Finally auctions again here in Tucson.  Very small crowd (about 15 people) due to weather.....we don't do rain here!
NO lookie-loos, only a couple newbies.  Pretty hardcore crowd.  At the first location there was only one unit up and it was a dandy.  Don & I both decided $550 would be a good price.  Went for $675 and I think it was worth it.....I just didn't want to gamble that much.  It was a 5X10 full with a few antiques showing.  Much accumulated dust and just a gem of a unit.  It was won by our version of Dave Hester.

On to the next site where we picked up a couple regulars.  5 units up for auction. All 5X10's.   First was kinda sparse with at least 3 mattresses and a bunch of junk.  Went for $35. 

The next was a about the same, but with some 'decent' furniture showing.  It went for $375. 

The 3rd was only about half full.  It had a gorgeous coffee table laying on it's side so you couldn't see the top, an old mirror, a beat to heck leather sofa and some kids items.  Went for $50.....to us....more on that later.

4th unit had some tools, a couple totes and some boxes.  Ended up going for $275.  The Milwaukee drill case  really drove the price up as everybody 'betting' on the item being in there.

5th unit~full to the rafters with junk and more junk.  It ended up going for over $400.

All in all~nice albeit soggy day here.

Our unit should net us about $200 or so when all is said and done.  I have a record-low one garbage bag (well plus the sofa) to take to the dump.  Should easily move the toddler bed, changing table and kids toys out at our local flea market.

The coffee table was in good shape and with minimal work should bring in about $75 to $100.  The art & mirrors are probably going to be the easiest sell as they are inexpensive and yet tasteful.  There is a Last Supper print that is in one incredible frame.  Anything having to do with Christ sells quickly here.

All in all an easy day.  We had no wow factor, but also didn't have a ton of work/stress/dirt.

On a side note......how many sterilite tubs/totes and the like can one household have?  Add in the 50+ milk-crates and I have enough storage to last me a lifetime!

Tomorrow is our busy day with 3 different auctioneers having sales and two being caravans.  Don & I will be splitting up and hitting the two caravan ones. 

Hope to have a 'gem' story by tomorrow at this time~

she was quiet as a mouse when I was bidding.  she knows how to turn that switch off

Where can I buy one of those switches and do they also come in adult sizes?

 

The tables that look to be piled with nothing but crap everywhere I don't give a second glance.

Yep~lay it all out so folks can see what you're offering.  Always a task to accomplish, but I too walk past a table that I would have to 'dig' through.

I don't quite understand 'niches' as a storage unit buyer has such wide variety of items.  We've never bought a unit that was all one category.  And as such we've never had a swap meet run with a 'theme'.  I can see a niche as a picker, but that's another show altogether~

We do however (try to) organize everything.  Housewares on one table, tools in another area, collectibles have their spot and so on and so forth.

We ALWAYS get a corner space.  Yes we pay a bit more, but you've got traffic from two directions plus 'elbow' room.  And the added benefit of not having to maneuver the truck when quitting time arrives.

We're actually going to head out tomorrow morning and if we can find a couple spaces together (becoming more difficult as other vendors have found out about our little 'junky' flea market) I'll set up with my antique/retro items.  I'm finding the antique fairs aren't proving all that profitable and since we're there anyway........

I do agree with a little kindness and manners go's along way unless your on the phone or texting while in line to see a unit than you will get pushed out!

My mother taught me many moons ago.....
Two wrongs don't make a right.  Very few are courteous in this (or any other) business.  I have been pushed and shoved and oh don't even get me started on the smell.....try one of these things in Tucson in the summer.....ewwwww.....Can we use a little deodorant people?!

I've told a couple auctioneers here that I'm going to write an auction etiquette pamphlet that they can hand out before the start of each auction.  Funny nobody listens to the #1 rule of 'Women and children first'.........luckily I'm long and lean and can outwalk the best of 'em.

I give as good as I get, but when first starting out and not knowing the ropes, it really does help to be polite and yes.....perhaps a bit humble~

Mom lecture over now........

ps....brush your teeth, eat your veggies and by all means.......use the deodorant.   

be courteous.  That is something that is truly dying in this world.  A simple please and thank you can take you much further than the whining or grumping that is so common today.

If you want to be in the 'in' crowd treat others with respect.....that includes your fellow bidders, the facility managers and yes.....the auctioneer.  You'd be amazed at what it can net you.

Final update~
My husband just called to say he is leaving Santa Fe with a check for $3500 in his possession!

So that ($525) unit netted us just over $4000!  And we still have 'stuff' to sell.

I do have to say it was an ordeal, from dealing with the galleries to my husband staying in Show Low AZ last night (at his moms) with NO heat.  Temp was 9 degrees.  But the heat is back on~repaired this morning before he left.  The painting is where it belongs.  And we have seed money for future endeavors (we were using our savings).

Yippee!

oh and I still have a Pablita Velarde original (too much water damage to be gallery ready).......

Go me!

We (okay....actually my husband) took in a load of scrap that has been accumulating on our property for a couple years.  Brought home $297 cash.  So yeah it pays.  But it is physical.

My husband is an electrician by trade and we know the value of copper.  Now learning the value of metals, such as aluminum vs steel vs cast iron vs......  pain to sort, so this load (less the copper) basically went in one load.

The chunk o' change today will definitely influence how I view 'junk' lockers in the future.  If you have the truck/trailer and a strong back, scrapping is a great source of 'additional' income.

And thanks to this forum.  It never occurred to me to cut cords off dead electrical items.