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Messages - mhuynh9

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151
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: The item that saved your a$$
« on: September 14, 2013, 06:57:53 PM »
One my first lockers had a ton of USPS boxes and tons of clothes and household items.  I paid $150 so was not to bad probably going to make my money back but was going to take a lot of work then BAM!  And nice Spartan hand truck worth $200 new and was able to get everything in my van.  Still have the hand truck

152
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Screwed by bad advertisement and myself
« on: September 13, 2013, 10:46:26 PM »
I have been in contact with the district manager and it seems like they may work something out.  Unfortunately it is the weekend and the corporate office will be closed till Monday.


153
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Screwed by bad advertisement and myself
« on: September 13, 2013, 10:00:44 PM »
Yes I am hoping to get it looked at and I think I can get it sold for $2500 once it is all said and done and break even.  It was so stupid, it would have taken me all of 2 minutes to use my flashlight on the dash and look up the VIN number.  Anyway money will be tied up for a little but I still got some bullets left. 


154
Suggestion Center / Re: Do you visit the forum on your tablet or mobile device?
« on: September 13, 2013, 03:13:02 PM »
Travis you may think about getting a simple app for your auction listing service.  I love your service but it is hard to navigate on my iphone.  If you did it in an app or even a mobile friendly format I could get the map directions with just a click as well as make calls that way.  I feel like my iphone gives me an advantage with a bar scanner or just simple web browsing.  It is one of my best tools along with the awesome rechargeable Defiant flashlight that I could signal airplanes with.

155
Stories about Storage Auctions / Screwed by bad advertisement and myself
« on: September 13, 2013, 03:09:48 PM »
I went to an auction where the advertised that there was a 2007 Jeep Cherokee in a locker.  We got there and the auctioneer and the storage district manager both said it was a 2007 Jeep. 

It looked nice and they even let people walk into the unit but I got there late just as the bidding was starting.  My friend told me what they said on the phone about the 2007 Jeep.  Anyway I won the locker at $1950 which was a gamble I was willing to take on a 2007.  It turns out it was a 2001.  Big difference!!!! 

I am in the process of talking to the storage district manager about making things right.  I know it is buy AS IS and I am to blame for not doing my due diligence and it was a rookie mistake.  Still I feel that the storage place acted in bad faith as well. 

I do not believe they did it on purpose but they had the VIN and the owner of the unit told them it was a 2007.  They researched the title by calling Missouri which is where the car was registered.  I knew I could get a bonded title in Texas so I was not concerned about that. 

The problem was that I was able to find out it was a 2001 in less than ten minutes after I got the VIN by running a simple web search through one of the many services available online.

Anyway I will keep you guys posted on what is happening.  Worse case scenario this is a very expensive lesson.

FYI it has 186K miles and the engine sounds like crap. :(

156
Suggestion Center / Re: Do you visit the forum on your tablet or mobile device?
« on: September 12, 2013, 08:35:06 PM »
I am on my iPad right now

157
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Partners
« on: September 11, 2013, 12:32:22 PM »
Rulesforrebels
That is great advice and we have been doing a lot of thrift store picking and estate sales as a family.  At least me and the kids, my wife works on Saturday. 

We are working around a lot of things to get garage sales and stuff on Saturday.  It is so hot here right now we could probably get away with a morning sale only.

Anyway great advice from the forum.  My friend and I are still friends and I am glad I nipped the partnership in the bud.

158
Stores / Antique Malls
« on: September 11, 2013, 08:55:54 AM »
There are a couple of antique malls near where I live that charge $75-$150 a month plus a 10% commission on items sold.

Was curious if anyone has tried this, you would have to have a pretty good inventory to keep up the cost.  The good thing is you don't have to be there and you get paid twice a month.

159
Reality Shows about Storage Auctions / Re: Storage Wars Texas Season 3 Guest Bidders
« on: September 11, 2013, 08:42:49 AM »
Lesa and Jerry are the best of the bunch.  The other two are horrible.  The both just try to hard to be "colorful" 

A&E just replayed the very first episode of Storage Wars and it was very dry compared to the polished product they have now but at least Barry, Jared, Dave, and Daryl seemed more realistic but still entertaining. 

