Today I went to two auctions and this time the crowd was back to normal, maybe 20 buyers with about 10 regulars.

Two new guys (from over 200 miles away ..... yikes !) bought a 10 x 10 for $1,400. This was after a similar 10 x 15 went for $1,700.  The 1.7K was a better bargain but the consensus from the regulars was that the 1.7 would have been a good deal at about $700 or so in order to guarantee a $500 or so profit.

The same crowd (minus a few) went to the second auction where a 10 x 30 sold for $1,500 to one of the local regulars. It looked pretty good, but I hope the boxes pan out !

However, if they are at 100% occupancy, they do lose money.

You know me, I'm always researching something and because I have pretty good relations with some of the facilities in my area they are research subjects too.

In my area the facilities tend to run in the 85% full situation, BUT, for several of them the lockers that are in short supply are the 10 x 15's.  If they are short in supply (or non-existent) then the facilities ARE losing money by not having any available.

A prospective tentant for a 10 x 15 isn't gong to be interested in the remaining 15% that aren't rented because those will be 5 x 5, 10 x 20, 10x30 for the most part.  The prospective tenant doesn't want a 5 x 10 or three 5 x 10s. The prospective tenant doesn't want to pay the jump in price for a 10 x 20 and certainly doesn't want or need a 10 x 30.

The prospective tenant will (in my opinion) LEAVE facility #1 and go maybe a mile away or less to facility #2 and find an empty 10 x 15.  Sound like losing money for facility #1 to me.

For all the years I've been sending out packages through eBay, I've only used foam peanuts maybe 3 times...and here's why.

1) I don't like them floating around all over the place whether I'm receiving or sending a package
2) I don't think they do a very good job if used the way most people use them.
3) If bought at a box store they are expensive.

So, here's my tip for the few times I get them free and decide to use them at all.

Most home-brew shippers never use ENOUGH OF THEM. How can a couple of cups of peanuts protect anything if
they don't actually CUSHION the item in a box?  They can't.  Either use ENOUGH or don't use them at all.

I once received a heavy metal tool (with 8 sharp corners) in a large box with peanuts, but because there weren't enough peanuts and the corners weren't wrapped with something the tool broke the side of the box and all along the route the peanuts came out until there was a large box with the tool, few peanuts, etc, etc,. I had to file a claim for damage.

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So, if I ever use peanuts I put them in plastic, permanently sealable bags to make  CUSHION PILLOW which still allows for some shifting of the peanuts, but not that much movement of the item. It may take multiple PILLOWS on bottom, sides, top of item, but it will get to its destination undamaged. I also wrap the item itself in bubble wrap or crumpled paper to sit within those cushions.

My feeling is that if you add enough barriers and don't allow for movement within the box the item will arrive more safely.

The label lead me towards the possibility of it being a fondue heater, but the design looks more like a stove.  Much shorter and closer to the flame than the fondue sets I see online.

Uh, yes, the label leads one to believe it is a fondue heater.

No matter what it is it can't be worth much...nothing to put on top to be heated up. Why are you investing even this much time in checking it out?

Flip it over and wrap your garden hose around it.

Yep, that's what it is. BUT, if you want to call it art you could sell it for twice as much...say $6.00.

This person is a member here on the forum (he doesn't post on any regular basis).

I am most impressed with the feedback number received in the last 12 months. Think of the posting work, keeping track of inventory (!) and of course packing, shipping...and of course the rewards for this work.

I'm phasing myself out of the storage auction scene and going to the higher end piece by auctions.

I purchased a piece of art for 750 and it may, if it checks out, be appraised in the 40-60k range.  Would be a great hit if its real but always doubtful when it seems too good to be true

Wow, that's interesting and I assure you it's NEW to this forum. So you're going to buy high end items (for reasonably  high bucks) and try to make some bigger bucks.

Can you provide any leads without giving away your new niche ?

How do you feel about buyer's premiums? What do you think the advantages & disadvantages are for the buyer, the seller & the auctioneer?

I would really appreciate it if everyone would participate in this poll (yes, even those of you who haven't registered yet. It takes less than a minute to join the forum.) We will be using the data received for a future article.

1) One has to account for it when bidding.
2) I can't see that it's any benefit to the buyer...other than it rules out bidders who have less cash to spend.
3) It's obviously a benefit for the facility as it apparently helps pay their fee to the auctioneer.
4) The auctioneer is going to get a fee no matter what.

But beyond all that, your idea to use the results of this poll as data in a future article about the subject REALLY leaves a lot to be desired. In the three years I've been here (and the placement of half a dozen polls) I've never seen more than 6 or so people even VOTE in a poll here.....and that was when things were more active here.

The forum moves on because a dozen or so of us (out of over 3,000) post here and I guess maybe 50 to a hundred people come on each day to do some reading.

To state ----""x" percent of people who answered a poll believe "y" about something is a sample base so small as to not be used at all. I don't know what sample number one would need but it would have to be in the hundreds at a miniimum and closer to a thousand even better.