Today I bought a locker with 2 Sony Mavica digital cameras... Nothing says cutting edge like a floppy disc drive in your camera..

"Redneck Willy Wonka!" LOL!  Trying to imagine what that even looks like! Are we talking Gene Wilder Willy Wonka or Johnny Depp Willy Wonka?

Picture Gene Wilder with Willy Wonka hair under a trucker cap with a flannel type shirt.

I wonder if me and you have had any run ins. I am from the Fayetteville area but travel to Aberdeen/Rockingham/Whiteville areas. I have been close to Raleigh as well with places like Smithfield/Wendell/Clayton.

I pretty much stay within Raleigh/Durham/Cary. Sometimes I'll venture out toward Chapel Hill and if there's a bunch of lockers down to Fuquay/Angier. If I go to Clayton/Garner it'll be a legal ad posting only. Nowhere to be found online.

I couple of questions HomeGrown,

Is he a seasoned vet and are you a relative newbie? or are you more a regular and he a newbie? It seems like with a childish response like 825! Now go away already! he is not a professional.

My hunches are, he is a seasoned regular (although not a professsional) and you are bidding on units in his "sweet spot" thereby creating competition for him. In smaller markets, just showing up to certain auctions is infringing on someones sweet spot. You also stand out in the crowd, so you might be drawing more attention then normal 6'4" tall, 350 lbs.? .....etc....etc........etc...

I've been attending storage auctions since I've been out of high school. My grandfather owned a used goods store in NJ and I would help him out with loading/unloading and he would show me what to look for, values of things, etc. When I moved to NC, I was on the circuit locally. I cut my teeth with the "old pro's" and once they saw that I knew what I was looking at, and I was patient, staying in my budget not letting my feelings get the best of me, etc. I earned respect. Back then I didn't see this guy around... Anyway, when the TV shows broke and the HUGE crowds came and everything ran real expensive I dropped out and went back to a day job. Now that I own a business separate from auctions, I can do both. So I'm back out there..

My guess is, this guy thinks I'm new and is trying to run me off.. When I first came back, I asked one of my old buddies who he was and he told me a little of his back story. When I described this person, Tom, to my friend; I described him as a "redneck Willy Wonka".. all in fun, I am a comedian after all I'm thinking that got back to Tom and now he's got it out for me.

I bought 4 lockers on April 1st. I had no room for any more stuff. I continued going to auctions, but it was always in the back of my head that I can't get anything too big because of my lack of storage. Now that I have plenty of storage space and a fatter wallet, I can go for the bigger units. I like going for the bigger units and selling off. Although, the "what you see is what you get" units are usually good for a quick flip.

I hate dealing with people like that. They think they're buying brand new stuff off of Craigslist. Sometimes, I feel like saying "If you want a warranty, go buy from Haverty's, you cheap F***!" What I've learned, however, is if you stand your ground on price with these people, they respect the product more. It's as if you're saying, "This stuff is worth what I'm asking." and they tend to take a second look and think harder about the offer. In the end, you can throw out a $100 discount "if it helps them out." In my experience, that tactic works for people with money to spend. (and not instant money like tax returns) My experience includes selling cars (Chevy's to Mercedes), home electronics, and appliances.

At the flea market, the smalls are selling like crazy. I have a sectional couch for $200 and a double lounge/chaise for $100. I can't move these pieces! I think I've got it priced really well, almost at a steal.. just can't move the big pieces.

The auction prices are still ridiculous. Today I saw 17 units. Didn't come away with anything either because they were too junky or too expensive. I can either buy a poop locker for $1-$25 or a decent locker for $400+.. There's no happy medium recently.

Is it me, or did Nabila have too many cleavage shots? She needs to button up!