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Messages - Cobia

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811
The Treasure Chest / Re: Nazi Silver
« on: February 03, 2012, 07:34:47 AM »
1933-1937 5 mark, 1936-1937 2 mark, 1941 1? mark. Already sold 1 of the 5 marks and 1 of the 2 marks to a friend for $25. Most for the other coins are German from the 1950s - early 1970s, some from Netherlands 1960s-1980s, Spain 1980s. I have been keeping the world coins I find in units. Mostly Canadian, Euros, pound Sterling; but with this collection and the other coins I might try to start selling them at the flea aswell.

How do you price & market your world coins? Do you just sell older coins or modern coins or both?

812
New to Storage Auctions? / Re: Where To Sell
« on: February 03, 2012, 07:17:40 AM »
Quote from: money4nothing on February 03, 2012, 07:06:00 AM
Our CL sales not very good  ???  Think because of our area.

Liandra looking hard at that, you have been doing well. Most of our places are $200 and up. >:(

On the consignment side we were doing great and now not so much. Most of the consignment places charge way to much. We have been lucky only charges 20%. But now issues there.

So word of advice get references before you consign. When we were selling a lot we were at the store at least once a week. Now sales have slowed due to the code telling her she can't put stuff in front of the store. When all this happened offered to pick up some of the stuff we have down there to give her more room. NO NO I got it. Store looks good but she has taken some liberties of selling our stuff. Had a coffee table and end table set for $35. I was there when a customer only wanted the end tables, so she looked at me can I bargain? I shook my head, did not know he only wanted the end tables. She sold them for $10, so that is $8 to me.  ???.  Talked to her yesterday and she sold 2 of a set of 6 solid wood chairs for $10 a piece.  :o. Retail the chairs are $50 a piece.  She said well it got them out of the storage. We have other chairs there not as nice for $20 a piece.

We don't have the storage right now to go pull everything.....   

Also some of our items are not visibly for sale. Have two book shelves (they were selling like hot cakes) the price tag is hidden on them and she has her smalls on them.

Also I notice that her prices went up right before the code got on to her, so I think both have caused the slow down in sales. We are going to pull out all together it will just take us some time.

So do some research before you consign.

 Thinking about doing the face book thing. Tried to talk her into doing it. 

And looking at a space at antique mall this weekend. (same place we do the Flea Market so convenient).

Good luck everyone.

Doing storage auctions consistently is pretty much a "turn and burn" operation. You are just going to have to get use to selling things for the price that will move them instead of what the research says their value is. Remember, most of the items you sell are going to turn up again in your possession anyway if you continue to do storage auctions. I haved started to laugh at myself for getting upset about not getting the money I wanted out of a particular item, then have two more just like it show up in the next unit! The point being, if you really think you can make more money on certain items then go ahead and try to find the connections and outlets for selling those particular items because many of these items are going to show up again and again and again....Until then, just move that inventory and make that money!

813
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #2...February, 2012
« on: February 02, 2012, 07:55:37 AM »
Quote from: UGA*FAN on February 02, 2012, 03:04:40 AM
Busy day yesterday... I thought I had got lucky and found a auction close to home with 17 units advertised.....Wast of time!

Only 6 units.......About 60 people......

When the auction started at the first unit the auctioneer said "Before we open it there is $250 owed on it does anyone want to give me half ( $125 ) blind"  I thought he was joking.  Who wants to bid without seeing the unit?  He was not kidding they sold 3 units "BLIND". Not only were they doing this, the units he opened he would go in the lockers and look in the boxes, open tool boxes, and read name brands to the crowd WTF!

Left very angry at these practices, I thought there may be some fishy things going on between the regulars and the auctioneer.  People that were seen before auction started talking and joking with auctioneer are the ones who bought the "BLIND" lockers with no one contesting there opening bids.  What would have stopped the auctioneer of informing them what lockers to bid on blind as they would have sold for more if they were opened?

Aftere all this I stopped by a Antique shop and flea market that I had heard about but never stopped at.  THis place was huge.  I pass it once or twice a week but thought it was a small shop. I did not realise it had a basement that went  under the whole shopping center and included 2 buildings behind it.  I actually got lost and couldn't find my way back to the office!  LOL   Had to follow arrows on the floor. 

I bit the bullet and rented 2 spaces.  Guess we will see how I do. Going today to start setting up.


Sounds really fishy to me. If something like that happened were I live I would watch to see if anyone agreed to bid like that. If certain people agreed and started bidding I would "run them up" because I would know they have "inside" information.

814
Craigslist / Re: does this craigs list response sound legit?
« on: February 02, 2012, 07:51:35 AM »
Quote from: beth2419 on February 02, 2012, 07:28:14 AM
Hi all,

After winning my first auction I am in the process of selling some stuff on CL.  I recently put up an ad for a large dollhouse. I received a response from someone but it just seems fishy to me.  I am posting what he wrote to see what you think.  I tried googling and doing people searches for his name and email address but am getting nothing.


