Your idea was prob the best bet for your time/money MovieMan.  I'm going to bite the bullet however and try some new territory myself.  Have to head up near Atlanta next week to pickup some shelves father purchased.  So found a few auctions so far next week.  Will just pick a day with the most units for sale and head up there.

Also found a saturday auction in a different town I've never tried.  Then a caravan on the 25th down in Savannah.  So may give it a go depending on the weather.  They have a 400+ booth flea in Savannah so want to hit it while I'm there if can.

Auction Wednesday and Friday here but don't know if I'll make them due to work.  Want to try and hit at least one.

LOL money - I just saw a punching bag and the TKO trainer stand in a unit that sold for $950 this afternoon.

Also check out government surplus, big box retail surplus sites, etc.  If you can dig around long enough you can find other places if you live near a capital/big city.  If your like me and live further out your choices are more limited.

@ cobia - many of the real auction companies are starting to hurt due to the crowds.  As the guy from Legacy said it is taking him 2-3x as long to do one facility if they have 10 or more units.  So while the pay has gotten a little better it is starting to hurt them in the long run.  Instead of 3-4 auctions a day they can only do 1 or 2.

Thrift store / flea vendors will either go under or adapt.  New people would open up stores.  I disagreed with someone the other day that stated "If you can profit running a thrift now you can do it at any time".  I disagreed with them, for currently more people are shopping thrifts/outlets due to the economy and counting every penny.  Once economy turns around and everyone heads back to big box stores - a number of these thrift stores will close.  Like the gold buying companies they are on every street corner it seems currently.


On the admission - I still prefer no admission or to be grandfathered in once you buy a unit from that facility.  Trying to keep up with all the paperwork would be a PITA also I would think.  Paying $5 to see 20 units and crowd of 20-30 people is cool.  Paying $5 to see 3 trash units, and crowd still 50+ would just suck.

Well the trend continues.  Today's auction was down to 6 units, a good 60-70 people, and overpriced units.  Nothing great today, specially for the prices people were paying....even before the 10% bp and 7% tax.  I should of just stayed at work.

Talked with the guy that won the unit that had a gun safe we couldn't bid on.  He still made out like a freaking bandit if it's not all a big tale.  Unit had piano he sold for $400, the fender case did have a fender guitar in it.  He found all sorts of camo, gun cleaning kit, and a .38.  Also said he found 2 wildlife gold coins 1oz .999 gold.  If all that is true he is going to triple or more his $601 investment.

Seeing more and more new people.  I don't know if it's everyone has cash so going auction crazy or what.  I'm just trying to weather the storm and not get too frustrated.  Buddy of mine said he may just take rest of the month off.  He hasn't purchased a locker since Nov.  Think he is getting a little frustrated.  Told him we will just have to borrow the box truck and hit Atlanta or Savannah one day.  Try our luck there.

Box auctions, pallet auctions, refurbish auctions - they can all be good places for items.  I know most of the storage buyers here sell totes/boxes of simular items at the auction house.  I've thought about it but have never done it.  Will have to attend one day and see.

Today found me at my 3 facility caravan that I've done ok at and have lost my shirt on.  Still a silent auction, instead of live bid like they plan to do.  Only about 50 people today which was a small crowd compared to normal and earlier in the week.  Yet, again a large number of new faces and declared newbies.  Even heard one lady asking about the auction at our last stop and was like "that could be fun" (she was a tenant storing stuff).  Large number of units paid up.  Had our first gun safe today but was told up front that it was NOT included in the unit.  Management decided to turn the safe & weapons (owner said weapons inside) to police to run serial #s.  Everyone was pissed of course.  Was a very nice unit (compound bow, deer antleers, etc) - guy bid $601 I know and think he won.  Last unit of the day was packed to the rafters, one of the regulars got it and I think he said he put down $1000 bid.  Only other unit of note was a aqua unit.  This thing was slap full of shelves of aquariums and reptile display cases.  Was interesting but not something I really wanted.

Headed down to Statesboro after auction w/ father to buy some stuff.  Had my score of the day while at the agriculture store.  Saw two cloths racks on rollers next to store.  Asked manager about them and he said he had gotten them for a friend 3 months ago and friend decided didn't want.  So I got them for free.  That and the two pennies picked up was my profit of the day.

So still striked out on lockers for the month but got some goods.  See what next week brings.

I myself don't like the idea.  It wouldn't surprise me anyways if some companies start to do that.  I don't want to pay $5 to look at 1 locker that is trash/empty.  Once/if the crowds die down would these places stop charging the $5.  Of course not, it's extra revenue for them.

I'm in Georgia but have only a few facilities that will take a credit card, most are cash only.  Most are starting to do a $5 or $10 min incramental bid.  Many of the regulars will go ahead and jump bids up on good lockers and just sit back and watch on bad.

So a good locker that we all know will go for $150+ normally we start at $50 or $100 depending on the crowd.  It scares away a few people sometimes.