Here are two trend charts from Google Trends. The first one shows the popularity of the search term "storage auction" from 2004 through January, 2013.  The second one shows the trend for the last 12 months in close-up.
Yes, there are ups and downs in the close-up version...those (IMO) are likely caused by the tv shows.



The image above is a bit cut off on the right, but you can see that 2011 was the high point for the search on "storage auction".
In the image below you have to use the scroll bar just below the image to see the far right edge.

 Went to three auctions yesterday (1/16/2013) with each facility having 5 or so lkrs.

Crowd was good at each place about 15 people, half of whom were regulars of at least two years.

At the first place we were lined up in a hallway when a guy walks right along the side of the line right up to the 5 x 10 and starts looking in (not from the doorway but 3 feet away directly in line with the opening).

Me: "What part of the line concept don't you understand?"

He: "Whad you say?"

Me: (repeated above)

He then walked toward me and said "You got a number or somethin ?"  and he walked on back toward the hallway door behind us.

All the regulars and other newbies heard this exchange and it didn't take long for the regulars (once outside) to agree this guy was just begging to be "run up" if he bid on any locker.

Well, he did bid. Auctioneer was asking for $25 start and the guy shouts out "one dollar!".  We were unable to bid him up as that was his ONE BID !

You've got to be RANK NEWBIE to pull the line cutting and bidding bulls**t this clown pulled. To his credit, he got the idea and was quiet again for the next two auctions though he did get the courage to bid $25 for a locker that sold for over $400...so he made two bids that day.

****

The other two auctions pretty much reflected the first one with same number of lkrs, buyer and decent prices, but I didn't bid once on any lkr...just weren't what I was looking for.  More auctions next two weeks with hopefully something worth buying.

Late review of last week’s Connecticut episode.

Girls are showing some skin…a la Brandi.
Mike likes the CT countryside.
The Knot boys like the furniture.
Joe P. likes every lkr.


Chris and Tad get #1 for $1k.
Lkr #2 goes to Joe P. for $2,500.
Lkr #3 goes to Mike for $300

Mike’s lkr has an old gas engine powered cart of some kind.
Two small sailboats….maybe some bucks.

The boys take the stuff to the Frayed Knot…antiques they like.
Silver plate…dime a dozen. Copper lined booze cabinet. Slinky…$50…you’re kidding right?

Joe P. likes to pay big bucks…will he get some profit?
Alabaster clock, purple vase, more over-valued items. One chest looks pretty good.
Room not yet singing. Values an accordion at $1500.  A suitcase has a coronet valued at $2,250.

Storage Wars New York…Tuesday, 1/15/2013….Long Island City

Not going to do reviews that reveal as much as I have in the past but rather pick maybe 2 to 3 things that stand out.

Joe P. makes a sneaky bid and wins a lkr for $1K. Some of his furniture estimates seem WAY HIGH ! (his total estimate of the lkr’s worth is…..$21,600 plus !

The girls get some drive-in movie speakers….maybe $50 for a set.

Mike gets some sinks and a Jacuzzi tub. His locker was good for the price…$150.

The boy duo has this Facebook page for their store in New Jersey.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Frayed-Knot/112197358819721


Here is their regular online presence for the store:

http://www.thefrayedknotonline.com/

Ok, this one is "official" and is for the whole show, not just one cast member.

https://www.facebook.com/StorageWarsNY

Follow the dashing duo here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Candy-Olsen-and-Courtney-Wagner-New-York-Storage-Wars-Fan-Club/591528320863993?fref=ts

MM, if you haven't tried already, it might be worth giving eBay a call to see if they will reverse the feedback for you. If it has been a while and the rest of your transactions have positive feedback, they'll probably do it for you.

Definitely not worth it. It was 7 years ago and it is so far buried in I forget how many pages that it doesn't show up anywhere; remember the little tracking box at the top of the feedback area only goes back a year.