage operators and resellers must understand the shifting landscape of technology and learn to apply these changes positively to their businesses or they will fall behind the curve of technological progress.

The changes started with the storage auction TV shows like Storage Wars and Auction Hunters.

When they first came out, these programs showcased an exotic job that few people had heard of or thought to attempt.

The initial draw was curiosity, and it worked: Soon they took off with huge popularity, and numerous spin-offs and similar programs were ordered to meet the sudden demand from viewers.

But the novelty wasn’t what gave A&E’s Storage Wars its staying power; it was the seductive possibility of striking it rich by selling someone’s forgotten junk.

So, like modern-day treasure hunters, scores of people who had never thought about storage auctions before were suddenly seeking out their local auctions, and the business was changed forever.

Changing Laws for a Changing World

While it’s certainly possible that the laws governing storage auctions might have changed to keep up with the times regardless, the waxing popularity of auction-hunting likely played a role in pushing these laws into compliance with modern-day lifestyles.

For years, storage auction rules had lagged behind existing technology. Storage facilities were required to contact customers by certified letters, not email, to try and get delinquent payments. They had to post auction notices in newspapers, not websites. And the auctions themselves had to be held in a public location, not a virtual space.

These laws had a crippling effect on the business as they severely limited the storage business’s ability to keep up with modern technology. The limits on online storage auctions in particular inconvenienced both storage facilities and auction bidders.

Fortunately, recent changes in legislature have begun to turn this around. Although not all states have updated their lien laws relating to the way storage facilities must handle auctions, many states have changed the wording of these laws to make the use of technology more accessible: emails and online lien notices can be used, and many states have now relaxed the “public place” law to allow auctions to be held in virtual spaces. All of this is good news for storage facilities and great news for bidders.

Online Auctions as the Future of Self-Storage

An online lien sale follows the format of successful auction sites like eBay and translates it to storage auctions.

Sellers post photographs and a description of the unit’s contents, and buyers can bid on it from the comfort of their home.

Depending on the site, they may have to pay a buyer’s premium if they win a unit; other sites, like OnlineStorageAuctions.com, are free to use, take no financial information and allow buyers to make payment arrangements with the storage facility afterward.

The virtual auction model has several benefits:

Bidders can spend time thoroughly examining the contents of a unit, allowing them to research the items inside and make informed decisions about whether a purchase is worthwhile.
Bidders can bid from the comfort of their homes or while on the road by using a mobile app. This allows them to participate in multiple auctions without losing time from their other activities, like manning a resale business.
Online storage auctions tend to achieve higher profits than live auctions. One reason for this is that a long bidding time allows the bid to go higher than at a shorter live auction. Another reason is that bidding wars can get even more fierce over the internet.
Auctions can be posted by anyone, not just facility owners. This means that renters can auction their own storage units as a solution to an impending lien sale. Auctioneers can also get in on the action by having their auctions online or even running virtual auctions alongside their live auctions.

Online storage unit auctions have been gaining traction over the last few years, but recent changes in legislature are making them increasingly popular.

As online auctions go from a dubious legal gray area to a popular option for buyers and sellers, they’re likely to take over an even larger share of the market. Ultimately, the buyers who adopt this technological change will be in a place to succeed as the incidence of live auctions shrinks or even disappears into obscurity.

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Storage Wars: Interview with Dave Hester

June 22, 2015

Chuck G.

Celebrity Interviews

18 Comments

Where is Dave Hester now?

Was Dave misunderstood and wrongfully portrayed as a villain on Storage Wars? Or is what-you-see-is-what-you-get?

Travis Lane, owner of OnlineStorageAuctions.com, had a long conversation with Dave Hester on the phone. What baffled Travis was despite the arrogant veneer displayed on Storage Wars, Dave really sounded like a nice guy.

Is that so hard to imagine?

Dave Hester revealed his love for family, his charity work, and how he enjoys fishing now that he’s semi-retired.

Sounds like a normal guy, but we’ll let you decide.

Dave Hester Interview

Q: Can you remember the first time you said, “Yuuup” at auction?

A. I used to be a bid catcher at an auction house about 25 years ago. I used the YUUUP! yell so the auctioneer would know I had a bidder.

Q: When people recognize you, do they yell out “Yuuup!?”

A: Every day – All day.

Q: How does it make you feel knowing you are the only cast member on Storage Wars to have created a “brand” for yourself?

A: The other cast members can’t even tie their shoes let alone brand themselves.

Slap! Dave is still the same character who called his cast mates “Pukes.”

Q: You bought your first storage unit near thirty years ago, can you remember how much you paid or made off the unit?

A: I just remember that I made good money and I was hooked.

Q: Do you miss owning your own thrift store now that you’ve closed Rags to Riches?

A: Sometimes I miss it, sometimes I don’t.

Q: Do you plan on owning another thrift store or is that in the past?

A: Never say never.

Q: What happened to the warehouse you rented?

A: I still have my Warehouse and still buy storage units.

What you may not know about Dave is that he really is a family man and enjoys spending time with his “2 pugs” (kids) as well as how much he loves to go fishing. His father was a great influence in his life. One of the most touching moments about Dave on Storage Wars was when he spoke of his late father and his father’s train collection.

