Ugh....I hope today wasn't a sign of what's to come in our area.
7 location caravan with only about 15 units and 5 (3 in one lot, 2 separate) cool-boxes.
First location~one unit~minimal crowd (about 25 all regulars).  5X15 3/4 full.  Messy, particle board furniture.  Went for $475
Second~picked up another 20 or so.  2 units.  5X10 3/4 full.  Little furniture went for over $350.  I bowed out a $200.  Next unit nice front-loading washer & dryer.  That's it.  $250
Third location~4 units.  Picked up a couple more people.  First unit 5X10 half full.  Lots of big kids toys, a dining set and some totes.  Went for $275.  I bowed out at $250.  The rest of the units were junky and all ended up around $200.
Fourth~two units.  Dump runs.  Crowd about the same.
Fifth unit~Cool boxes.  My first time for these.  There were two individual then three that belonged to the same owner and were sold as a lot:
The first contained a dresser, nightstand and flat screen TV.  Folks were saying plasma (can't verify as it was under wraps. 
The second container was a bit intriguing as there were tons of totes.  There was some jewelry, a camera case and stuff like that.  NO furniture. 
The last 3 were all well packaged and full.  Every box tightly wrapped and secure.  Notations on every box, like Books 1, Books 2 etc.  There was some exercise equipment, but no visible furniture and the like.

I asked the auctioneer if we kick off with that one so we see how much $$$ we had left for the other two.  Opened at $100 and the auctioneer rolled his eyes.  I jumped it to $500 and from there it went nuts.  My final bid was $1500.  It went for $3300.  I've never seen anything like this in the Tucson area before.

The frenzied atmosphere continued with the 2nd box going for $975.  I bowed out $275.
And the final for $325.  For a damaged nightstand, dresser and unidentified TV. 

Yikes!  I decided not to carry on as I had to get back to my side of town to get my kids from school and the like.

Those storage boxes certainly caused a bunch of commotion here.  Don't know if that is the norm, but for goodness sakes people.......

Next week is our big one here with auctions going on everyday but Friday.  Hope to have some good reports then.  Considering there are 3 different caravans on Weds, we should have a natural crowd control taking place~

Good luck at your first!  One thing I challenge you to do is to get involved with the bidding atleast once. You'll be surprised at how many nobodies find that first hand raise hard to do. Even if you know you won't win the unit just get in the mix up it will make you feel more comfortable with everything

I used to physically shake when bidding on units.  I asked a few 'regulars' if the nerves ever go away?  A few chuckled and others said 'nope'.  But I think they were joshing me, because the last two units I won......can't say I recall the butterflies making an appearance.

On to the OP~Cobia is dead on with the advice.  My husband and I often 'disagree' on how to pack n strap it all down.  I usually fret the whole way home.  I guess I should relax about that too, as we have yet to lose even a sheet of paper.

As far as icebreakers, just be yourself.  Be polite.  So often folks forget this simplest life lesson.  I've found the best advice to anybody attending their first auction is to keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut.  You'll learn so much! 

Also have some fun.  Nothing like the first time to an auction....they open the door and you see it for yourself.  Step up, take a long look and then step back and try to figure what you think it'll go for.  It's a great way to gauge your aptitude for the business and the local crowd.

And finally the best way to 'figure out prices' is research and contacts.  I've learned so much in the few months that I've been doing this. 

Best of luck to you~

Metro Atlanta area has usually 30-50 auctions each week the first 2 weeks of the month then the last 2 weeks of the month are slammed with over 100 auctions each week!! Can't say we have a shortage of auctions here in Atlanta. But the first 2 weeks of the month are very crowded. The last 2 weeks of the month if you find the right auction to go to there won't be as much competition the crowds get thinned out.

Sounds an awful lot like what happens in Phoenix.  Suppose one of these 'slow' days I'll have to make the trek north to see just what a big city auction atmosphere is like~

Good luck acman!  I hope you get the second unit as my husband, daughter and I played eye-spy and we'll need you to let us know how well we did!!

Hope you win 'em both!

Happy 2012 to all!

Just did some quick figuring and we actually had a good run for newbies.
Bought 8 lockers starting at the end of Sept.  Just the quick breakdown looks like this:

Total cost~$2435
Total made~$7635
for a net of~$5200

We still have about $600-900 in inventory and some nice seed money.  We probably kept about $200 worth of merchandise and another $100 on Christmas gifts.  Of course finding that one painting was a difference maker and thank God I didn't sell it at a yard sale for $20!!!!

We've learned a ton and are looking forward to a prosperous new year.
This forum has been such a help and inspiration to us.......

Probably should have quit while I was ahead.  Had high expectations for today.....nary a call and the lady that was supposed to come over today......no show.

Oh well......glad for the sales yesterday.  And I don't think we'll be going to the flea market to sell tomorrow....perhaps to shop, but I'm tuckered out after baking all day, so sleeping in....with any luck~

Had a meteorite guy come out yesterday (I didn't have any of those....bummer) and basically tell me I had a nice rock collection.  He suggested I bring some of the better items to the gem & mineral show and see what I can get for them.  I explained that I really couldn't wait that long (a month and a half) and told him I'd just piece it out at the swap meet and hope to make a couple hundred.

We shook hands and he left.  I was feeling dejected.  5 minutes later he returned and said "for $200 I can't go wrong." handed me 2 hundred dollar bills and loaded the rocks.  He picked out a couple pieces to give to my daughters and begged us to come see him at his booth in February. 

All in all, I'm happy.  I hated the thought of trying to sell something I know nothing about.  Recouped a third of our investment and now know I will make $$ on the unit.

Will update as some of the 'unknown commodities' move~

What a relief~