Kenny was borderline racist in his remarks, well maybe not borderline, "So this is where the headhunters would bang the gong as they go out" or something like that.  Chingalonga his term cracks me up.  I am Asian and if I was on the show I would say, "what did he call me?"

Matt was just plain obnoxious.  I am from Texas and some stereotypes die hard.  Anyway hopefully they don't turn this to a complete farce like Auction Hunters.

160
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Storage Auction Facilities NOT posting in a paper or anywhere known ...
« on: September 11, 2013, 08:15:36 AM »
You should call them once or twice a month and see if they tell you when the next auction is.  That way at least the good ole boys would have some competition. 

161
Online Storage Auctions / Re: Pros, Cons and Legalities of Online Storage Auctions
« on: September 10, 2013, 09:50:33 AM »
I have dealt with Storage Battles for two auctions won.  One was a huge mistake my partner made with the bidding but Storage Battles was fine.  The other one was a $20 unit I got and again no problems. 

I do agree that the pictures are not sufficient compared to being there and seeing things in scale with your own eyes. My $20 unit had a desk that I thought was smaller than it actually was and the mirror was not what I thought even after careful screening.  All in all it was still a good buy for $20 but not what I thought.

Still I bet there will be more storage auctions online because the bottom line is better for the storage facilities.  I know my sample size is extremely small but  the two facilities that had online auctions were very nice facilities with great managers Advantage Storage in Irving TX and Store More in Allen, TX.  They were both high end facilities.

I think there is a place for online auctions and I will always browse the ones near me.  There are opportunities to snipe a good unit for cheap, but you won't be able to get a "great" locker because those price will be outrageous

162
General Storage Auction Talk / Partners
« on: September 09, 2013, 04:50:54 PM »
When I first started buying lockers I started on my own.  I felt that I missed on a couple of opportunities and got a partner.  We split everything but unfortunately it has soured at least for me.  My partner is a good guy but we don't see things the same.

He always wants to throw things away and is looking for the home run.  He wants to buy bigger units and just looks for the big items.  We have barely turned a profit with a ton of work.  The only reason we turned a profit was me selling on Craigslist.  He has sold a couple of items to people he knows but not enough to keep the operation going.  We now have a 10x25 locker full of stuff.  We are still in the profit but he has no plans to sell anything except for vague notions of "lets get into a flea market or have another garage sale."  Both good ideas but there is no execution.  I really cannot do to many flea markets because I have young kids and our weekends are booked sports and other activities.  Anyway I have told him we are done but I will still help sell what we have and of course split everything.

It was a good learning experience and thanks to this forum and other resources I feel like I can do it on my own in my own time.  My strategy has always been smaller cheaper units with a small profit so I can learn the ropes.  Keep expenses low and no huge lockers.  Anyway I am happier and we have been able to keep our friendship.

Just curious have others have dealt with partnerships or going it alone.

163
Reality Shows about Storage Auctions / Realistic "Reality Shows"
« on: September 05, 2013, 06:56:03 AM »
We have complained rightfully so about how inaccurate and bad some of these shows are but do you think there are some realistic aspects of Storage Auctions in Storage Wars. 

It seems like there is always at least one good realistic auction on each episode.  This weeks Storage Wars Texas,  the locker with all the restaurant booths seemed realistic.

It was to big a bulky for most people but with the right connections and work that locker was worth $150(I think) for a buyer.  The value was within eyesight.

Some of Barry's bust should also serve as a reminder of what can go wrong in the business.

164
Craigslist / Re: Selling Baby Clothes on Craigslist
« on: September 03, 2013, 09:33:38 PM »
This is a big event in Frisco north of Dallas, you might be able to find one near you or schedule a trip to Dallas in conjunction.


FRISCOKIDSCONSIGN.COM


165
Craigslist / Re: Using Craigslist services section for labor
« on: September 03, 2013, 02:54:57 PM »
They usually work with me for about $100 but we have bartered for stuff as well.  To me it is also the time aspect of it.  I have a day job and love processing units a lot more than moving in the Texas heat.  I don't have a box truck or even a trailer yet.  My goal is to stay in the profits and that has been going well.  I know if I did it all myself I would make more money but I am juggling time as well money.

I remember Travis saying that when he was first in the business he spent $1000 to move stuff and get a huge parking lot sale going with a couple of guys and 2 26' trucks.

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