Q: Will Dave Jr. follow in your footsteps as an auction hunter?

A: He is more of an I. T. guy.

Q: Did you keep any piece of your father’s train collection for yourself?

A: Yes I kept some of his trains. I was raised around a house full of Lionel Trains, so when I see them it brings back good memories.

Q: Do you personally have a collection of some kind?

A: I collect money.

Come on, you gotta love that answer. It’s sooo Dave Hester, “The Mogul!”

Q: How do you spend down time with your family?

A: I like to spend time in Alaska fishing and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I work hard to play hard. There is nothing more rewarding than family and friends fishing.

Dave is not only a storage hunter but has been an auctioneer for at least two decades. Check out his website http://davehesterauctioneer.com. Dave’s auctioneer services include storage auctions, abandoned personal property, commercial/industrial & liquidation, estate auctions, special events, and charity auctions. You can call toll free for more information at 1-855-HEY-DAVE.

Q: Can you remember your very first time as an auctioneer?

A: Over 20 years ago I just got up on an Auction Block and started selling.

Q: How far in advance should someone try to book you as an auctioneer?

A: The more time we have the better.

Q: When you auction off storage units now that you’re off the show, does it feel surreal to you as the auctioneer not the buyer, and do memories of the TV show come flooding back?

A: It’s hard not to bid when I see a good unit & no I don’t think about the show.

Not only is Dave Hester an auction hunter and auctioneer, but he’s also a humanitarian. He’s been involved in charity auctions for just as long as he’s been in the storage auction business. Dave auctioneers at as many charity events.

Q: Which is your favorite charity?

A: I have been donating to St. Jude’s Children Hospital for over 20 years. Last year in Texas I was the auctioneer for a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children Hospital. I worked with Eric Trump, Bret Michaels and JT Fox. We raised over a ½ million dollars in 2 hours.

Family man, storage hunter, auctioneer, humanitarian… what hasn’t Dave Hester done?

Q: Do you have any aspirations or a bucket list of things you’d still like to accomplish?

A: I have been lucky enough to already have completed my bucket list. Anything and anywhere I wanted to go and do I have done already. All around the world. The rest of the ride is just gravy.

He’s done it all, almost. Dave Hester’s about to become a published author. He wrote a book. It’s currently “untitled.” The book will be released by September 13, 2013 and will be available in paper and e-book and sold on Amazon and on his website. Dave expressed to Travis Lane what his book was about via telephone.

Q: What is your book about?

A: It’s a “How To” book for newcomers in the storage auction business that would include advice from my decades of experience buying storage units, auctioneering, running a consignment store and thrift store and buying furniture from liquidators.

If you like his brand “Yuuup,” you may buy products through his website or directly through this link: http://www.yuuup.com/. T-shirts for men, women, and children are available. As well as hats, mugs, and even an autograph photo of Dave kissing money!

Q: Which is the hottest selling item right now on your website store?

A: Hats.

Q: You’re time on the show garnered you a degree of fame, is that a good thing or does it interfere with your personal life?

A: There is good and bad in everything.

Q: If you could change something from your time spent on Storage Wars, what would it be?

A: Not to have spent time on Storage Wars. That’s as much as I can say at this time.

Q: Why do you feel you were portrayed as a villain on Storage Wars?

A: Ratings.

Q: If there is one thing people may misunderstand about you the man, Dave Hester, what would that be?

A: To know me is to love me.

Q: Is there something about you that would surprise people?

A: I’m a great Guy.

At least he stays true to his character!

Q: Would you consider being a part of another reality TV show if offered or are you done?

A: I’m probably done.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

A: At this time I am going to get on the commission side of the business as the auctioneer for storage facilities and moving and storage companies. I am already semi-retired. Just staying busy fishing, auctioneering and writing e-books about my business experience.

Q: How do want to be remembered when all is said and done?

A: The man who spoke the truth.

Dave Hester will always be synonymous with Storage Wars regardless of which cast members stay or go. You either loved him or hated him with almost no shades of grey in between.

So, where is Dave Hester now?

When not buying or selling storage units, you will most likely find him auctioneering in California or on a boat fishing, having the time of his life.

What do you think of Dave Hester and his time on Storage Wars? Do you think he will be successful as a storage auctioneer?

Leave your interesting and creative responses in the comment box below.

Avoid Foreclosure: Sell Your Storage Unit Fast

June 17, 2015

T.C. Lane

Online Storage Auctions

59 Comments

In a troubled economy, it can be hard to keep up with your bills. If you’re experiencing financial hardship, finding a way to cut down your monthly expenses becomes vitally important.

One cost that may quickly get away from you is the expense of monthly storage unit rentals, and foreclosure on a storage unit can be very stressful.

When you fall behind on your payments, the storage facility has the right to auction off your items to satisfy the lien. If your unit sells for more than the amount you owe, you should be entitled to the overage, but this doesn’t always happen.

Going into foreclosure can leave a bad mark on your credit, and you run the risk of losing items that were meaningful to you.

Rather than facing these risks, it might be a good idea to sell the contents of your storage unit on your own. This allows you to sort through your items and remove anything sensitive or valuable that you can’t bear parting with. It also gives you a chance to sell off the items for a profit.

