So far we have been lucky with the Auctioneer's we have been too. But here is what we have seen and my question. We have one Auction company that does the biggest chain of storage facilities in our area 14 locations in our county. Our first caravan run being real nob's we did notice at two of the facilities same manager that some of it looked a little staged. Just made a note.
This month another facility all of the units but one, very little in the units looked like they had been rummaged. The one that was not, to much work. Several people were complaining about the Auction company and they were doing something bad. What we saw was the facility managers looked like they would do something shady. Lets say the manager knows the owner is not going to come save it. Then he/she could go rummage it or stage it before the auctioneer comes and does their thing with the locks and tags. My point here is the Auction company does not know what units to be auctioned except threw the manager of the facility.

A guy came to one of the auction's and asked who is doing this one. We told him, and he said Oh I don't like them. That he bought a staged unit and was upset he said he got his money back. From his story it sounded like it was the facility manager that got him not the Auctioneer. 
 Could be wrong but feel like the facility and the managers have all the power the Auctioneer is just their to do the job.  I am sure there are some shady Auctioneers out there but this is what we have seen.

A few around here accepting CC but BP in cash.. They all might start taking CC payments only.. LOL With the popularity from the shows all those people running around with a lot of cash money... Asking for trouble IMO.
Some desperate person wanting to take your money... They jump in your car with you in it.

owns the thrift  store that always gets the units he wants? This guys always out bids you if he wants the unit. He doesnt buy them all but he does get what he wants. How would you handle this?

Back on subject.. Just wanted to say that we are fitting in a little better around our crowd. Did witness a bad situation today. Went out of our area for an auction, one of our local guys there he runs an auction house. He did not get a unit. There were 5 guys that all work together and purposely bid him out. I was near his wife and there is bad blood there.. She said the B word out load, and was looking at the 5 guys. Not sure what happened but you sure don't want to get involved in something like that. And the crew of 5 guys were really nice. We also gained some respect from some other Whales in our area by showing up to a small auction 8 people. And seeing one of them again we talked and got some info. So if you can attend other auctions maybe out of area.. Get a few and if he sees you there might back off. The one with the 8 people only us and an new whale to us were bidding. We dropped out of the first two units because he wanted them more than we did. On the last one he stopped and we got it. Told my husband when they were paying that I let you have that one because you stopped on the other two. Nothing went over $100. Just some thoughts on the topic.

It is fun. Keep going we are getting better at finding better auctions we may have to drive further but so far it will pay off because to much money being spent here. : ). We attended 3 before our first purchase. So hang in there it will come. : ). Have two now.. Guess that still makes us noobies HAHAHAH.

Welcome aboard try the search button or at bottom of form page your area might be old news but good information. Good Luck

I have been surprised how we have been treated as Nobs. It has really been good all around. Not all secrets are given out but the regulars treat us like we have been there for a long time. Could be we don't act crazy or like we are in front of a TV crew.. LOL I think a lot of how people treat you is how you act. So you must be pretty nice too.  . We ran into what the regulars get mad about yesterday... bunch of people who have no idea what they are doing. People were Rude to the facility managers and the Auctioneer. I helped out a new guy the other day just a hobby guy.. He said his wife really wanted to come to one, by the end of the day he said I don't think she will like this. So not sure he will be back. He was really nice and so was I.  Good luck sounds like you are on the right tract.

Went on a caravan today... Way to many Nob's first Auction about 30 people 7 regulars. Only Nob's purchased. We left the caravan and went to a new one to us 8 people 5 bidders. The manager was talking about the TV shows and said if he had a guy like Hester he would shoot him... LOL Our local Whale was at this one and did not look to happy to see us.    He offers a class for Storage Auction buying... must not be a good class... LOL  3 units. 5X5 $35.00, 5x5 pretty full small furniture pieces $70.00 Purchased a 5x5 with one tote, a kids bed from the 70"s (big orange and yellow flowers on the material) has the wheels on it with a foam mattress.. And 20,000 lbs Reese hitch. Paid $60 So should be good. I quickly looked in tote had clothes on top.. Levis. After going threw it in the bottom 28 beanie babies... LOL Oh ya and .11
Returned to the caravan it just got worse.. 60 people a junk 4x8 unit $350  All Nobs. And they had a sell and hold on two... Looking to go somewhere else tomorrow. This is crazy. Guess we are a little slow here in the south with the TV shows... All the Nob's were straight from the couch. 

Well I have 3 of those types of people.  One that has a huge thrift store that is part of a church.  Two others that have stores and are normally in direct competetion with whale 1.  Then we have a few guys that buy for their auction house.

What I have done is befriended the church whale and one of the other thrift store guys.  I give them advice on computers and such and learn what they are looking for, etc.  For the most part the units they want I stay clear of since I'm not into furniture.  This relationship has worked out well so far.

1) I have an outlet to sell furniture and stuff quick and easy if I get any.
2) If they have already purchased a few units and I'm bidding they back off.
3) Learn of other auctions I'm not aware of or see in the paper.
4) I'm learning their normal limits and such which is helpfull on silent auctions.

While there are no friends once the auction starts you can still be respectfull.  I don't run up any of the regulars unless I really want the unit.  Then I go to my max.  For the whales I'll never have the cash to out-bid them if they really want the unit.  So I have to pick and choose my battles.

Great advise we have one Whale that has about three different people attend auctions with out him. He has an auction house but he is not in the habit of bidding to much for a unit. But we have not gone head to head with him either. Another one he is very stand offish not sure what he has going maybe a store and I don't think he is local three days of Auction's hales stuff around from the day before.
So pick your battles try and find the less advertised auctions, If he is there may have some respect for you finding it... I heard today about an Auction that had 2 people at it. Of course he did not tell me where it was.