ANOTHER COMMENT ON SHILL BIDDING: There is a facility in my area which "fudges the figures" so they can profit from the proceeds. How about a tenant owing over $4000 on a 5 X 5 unit??

WHAT?? Yes. It is true. In the state I live in, any proceeds from a storage lien sale are supposed to go to the state education fund (if the facility cannot find the tenant to give him or her the overage).

So this scam artist (facility owner) puts down an exorbitant number, one the locker would never sell for, unless there are gold or silver bars in plain view. Then he is assured of a profit when the unit is sold at auction.

Of course, anyone who would stoop to this level has already gone through and pulled all the valuables out of the units anyway. Heck, he even brings one of his relatives (an old lady who is so severely out of shape, and could not even physically unload a storage unit without falling down) to shill bid. And if she does happen to end up as the high bidder, guess what? The same unit is at the next auction.

This facility is almost within walking distance from my house, and I wouldn't go to one of their auctions if you paid me. And I have traveled out of state to buy units!!!

So there are more ways than one for storage businesses to profit from auctions, whether it is illegal, immoral, or otherwise..................................

The "Sealed Online Bids" site failed (well, merged with "Storage Battles") , and so will this one........

WHY, MAY YOU ASK???

If you look at the prices the units are selling for online, they are going for OUTRAGEOUS money. Way more $$$ then a "live" auction, even with the huge crowds since the proliferation of the TV reality shows. And don't forget the buyer's premium fees and tax!

The site claims that the units are not touched, and left in the same condition the tenant left them in. But if you look closely at the pictures, items are moved around by facilities (of course to get better pictures of the merchandise). This is no different then "highgrading"- rearranging a unit by placing expensive items in front.

If a facility manager sees a jewelry box or gun case in a room, you don't think they will turn a blind eye, and then go to the next box of clothes or stuffed animals, do you?? Of course not. It's human nature. BUT IF THEY TRULY DO NOT WALK INSIDE A LOCKER (like they are supposed to do), THIS WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.

I get a big laugh when units that would sell at a live auction for, say, $400, sell at an online auction for $1300 by the time the fees and taxes are added in. At a live auction, there is the ability to see who you are bidding against, and where the bids are going. Who knows who is placing bids from their computer? How about ANYONE WITH A COMPUTER AND ACCESS TO THE SITE?

Yes, this obviously means the facility owners, managers (or anyone else with a vested financial interest in the locker proceeds) are placing SHILL BIDS, thus artificially driving up the prices, and making more profit for the business. In my area, the owners and managers that are using this company are (generally) the "rulebreaker" types. You know, the spammers that list their auctions 15-20 times on Craigslist without deleting old listings, per CL rules.

The newbie "guppies" are clueless as to what amount of money one must pay for a unit to make a profit, and are taking the bait. WELL, FOR NOW. Just as at a live auction, there are people who think this is a "get rich quick" business, and fall by the wayside after blowing hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on junk.

One thing for sure- NO EXPERIENCED BUYER WOULD DARE BID ON A UNIT WITHOUT SEEING IT CLOSEUP, and especially without knowing who is bidding against them. The concept of online storage auctions is a good one on the surface, but the format is ripe for scammers and unscrupulous people in this economy.

When people realize the true lack of transparency and accountability, online unit auctions will go the way of 8-track tapes. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A LIVE STORAGE AUCTION!!!!!