Our OnlineStorageAuctions.com service is completely free, and anyone can put their storage unit up for auction through our system. Just provide us with a description of the items inside and a photograph. We’ll do the rest by posting it online alongside other storage unit auction listings.

Eager buyers from throughout the area will bid on your items. They may be looking to re-sell them themselves, stock a thrift store with them or simply keep them for their own homes.

Items that may be of little use to you could be worth a substantial amount to someone else, and selling your storage unit before you go into default is the best way to avoid foreclosure.

Please leave your creative comments in the box below.

Storage Wars: Canada: Turn That Frown Upside Down!

June 1, 2015

Matt Stacey

Storage Wars Canada

3 Comments

Storage Wars: Canada: Season 1, Episode 16: “Even Veterans Get the Blues.”

The auction was at a storage facility in a nice working class neighborhood. Who knows what they could find in those units?

Rick was in a bad mood. No morning coffee. And the car breaking down on the way to the auction didn’t help elevate his or Cindy’s mood at all.

Paul picked up Bogart on the way there. Bogie got a new phone and was too busy checking texts to listen to his dad give advice.

Paul: I need you to concentrate and pay attention!

Ursula was putting her foot down on what she wanted. One word: FASHION. She also wanted to start building a new strategy for her online store.

Roy prepared his newest diversion. By giving the others presents (Presents from Roy?) they’d be confused. Roy hoped it would give him time to scoop up the best lockers.

He gave Ursula chocolates. She asked Roy if he was trying to make her fat.

Roy: No, but those horizontal lines on your dress are doing wonders for your ass.

Roy had a book for Paul, which he felt would really come into use for him. It was titled, ‘How to Turn Your Problem Children Into Successful Adults’.

Paul: (watching Bogart text) I think that ship has sailed.

For Bogart, Roy gave him a yo-yo. In case this whole ‘locker–thing’ didn’t work out for him.

And it was flowers for Cindy. Who promptly tossed them to the floor.

Roy: What happened to the love?

1^st Storage Unit

Lots of tools; an air compressor, and some high-end speakers. A guy’s locker.

Don suggested to Ursula the unit might be a good purchase. She was not in the mood to hear it. Neither was Paul or Bogart.

Don: How come everyone is yelling at me?

Rick and Cindy were not impressed either. Rick said only a fool would go for this unit.

Cue, the fool.

Roy: I don’t know why everyone is so grumpy. This locker is full of money.

The bids went up fast on this one. And Roy walked away with it for $2,050.

He popped it open and quickly found one great item after another, including some brand new cameras… still in their boxes!

Then he found a very cool crossbow. He needed to find out what it was worth.

Roy took it to his professional hunter buddy, Silvio. He gave Roy a quick demonstration of the bow’s accuracy and how to properly load and fire it.

Silvio told Roy he had found a good compound bow, probably worth around $450.

Roy pondered keeping the bow for himself. Hm. In case he ever needed to shoot a moose, maybe?

2^nd Storage Unit

A large dining room set, fake plants, and a few mystery boxes.

Roy took a pass and decided to give someone else a shot. Ursula had her doubts there was any high-end fashion to found inside.

The bids started… leaving a very lonely Paul to pay $125 for this orphaned locker.

Paul: Just like pickin’ up money off the ground!

Rick: Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.

Paul opened it up while Bogie was engrossed in checking email on his new phone.

There were some decent pieces of furniture. And a couple of pairs of… roller skates?

Paul: These don’t look like your typical roller skates.

They took the skates to a roller rink, where a roller derby instructor asked them the boys to come out on the rink with the other ladies and test out their skates.

Bogart: Like no one saw THAT coming.

Several falls and bruises later, the instructor appraised the boys skates for $355.

Not too shabby for a locker no one wanted.

3^rd Storage Unit

A large unit with a lot of nice furniture items. But still no fashion for Ursula. And she took a pass.

Ursula: I said I was putting my foot down today, and I meant it.

So Ursula turned on her high priced heel and headed home.

Meanwhile, Bogie was wrapped up in his new phone and not paying much attention to the bidding.

But Cindy was definitely feeling this unit. And her and Rick grabbed it for $650.

Cindy: Let’s hope it doesn’t suck.

Inside, they found some nice pieces but nothing amazing. Cindy was feeling very cynical about the whole purchase while Rick wished for a miracle to help alleviate his queen’s bad mood.

Ask and ye shall receive.

A small box Rick found contained a set of dollhouse furniture. It seemed to be worth getting appraised. At least, to Rick it seemed worth it.

Cindy was not so optimistic. And a cracked mirror Rick found finally sent her for the exit.

Cindy: That’s a bad omen. I’m so out of this unit.

They took the miniatures to a store specializing in… (duh) miniatures.

The owner told them they had very nice, detailed pieces… easily worth around $550.

Cindy was blown away. She finally had a smile on her face.

Cindy: I love being wrong!

PROFIT SCORECARD:

Rick Coffill & Cindy Hayden: $870
Roy Dirnbeck: $800
Paul Kenny & Bogart Kenny: $730
Ursula Stolf: $0

Cindy and Rick started having a bad day, but it turned around at the 11^th hour. Ever have a bad day that ended with a GOOD surprise?

