Sounds like a great auction to hit.  Wish I had something like that in my area.  You will either find a ton of people as everyone is off on vacation this week.  Or you will find only a few as most people headed out of town for same reason.

Ya'll have sales only on Sunday?  Do you live up north or something?  Local flea is still open sat/sun but most of the times now they don't sell out.  People in the south just don't like shopping in the cold.

Rockin - I doubt he meant it that way.  I figure (correct me if wrong Ben) that he and wife are middle-income or higher financially and in those social circles.  People have comfort zones and certain views due to the situations they are in.  Going outside of those zones and views causes lots of nerviousness.  How many times have you walked on a street or mall and got a little nervous about the large biker looking dude behind you.  Or for even more modern times - you grow more alert when see a person in arab clothing or speaking such.  I know I do even knowing 99% of the time it's nothing.  Heck our pastor rides a harley, has a beard, and dresses in leather on some outings.

Take for example the flea market.  Many of us buy and sell there.  Even I only sell in certain locations at the market as some parts stink to me due to all the candles, etc.  I love the Mexicans / Hispanics that come to the market.  Many of the sellers don't as they always want to negotiate the price of stuff.  I lived in Panama for 2 years and it's a way of life.  It's part of their culture to negotiate over prices.  Most americans just ask "how much" and either buy or not.


Anyways - like you said Rockin.  Most people at the auctions can be just as bad or worse then the people you are in contact with at the flea.  I know for a fact in GA in the summer that we all smell pretty ripe by the time we look at 1/2 a dozen lockers.

Can you tell it's a very slow day at work today......

I'd of been excited to find a silver cert and $2 bills.  Some of those can be of value -- check your serial #s.

If you do this more then 3 months you are going to make a mistake or two....if not in your first few purchases.  You still will do better then myself.  Here is my Bigger boo-boo....

I made a $875 mistake on a double locker with tools, furniture, etc.  Looked really really good from the door.  Was a silent auction and I didn't listen to my gut (BAD MISTAKE).  I have recovered only $75 (100 once get paid) from the locker.  Here were some of the contents that had me bidding:

1) nice oak looking trunk
2) Bamboo 8 drawer chest of drawers w/ double mirror
3) dark color 8 drawer chest w/ large mirror
4) MAC tools bag saw behind the bamboo
5) Large air compressor on wheels
6) Large craftsman toolbox
7) Table saw and miter saw
saw horses, various sheetrock and plywood lumber, door frame, etc.
9) stuff all hanging up on walls

So I look at this unit and it reminds me of my barns when we first purchased our land (was a forclosure).  Guy had passed away but was a carpenter / handyman.  So I was thinking ok cool - a nice tool unit.  See the MAC and Craftsman toolbox and bag.  Was going to bid $500 but wrote $875.  Next highest bid I found out was $600 so already I had paid too much.  Here was what found after got in

1) nice oak looking trunk -- turned out to be newer type trunk and someone painted the front green - wth
2) Bamboo 8 drawer chest of drawers w/ double mirror -- side broken, mirror back need re-tack, leg broke
3) dark color 8 drawer chest w/ large mirror -- gash in wood, is particle board and heavy as heck.
4) MAC tools bag saw behind the bamboo -- busted MAC tools folding chair
5) Large air compressor on wheels -- motor busted - cost more to buy new so going to scrap
6) Large craftsman toolbox -- various odds and ends, one of few things I kept -- some value
7) Table saw and miter saw -- busted and cords cut.  Going to try and repair table saw.

Did pull a Harrington 1.5 ton lever hoist with a 12 or 14' chain on it.  Those go for $700+ new so trying to sell it on craigs for $400.  Also pulled out a few odds and ends worth of chains, including 1 to tie-down cars.  Kids want to keep the punching bag I found.

Also found a chase lounge chair.  Those are my bad luck.  Next unit I see with one of those in there I'm running for the hills.  My only other worst unit was a $100 unit at this same facility with one of those chairs.  So no matter what is in a unit if it's at this facility, in the D building, with a chase lounge I'm not bidding a cent

So buck up - we all make mistakes and just have to learn from them.

Sigh - I had just typed a long drawn out post for you and got hit with the "time out" bat.

Ok - quick thoughts instead of the long post.

1) You will get tvs, maybe a matress, and furniture that you don't see due to a stack of boxes.  Think of how to get rid of them.

2) If you value your car don't use it.  You will find some very nasty and smelly stuff in lockers.  Those odors will get trapped in your car.

3) Think about the sorting, selling, and storage first -- buying is easy.

4) Attend some auctions before you buy -- you have to train your eyes.  Only have a few mins if that to look at a unit now due to the # of people that come to look.  Have to take it in all pretty fast and not overlook anything.

5) Go back and read or re-read older post on here.  Some great ideas and subject matters have been discussed.  Read the Looky Loo thread and see what the prices have been in places.  Can you manage those prices and make money?

6) Be respectfull and friendly.  One of the locals may take you under their wing so to speak.

Good Luck

I watched the Texas show for the first time last night as my daughters wanted me to watch TV with them.  One thing I thought during the show was - at least the prices are more decent then CA.  Other then that I mostly tuned out the show.

Honestly who thinks that a small unit of rental furniture would contain a 7k ink well in it.  It was the only thing "collectible" in the unit.  At least the hat, belt, snake skin boots were not too much of a stretch for that unit.  Of course the hat being the only thing in the drawers makes you go "ok??".

I still watch the shows online for entertainment value.  Think the original SW is way better then Texas.  However, after seeing a few hundred lockers and doing this for 7 months now I have a better appreciation for my local oldtimers, and people like MovieMan and others that have been doing this for years.  You quickly learn how fake the shows really are.

Side note - I'm interested in watching the "moving wars" show in January.  Part of me was like -- dang they will make a show about anything.  Rest of me was interested to see how they move some of this stuff.

The brother and daughter wouldn't of been allowed to bid on the unit at most of the places around here.  Think that is to discourage people from going default and then trying to buy back the unit for $200 on say a $1000 bill.  It also discourages other bidders and people really don't want to deal with the drama.

The prices from your caravan seem to be a little wild.  Maybe due to the crowds?  First stop prices sounded ok (other then $250 for 1/4 filled room of totes).  Stop 2 sounded bad, and 3 ok.  But I'm with you on $400 for a 5x10 of produce boxes.  If it were professional boxes or such I could maybe see the risk.  Doubt I'd of gone that high however. 

For me if it's all boxes / totes that I can't really see anything my max is $200.  I've lost a few units due to that max.....but then found out later I was glad I did.

Sounds like a great treasure find and a good price for a silent auction.  One of my best units profit ratio wise was a silent auction that I purchased for a large $26.

Keep up the great work.

I know thrift stores seem to be opening in every nook and cranny in my neck of the woods.  Most are very small however, and not sure how they are making it.  We have a Goodwill and Salvation Army stores also.

I know my mother has talked about a store a few times.  No idea why as she really isn't interested.  Anyways, I've given location and such some thought.  Also, I'd do consignment so that I don't have to tie up all my money in inventory.  Furniture and appliances are the big money makers for most of these stores I'd think.

As for that guys location near a big store...not sure what they were thinking.  Bad idea IMO.