Teacher and Mr. A...those are both good stories, now come up with some one-line statements you would put in a FORTUNE COOKIE to be opened by an auction buyer.

Do you offer the big stuff to other bidders right there on the spot, or do you go thru it all and offer it to them later?

Sometimes I'll announce it to the crowd right after I've bought the locker (depends on the facility and the auctioneer...some won't allow it).

After I put my lock on I'll say something like..."First 50 dollars takes the couch and love seat!" or "First 20 dollars takes the fridge!"  It has worked several times.

Other times I will approach individual buyers (some of the ones who can only buy $1 and $5 lockers) and either give it to them or charge them some mimimal amount.

My goal is to save myself from loading the big items. I really don't like to take them to a flea and or move them to my permanent storage for CL selling.

I've seen that kind where they'll sell a single (stand-out) piece and then sell the rest of the locker.

Now, Roger, before you tell me I should know better, here's something else I saw at an auction like that: The auctioneer held up an old .22 rifle and sold it as a single item. In California, this is a definite no, no. Yes, HE should have known better, and maybe he did, but he sold it anyway.

Well, a shorter trip for me than for you !

Actually, I AM going to Vegas in mid March, but not to go to auctions, but to see Celine Dion in concert.
Nope, as much as I would like to do a "two-fer" the price of one trip, the auctions will be out...the better half is not in to going to auctions.

We'll be hiking though and gambling just a bit....but not on lockers !

Buyer "A" must have been kicking himself in the ass for getting rid of something without realizing the true value! 

Both buyers A and B are based about 50 miles from me but the buyer B sells at the flea market I frequent. I think buyer A is a low-end buyer (and not that smart)....don't know if he ever found out about the big eBay sale. Certainly the guy who bought the token for $5 would not say anything or try to rub it in. It's about what you know (or don't know).

I bought an older Bose Wave from a flea seller for $10 and sold it for I think $280 7 days later on eBay as an example. We're all looking for the bargain buy that will result in a good return on investment.

Several years ago one of our local buyers made a BIG score but in a round-about way.

Auction buyer A bought a locker and found a casino chip in a box. I think it was a $1 chip as I recall.
Auction buyer B bought the chip from him for $5.

Auction buyer B put it on eBay and thought he would score a few bucks. It sold for $14,000 and change !

It was from the Landmark...one of the first old time casinos to be imploded.  The eBay buyer needed it to complete a collection...apparently there was more than one collector who wanted it.

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Yep, this is a true story and all the local buyers saw it happen on eBay. Only one thing wrong with this story....it wasn't me !

7:20 pm Pacific time...

Getting ready for Las Vegas 2nd episode...previews promise one of the 4 walking off with a fortune !

Who will it be?

Will come back later with comments.  

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Edit: 10 minutes into the show and I'm thinking (from the preview) that the married couple will get the big prize as Brandi digs in what looks like a plastic bag. Maybe it's a gambler's winnings being hidden from his wife then the locker was lost....you'd think if there was big cash in a locker they would find a way to bail it out.

Edit: 5 minutes before end of program. The couple the big winners as I thought.....happy for them....wish it was me ! In a few minutes they'll announce how everyone came out...the couple and Dave the biggies. Darrel may score big on his vase....reality would say not considering the junk furn that was wrapped up.

Edit: Unbelievable...not just lady luck...junk furn and 3 pricey vases?  That's entertainment !

Couple chips total out at:  $512  I can believe the chips...can't believe the vases.