Please leave your creative comments in the box below.

Storage Hunters: Episode 1 – Bloody Battle

March 9, 2015

Roberta Striga

Storage Auction TV Recaps, Storage Hunters

2 Comments

The location for the today’s episode of Storage Hunters is Hollywood.

We are introduced to the players Brandon and Lori. Now they are thorough. They investigate each unit prior to the bidding. They find out who the owner was and what they did in order to determine whether the unit will be worth it or not. How professional. Unlike some people *cough Heavy D cough*

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 1

Brandon tells us that the owner was a toy collector. And there is indeed a bunch of toys in the unit.

Brandon is not happy with Jesse – he keeps feeding off my bids, it is pissing me off.

Jesse – Brandon does his research, so if he is bidding on it, I’m interested. Lord, we’d be pissed off too.

The bidding starts and Brandon and Lori win the lot at $900. Brandon is pissed Jesse kept upping his bid.

Brandon and Lori investigate the unit with Sean. They find a bunch of toys, however they are not in a good condition and a lot of the stuff is broken.

They get their hopes up after Lori finds a signed baseball, but it was signed by Alan Thicke (of Growing Pains. And Robin Thicke’s dad).

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 2

Assorted car gear.

Brandon and Lori did their research again. The guy who owned the unit is currently in jail. Jesse is interested because the stuff in the unit is worth a lot of money. Brandon and Lori think the lot of it was stolen.
Brandon – we are not interested in dealing with stolen goods. But that does not mean other people won’t. He means Jesse if it’s not obvious.

The bidding starts at $800 and Jesse wins the lot at $2300.

Jesse investigates the unit with Sean. They find 4 BMW rims and another 4 vanity rims.

A Craftsman.

Sean raises the potential issue of the origins of the goods, but Jesse is all like – I don’t care what the guy did.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 3

Some old furniture. Sean tells us that the unit smells bad. Like dirty ass (very descriptive).

Brandon tells us that the research sometimes doesn’t tell them much, so they have to go on an instinct.

Jesse – the unit smells like it was owned by a crazy cat lady. Who is probably buried in there.

The source of the smell is revealed – it is a dirty cat litter box. We don’t even want to haphazard a guess why there would be a dirty cat litter box stashed away like that.

Brandon is delighted that the unit smells because it will scare off the others. And he saw something interesting in the back.

The bidding starts at $25. As Brandon has predicted no one wants to bid so him and Lori win the lot at $50. They investigate the unit with Sean. They find a classic Pong game and a vintage Mac.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 4

A pool table, a couch, a mattress and a TV.

Brandon and Lori discuss the contents of the unit – do you how much it would cost to move the pool table? Forget it.

The bidding starts at $500. Papa Bear (who according to Lori is a wild card and will bid on anything at anytime) wins the lot at $2600.

Brandon dubs this a rookie mistake – buying stuff that looks cool rather than what will make a profit.

Papa Bear investigates the unit with Sean. They find a bunch of ladies underwear. Sen asks Papa Bear does he know how he will move the pool table since it is so heavy.

Papa Bear scratches his head – I kinda jumped the gun on this one.

Sean shares that it’s guys like Papa Bear that make him a lot of money.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 5

Sean tells the crowd he has got a feeling there is something good in this bin. How does he know that? His balls itch and that’s always a good sign. Wecannoteven.

Brandon and Lori have learned that the guy who rented the unit is a low budget movie director. Brandon hopes the stuff will be covered so that the others can’t tell what’s in there as he doesn’t want a bidding war.

Hmmm yes, good luck with that.

He also shares he needs to get inside Jesse’s head and knock him off his game.

So Brandon proceeds to goad Jesse during the bidding. Jesse calls Lori a bitch and a fight erupts.

Brandon wins the lot at $3100.

Brandon and Lori investigate the unit with Sean. Most of the boxes are empty and contain no camera equipment. However they manage to find one Sony HD camera that is worth loads. They also find some audio equipment and cool looking movie props.

They take the Alien to be appraised at the Dapper Cadaver (we kid you not). If you thought storage hunting is all glamor, you only need to watch Brandon and Lori transport the Alien. And then carry him (it?) up the stairs and down the stairs.

Anyhow back to the appraisal – this is the guy doing the appraisal. Hm yes. His name is BJ.

The guy says a fully functioning mold would be worth up to $100.000.

Alas this is the core of the alien suit. It is a hard piece to sell, the guy could get about $2000 so he can only offer them $1000. Brandon decides he can sell it on his own and keep all the money.

Brandon and Lori take the Alien back home. Their home. Not the Alien’s home.

Profit:

Brandon and Lori: total profit $5480

Storage Hunters UK: Episode 10 – Reading

February 11, 2015

Roberta Striga

Storage Auction TV Recaps, Storage Hunters UK

2 Comments

The location for the today’s episode of Storage Hunters UK is Reading.

And Mini Mile is all excited.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 1

A bunch of old furniture. And a bucket.

Darren and Barry are interested (they know what the stuff in there is worth. Or so they say). George is also interested.

The bidding starts and Darren and Barry win the lot at Ł675.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 2

Used sports equipment.

