Around here, UHaul and Public Storage allows credit cards. Ample Storage (local chain) allows credit cards in certain situations, typically if the locker sells for enough money. I have a Paypal debit card which gives me 1% cash back. I haven't used it in the auction setting, but I may start, because every little bit helps!

I have been looking into it a bit more. It's a big time investment for little reward. This is true. However, I'm thinking of ways to better stand out from the other books out there. The time investment is more of an issue than the reward. I don't care about making money on it, I'm just a natural writer and have to be writing something all the time. I used to write movie scripts, but that style of writing takes momentum. I can't write for a few weeks, take a week off and go back. It's something that demands consistency.

I'm thinking of writing an ebook that's a bit more realistic about the industry. Want to throw some topics/ideas out?

It's scary that something like that can happen. The only bones I've seen in a locker is chicken bones. This story reminds me of a story that just came out of Durham today. They found a guy's body stuck in the AC ducts of a store that had been closed for over a year. He apparently got stuck while trying to rob it back when it was open.

I never considered buying it. I watched their free videos and decided that it was full of fluff and not much substance. Good for newbies, some videos anyways. By and large, they're not saying anything new about the industry.

The auction yesterday was horrible! Lots of new people spending ridiculous money! I saw a room with a mattress that was ROUGH and 2 bins go for $75! I saw a queen sized bed frame with cracked rails, mattress and box spring and mystery dresser (pushed against the wall drawers in) go for $200. Insane!

Not to mention the $5 chip raises. Drove me crazy all day when the auctioneer/manager would ask for $175 bid from a $150, and these newbies would bid $155!!! What drove me even crazier was the management would take the bid!! Just encouraging ridiculous behavior!

Wii's around here sell for $30-$50. PS3's still get over $100. Xbox 360s get just below to right around $100. I sell the games for $5 ea. PS2 games for $3 ea. I research each game before selling it at that price. Sold a Zelda game for Gamecube 2 weeks ago on ebay for $40. Older consoles sell well if they work. $30-$60 depending on the system.

I don't think that it's any big secret that most storage facilities utilize the live auction format to sell their lockers. Online storage auctions may just be a fad, my prediction is that it is. I think that unless these websites can bolster their listings, they will fold. It's expensive to keep a staff, maintain a website, and do the rest on the volume of lockers these guys are performing at. StorageBattles included.

The real advantage Travis has with VSA is the lack of overhead that SB has. He can afford to give incentives, for now. I think that as VSA grows, people will need to be hired to maintain the site, recruit more facilities, perform customer service, etc. If not, the level of service will decrease, and facilities will jump ship. SB charges an arm and a leg, because it has to. No other revenue stream than to take a rake from the facility and the bidder.