Nat – Dan is a cocky Cockney, he thinks he knows his stuff and he actually doesn’t. George is interested. John thinks it is an interesting little bin. Pause while he looks at Nat for approval. He doesn’t get it.

The bidding starts and George wins the lot at Ł650. There is a bit of an argy bargy during the bidding. See what happened was that John shoved George and then George touched Nat’s face.

Nat – he touched my face. You can’t go around doing that. That’s invading space. (to John) I don’t like you in my space, let alone a stranger.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 3

Some plants and some vintage stuff (from what we can see).

Danny – Nat looks at me as if she wants to kill me. How can you hate this face?

Yes, how can you Nat?

Nat – it’s going to be a few little cherubs in here from what I’ve seen. Hm ok.

George has a whole strategy worked out. George – I touched Nat’s face, she forgot to bid. I know how to push her buttons.

The bidding starts. Some further argy bargy erupts between George and John, Mini Mile has to intervene.

Meanwhile Nat is not amused.

Nat and John win the lot at Ł625. They go to investigate – they find boxes of vintage clothes.

An old record player. A groovy looking TV.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 4

You can’t see much since almost all of it is covered with blankets, but there is some World War II stuff under there (helmets and such).

George – Danny is all talk.

Meanwhile Danny says he is here to make money. Haven’t we heard that before? Linda also doesn’t like Danny and his attitude and at the moment she just wants him to shut up.

Her face says it all really.

The bidding starts and Danny wins the lot at Ł850.

Danny investigates the unit with Sean.

Some old gas masks. An old wheelchair. A stuffed owl.

Stuffed pigeon in a box.

On a side note – what the what with ALL the stuffed animals? Seriously!

Sean tells Danny this could possibly be a World War II carrier pigeon. IF he can find authentication for it, it could be worth between Ł8000 and Ł10000.

Danny’s face says it all.

Back to storage unit number 1 with Darren and Barry. Barry thinks Darren paid too much for the unit. They find a bunch of old typewriters.

Some furniture. An old clock. Darren says if it has a key and it’s working, they are in the money.

Alas there is no key and the clock is not working.

Back to storage unit number 2 with George. Sean and George find five school benches. A bunch of exercise mats. A bunch of sports equipment.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 5

Used pub equipment.

Linda has a bar in her house, she knows what bar stuff looks like. Well. That might explain some things. Not ALL the things, but some.

The bidding starts and Darren and Barry win the lot at Ł810. George and Linda discuss the auction and Linda is all – let him have it.

Sean investigates the unit with Darren and Barry. Four kegs of beer. Some brass beer taps. Space invaders game. Fruit machine.

Danny takes his pigeon to be valued. Alexis Turner at the London Taxidermy (that’s one spooky place) looks at the stuff Danny brought.

Dickin medal was given to animals to honor their service during World War II. If everything is authentic Danny could fetch about Ł15.000 for his pigeon at an auction. There is a moment when Danny is all like YAY give me all the money.

Unfortunately the box is new, the bird is not an antique, the document Danny brought over is just a copy and the Dickin medal is not authentic either.

Profit:

Nat and John: Ł675
Darren and Barry: Ł225
George: Ł450
Darren and Barry: Ł1000
Danny: -Ł250

Is Storage Hunters UK Real or Fake?

January 26, 2015

T.C. Lane

Entertainment

28 Comments

By this point, even the most diehard storage auction reality show fans are starting to face the facts: None of these shows are 100% authentic. Reality TV doesn’t so much show real life as a glossy, action-packed melodramatic version of real life. After all, it takes a bit of “TV magic” to turn our regular, boring everyday lives into the kind of gripping drama that gets people to tune in week after week.

So there’s always some element of dramatization going on in these shows, whether it’s the participants hamming it up a little for the camera to create memorable characters or tons of less-than-thrilling material landing on the cutting room floor.

Of course, Dave Hester’s lawsuit against Storage Wars blew the whole topic wide open. His allegation was that the show was almost entirely faked, frequently showing “salted” units that had interesting items planted in them by the production company. And, as storage shows go, Storage Wars has always been the most believable.

Which brings us back to Storage Hunters: UK, the newest kid on the block.

Storage Hunters: UK follows American auctioneer Sean Kelly (star of the American Storage Hunters on TruTV) as he travels through the United Kingdom to host storage auctions for an array of colorful characters. The original Storage Hunters was a surprising smash hit over the pond, with episodes being aired on the Dave network (a British channel that runs local programs like Red Dwarf alongside other imports like Man vs Food), so a homegrown spin-off seems like the natural next step for the series.

Storage Hunters has always been one of the most outlandish and overly dramatic members of the storage auction reality TV family. While other shows threaten your willing suspension of disbelief by showing unbelievably rare or valuable items popping up in a lot of units, Storage Hunters likes to push your credulity a little bit further with truly bizarre discoveries and a generous sprinkling of Jerry Springer-like fights.

Storage Hunters: UK is cut from the same cloth. After all, why mess with the formula that made the show so successful in the first place? The program premiered with an impressive 1.1 million viewers, making it pretty clear that UK audiences were eager for more storage hunters behaving badly.

But how much of it is real?

It’s safe to say that, for the most part, the characters on the show are pretty much real people. This isn’t like an Auction Hunters situation where small-time actors are looking to make it big on reality TV. All of the bidders on the show are genuine resellers, from antiques dealers to online storefront runners. Only one cast member, Daniel Hill, has an IMDB credit for anything other than himself – and that, curiously, is as an uncredited body double for Sacha Baron Cohen in Les Miserables. There’s probably quite a story behind that, but otherwise “Dapper Dan” seems pretty committed to his day job as a furniture dealer.

So the people they’ve hired are real buyers, as near as we can tell, but their on-camera hijinks are probably hyped up for the camera. Because, let’s face it: If the frequent (sometimes several-times-in-one-episode) arguments and out-and-out fist-fights on the show weren’t scripted, you can bet these guys would find themselves thrown out of the auction sooner or later for being a huge nuisance.

But what really stretches the limits of believability with Storage Hunters: UK are the units themselves.

When you’re watching the show, you can’t help but notice that the units seem to be rather conveniently staged. Nearly all of them are perfectly themed. Here’s a unit full of nothing but circus equipment. Here’s one with a ton of bicycles. Here’s one totally full of exercise gear. You never seem to find a unit full of mixed, normal items – a box of clothes here, an exercise bike there, an old couch here. You know, like a real person might actually keep in their storage unit. Who owned these units before they got on the show?

But then you reach heights of absolute absurdity, like the pilot episode where they opened up a unit to discover a raw heart in a basket.

Seriously?

Considering how hot it gets in a storage unit, and how long a unit has to be in default before it can go up for auction, the odds of you finding a perfectly fresh-looking, not-putrid heart just lying in a basket are basically nil.

Of course, this is from the same production company that brought you exotic finds like “Naked man in a cage” and “Conveniently rigged controlled explosion” on the American show, so nobody should be surprised.

As the series progresses, we’re likely to see things get even more outlandish because the laws governing reality TV and storage auctions are different in the UK than they are in the US. For example, until the storage auction craze really hit the world, auctions of that type weren’t really popular in Britain. While US facilities usually sell a person’s belongings in their entirety, it’s completely normal in the UK to divide up a person’s abandoned items and sell them piece-by-piece. So with that in mind, it should come as no surprise that these units are probably staged well in advance for dramatic effect.

Here’s the bottom line: Nobody’s really watching Storage Hunters: UK for an informative look at the auction business. They’re tuning in because it’s the very best of trash TV, with enough mystery, weirdness and drama to keep you engaged. If that’s your bag, just sit back and enjoy – but don’t expect to get by with starting a brawl at the next auction you attend.

What’s your opinion on Storage Hunters UK? Do you think it’s real of fake? Leave your interesting and creative responses in the comments section below.

Storage Hunters UK: Episodes 9 – Barking, East London

January 20, 2015

Roberta Striga

Storage Auction TV Recaps, Storage Hunters UK

2 Comments

The location for the today’s episode of Storage Hunters UK is Barking, East London.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 1

Some shelving, drinks dispenser.

Heavy D is interested – I hope no one has seen the stuff I have seen in there. I have eyes like a hawk (says the guy who bought a bunch of donkey saddles). Danny is also interested (we think it has something to do with the iMac box in there).

The bidding starts and Danny wins the lot at Ł500.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 2

Assorted car shop stuff.

George is interested. So are Nat and John.

Nat to John: What’s that? You should know! I thought you were good at making money.

The bidding starts and George and Matt decide to partner up and go halves. John gets caught in the bidding.
Nat: No.
John: Yeah.
Nat: No.
John: Yeah.

And so it goes. In the end George and Matt win the lot at Ł900.

They investigate the unit with Sean. Some tires. Some Pirelli tires.

A custom made coffee table that includes a Maserati engine.

A Ferrari engine.

A custom made chair and a custom made sofa.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 3

Hm how do we say this delicately? Maybe we should let Dan do it.

Danny – it looks like stuff you use to grow weed with. It’s worth quite a bit of money, but you know, it might not be legal?

Linda thinks it looks green house-y. And she is not sure she would be able to put it together herself. Wecannoteven.

Sean and Matt discuss the unit.

Matt: This stuff is not legal.
Sean: Don’t think everyone knows. Don’t think Linda knows.

Nat and John have the following exchange.

Nat: Yeah.
John: No.
Nat: Yeah.
John: No.

Obviously Heavy D is interested. The bidding starts and Heavy D wins the lot at Ł325.

He investigates the unit with Sean. A new filter.

Some specialty chemicals. Fertilizer.

And hydroponic growth house (we think Heavy D doesn’t even know what that is).

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 4

Whatever is in this bin it smells. Badly.

Both George and John throw up.

Linda – it’s the worst smell. Double the worst smell and that’s how it smells like. George thinks it does smell bad, but he won’t let that deter him.

A few diner chairs. A diner booth.

Matt thinks Nat and John will go for it. That’s probably how their house smells. And Nat and John are indeed interested.

Sean is having none of it – I see some valuable stuff, I’m not going to sell it cheap, I don’t care how stinky it is.

The bidding starts and Nat and John win the lot at Ł550.

Danny – John was not a good boy, she will make him clean it out as a punishment.

Nat and John investigate the unit with Sean. Apart from the diner seating sets they find 2 grills.

They also find a cash register and an used fridge. Which hides some rather nasty moldy bread.

Which Nat proceeds to chuck at John’s head.

Back to storage unit number 1 with Sean and Danny.

Plastic tubes that are worth Ł1 each. There are 300 of them. Danny also thinks there is scrap value in this unit.

But he also finds a huge a** (and we really mean HUGE) flat screen TV. But the iMac box Danny had his eye on is empty.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 5

A car of some sort.

Heavy D thinks it might be an ice cream van. Linda thinks it’s a milk float.

Danny asks Heavy D if he is interested. Heavy D – oh yes, it has loads of character. Hm. You can’t see anything, it’s covered with tarp.

Nat and John are interested (this is the first time they have agreed on something) and so is Linda.

The bidding starts and Linda wins the lot at Ł525.

And it is indeed a milk float.

Ok for the record – this is two episodes in the row that Linda has been right about something.

Sean – if this starts, you are in the money. If it doesn’t, it’s going to be a b*tch to push this back to Essex. Move over – we have a blonde at the wheel.

And the milk float does indeed start.

Profit:

George and Matt: Ł2100
Heavy D: Ł475
Nat and John: Ł3450
Danny: Ł500
Linda: Ł2475

Storage Hunters UK: Episode 8 – Preston

January 9, 2015

Roberta Striga

Storage Auction TV Recaps, Storage Hunters UK

2 Comments

The location for the today’s episode of Storage Hunters UK is Preston.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 1

A safe. And a couple of more unidentified items hiding under blankets.

Danny thinks there won’t be anything in the safe. Nat doesn’t like the unit because she can’t see what’s there. Darren and Barry meanwhile are interested. Linda is interested.

Linda wins the lot at Ł450.

A couple of light fixtures.

A bird’s cage.

And a safe. Hm seriously – what the what? This bin makes no sense at all. Sean explains to Linda she will have to get someone to come and crack the safe. To this Linda asks – don’t they leave the key to the safe? Yes, that’s what she said.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 2

Tiles. And lot of them. Some building materials.

Darren and Barry have an argy bargy. Linda meanwhile is interested. She thinks it might be a spa.

The bidding starts and Linda wins the lot at Ł910. Darren calls her a dumb bimbo. Now mate that’s way too harsh. What a sore loser.

Linda investigates the unit with Sean and she finds a hot tub.

And two pallets of tile and some more building material.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 3

A pick and mix stand. A pop corn machine. Some movie theater seats.

Danny is interested in the unit because he always wanted to be a movie star. And again Nat’s face says it all.

The bidding starts. So. Darren and Barry start arguing among themselves. Then George starts arguing with them. Then Nat and John are arguing with each other.

In the end John wins the lot at Ł800. Nat is not happy.

Back to storage unit number 1 to take a look at Linda’s safe. Linda had to hire a locksmith for Ł300 to crack open the safe.

Linda would like it to be gold. Or money. Or diamonds. Good Lord. Very modest is our Linda.

And the big reveal ladies and gentlemen is…

NOTHING. Just as Danny predicted. Or rather just a video camera.

Linda has the sadz.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 4

Looks like sound and light equipment.

Danny is going all in for this unit. Darren and Barry are interested since they would be able to sell it all right away.

The bidding starts, there’s plenty of trash talking, but Danny holds steady and wins the lot at Ł1150.

His t-shirt says it all really.

STORAGE UNIT NUMBER 5

Wedding catering equipment. Glasses, chairs and other assorted stuff.

Darren and Barry decide to stop arguing and make some money. Finally. Nat and John are also interested.

The bidding starts and Darren and Barry win the lot at Ł975.

They investigate the unit with Sean. A pillory (in case you are wondering what it is. We are not THAT smart, we had to look it up).

An archway. A big marquee. A love chair. A bunch of glasses.

Back to storage unit number 3 with Nat and John.

John: There’s money there.
Nat: You better find it cos I can’t see it.

If it’s not obvious Nat is still not happy.

Further inspection reveals old movie theater chairs. Two old projectors. A box of movie reels.

Sean points out they have made a profit, but Nat is not happy. She thought they were going to go big today. This from the same woman who thought she might find a speed boat in a bin.

Back to storage unit number 4 with Danny. Some nifty looking light equipment.

A box full of old vinyl records. A smoke machine. Speakers. And bingo, a huge score – a sound rack.

Sean also discovers a limbo bar. And dares Danny to do the limbo. Danny does the limbo. Visual proof below.

Profit:

Linda: Ł990
Linda: -Ł650
Darren and Barry: Ł3025
Nat and John: Ł1000
Danny: Ł4800

So, what did you think of this episode? Leave your interesting and creative responses in the comments section below.

What is a Storage Auction?

January 1, 2015

Tiana Bodine

Storage Auctions 101

3 Comments

What is a Storage Auction?

Storage auctions occur when a self-storage facility sells the contents of an abandoned unit in order to recover the cost of missed payments. Some people use these auctions as a way to gain items at a low cost, thus enabling them to sell the discovered contents at a profit.

In more recent years, thanks to the popularity of storage auction reality TV shows, storage auctions have become more common and diverse. Some groups hold auctions for charities, and some people choose to auction the contents of their own storage units for profit or to make up a debt with their storage facility.

History

Self-storage facilities are a relatively new invention, first appearing around the 1960s. Since that time, storage had grown substantially in popularity, with facility numbers exploding over the past 35 years. There are more than 30,000 storage facility companies operating in the U.S., most with more than one facility.

Self-storage facilities are used by people who are moving or need more space to store their belongings. Many of the people renting units are undergoing periods of transition, including college students, people getting divorced, and those moving from their homes.

The transient nature of self-storage means that units often go neglected due to financial circumstances, forgetfulness or simple abandonment. When a storage user is unable to pay his rent or abandons the unit, the account goes into default, and the facility owner must recover the lost funds. In order to do this, the facility will run an auction to sell off the contents of the abandoned unit.

Storage Auction TV Shows

The self-storage industry grew tremendously since the 1960s. By 2010, 1 in 10 people rented storage units. Up to that point, however, storage auctions themselves were relatively obscure. This began to change in 2010 when two hit reality TV shows were aired: Storage Wars on A&E and Auction Hunters on Spike.

These shows follow bidders at auctions, showing the valuable finds and profits that they make from them. Despite the controversies surrounding the shows, including allegations that they are staged, storage auction reality shows became very popular and quickly gained a fan following.

In response, numerous other auction shows and spin-offs have been released, including Storage hunters, Storage Wars: Texas, Storage Wars: New York, Storage Wars: Canada, Storage Hunters: UK and Auction Kings.

The effect of these programs was an increased awareness in storage auctions and unprecedented growth in the industry. Approximately 80,000 storage auctions are held per year, and a cottage industry has grown up around them including books on auction hunting, online auction listings, and numerous websites devoted to the topic.

Rules & Regulations

Storage auctions are run according to particular rules. Some are established by the storage facility itself while others are state-mandated laws. Recently, thanks to technological advances within the storage business, some of these laws have been changed:

1 – Before auctioning a unit, the facility must make a best faith effort to contact the owner and settle the debt. This process usually takes up to three months and includes phone calls and certified letters being sent to the tenant.

2 – All auctions must be announced publicly and held in a public location. In other words, the unit’s contents cannot be seized by the facility owner or sold privately to another individual. Announcements must be published in a newspaper or, in some states, posted online.

3 – No one, including the facility owner, may enter the unit or disturb its contents until after the unit is sold. Bidders can look at a unit only from the outside prior to the sale. However, the facility owner can cut off the lock, take photographs of the unit and seal it again with a new lock prior to the sale.

4 – Once a unit has been sold, the new owner generally has between 24 and 48 hours to empty it of its contents and sweep it clean. Otherwise, the new owner must rent out the unit himself.

5 – In most states, funds earned through an auction that exceed the balance owed to the facility must be returned to the unit’s original tenant. If this is impossible, the funds may be released into the state’s escheatable account, or the facility may hold them for a specific time period before being able to use them.

It’s worth noting that these rules apply only to lien auctions. If a different type of sale is being held in an auction format, such as a charity sale or private owner sale out of a storage facility, these lien laws do not apply. It’s up to the person making the sale to come up with any additional rules to govern that sale.

Types of Auction

Although live auctions are the most popular way of selling the contents of a storage unit, there are several options for holding a sale.

Live Auction

In a live auction, a professional auctioneer holds the sale. Bidders are given a few minutes to look at the unit from outside before the auctioneer starts the bidding. The starting bid will depend on the apparent value of the unit from the auctioneer’s cursory glance, and it will go up as attendees raise the bid. Once bidding has slowed, the highest bidder wins the auction.

Live auctions are the most exciting for participants and viewers, making this the format popularized through reality television. Most facilities will wait until they have several units to sell and auction them all on the same day for the convenience of the auctioneer and to draw a bigger crowd of bidders since a larger crowd generally translates to higher bids.

Sealed Bid

In a sealed bid auction, the contents of a unit are disclosed and bidders place their bids in a sealed envelope. Each person makes just one bid, and the highest bidder wins the unit. These are also sometimes called silent auctions.

In some cases, a facility will accept sealed bids in advance of a live auction. These are considered alongside the bids made at the auction itself.

Silent auctions are fairly rare among storage facilities, but they are sometimes held if a unit seems particularly valuable or if the facility wants to keep a sale simple or has just one or two units to sell.

Online Auction

Online or virtual storage auctions are increasingly popular. These take place over the Internet, much like sales on eBay. The unit is posted with photographs and a description, and buyers place their bids online from their computers or smart phones. At the end of the designated auction period, the sale is closed and the highest bidder wins the unit.

There are several virtual storage auction websites to facilitate these sales. Some charge fees to both buyers and sellers, while some charge just one or the other or are free to use.

Aside from storage facility owners, private sellers can put their units for sale online through a virtual auction site.

Charity Auction

In order to capitalize on the increasing popularity and awareness of storage auctions, some charities have begun using the storage auction format for their fundraisers.

Generally, these auctions are for units that have been filled with donations. This makes it more likely to find valuable items inside, and bidding will usually go higher. Some charities will hold additional events alongside the auction in order to attract visitors and boost the fundraising.

Want to add your insight to this article? Leave your interesting and creative responses in the comments section below.