Hello,
 Thanks for the respond am ok with the price and the condition..I
would have love to come and take a look at it, its just that time wont
permit me cos am very busy... . I will be paying through a
certified,cashier check or MO to cover the cost of the item and i will
be responsible for the shipment and the pickup. I'll take care of that
by engaging the services of a mover, Once you are okay with this, I
will be needing the following information so as to issue out the
payment to you.  . .

1.Name to be issue to...
2.Contact Address(City,State,Zip code)
3.Contact telephone number home,cell or work...)


**** Pls not that FedEx/Ups does not deliver to P.O box and the
payment for the item will be overnight to your address asap. I have
taken a close look at the advert and am completely satisfied i really
need this and will appreciates that you help save this for me till the
payment arrives as it will save me some extra cost....I would have
love to call but am a deaf and only uses a hearing-in paired phone
relay, So please send me an email only Regards****


Awaiting for your prompt response.

That is a classic spam fishing con artist email. DO NOT RESPOND TO IT! As you get into selling on Craigslist you will get at least one of those a month if not as often as once a week!

815
The Treasure Chest / Nazi Silver
« on: February 02, 2012, 07:46:34 AM »
Found my first silver coins in a unit! Woo, Hoo; Ahoy there matie! I'm a real treasure hunter now!

Found a small locked coin box, busted it open and instead of US pennies; it actually had a real coin collection! Some of the more interesting coins were about 6 silver coins from Nazi Germany. They are not rare by any means, you can by them on Ebay, but it's still seems eerily strange to hold coins with Swatstikas minted on them. The coins themselves based on Ebay rates are worth about $80.

There are about 150 other coins in the collection. Most seem to be modern world coins so little monetary value. I did find some older German/Prussian coins so they might have as much or more value then the Nazi era coins.

I will update the total value once I identify all the coins.

Keep Hunting!

816
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #2...February, 2012
« on: February 02, 2012, 07:37:05 AM »
Quote from: MovieMan on February 01, 2012, 10:54:54 PM
Transitioning from Jan to Feb...

Started working in the lkr I got the other day...took 23 black and transparent bags of clothes to Goodwill. Keep in mind I could tell these were not the kind I would sell at the flea market.

Got some good stuff and looks like I will sell about $1K or a little more out of the $600 lkr.



You did sort through those bags first just to make sure there was nothing else hidden didn't you?

817
New to Storage Auctions? / Re: I hit the "wow" factor....
« on: February 01, 2012, 08:30:53 AM »
Quote from: money4nothing on January 31, 2012, 03:05:42 PM
WOW....... we sell the heck out of "fallaparticle board" furniture.  ;D or have a nice fire.



Fallaparticle board furniture goes in cycles in my area. Sometimes I can sell it for almost as much as solid wood furniture, then other times I can't give it away. Guess it all depends on who is shopping on Craigslist.

818
eBay / Re: Anybody ever sell their scrap gold or silver on ebay?
« on: February 01, 2012, 08:25:23 AM »
Quote from: rockin the retro on February 01, 2012, 07:56:00 AM
I've got quite a bit of scrap silver and gold and have been trying to figure out where to sell it.  Pawn shops or the gold buying places always (deeply) undercut.  I called a guy from a local craigslist ad that said he pays well for scrap silver.  He said he pays $17 per troy ounce.  Well when silver was at $30.....that didn't sound to good to me.  So I've been watching ebay and prices they are getting are right in line with the (dealer) market.  I've pretty much been bouncing from calculator sites and the jack hunt coin broker is the one I finally bookmarked.  I use it religiously!

I've been checking weight/prices/market value and I think lb for lb it may be the best best, but........
I've noticed that most folks start many silver scrap lot auctions at .99 and let the buyers do the rest.  I'm too cowardly to just step off the ledge.  What if I don't get what I want?  I've yet to see a lot with a reserve.  Doesn't seem that the BIN attracts much attention, perhaps they're asking over market value....

Any of you guys ever peddle your metals on ebay?

Selling gold & silver on Ebay is too risky for me. Besides, where I live I know atleast a dozen people who will beat each other over the head to buy my scrap. Your area is probably the same, you just have to broadcast at the auctions that you have scrap gold & silver to sell and they should come out of the woodwork for it.

819
Craigslist / Re: Are CL buyers really nuts or what?
« on: January 31, 2012, 07:48:52 AM »
Quote from: Liandra on January 31, 2012, 06:35:55 AM
I had a female at least she said she was texting me about an item after I told her call me I am driving!  Was going to meet at a busy store and I was in the company I work for truck.  She was worried about meeting, condition of item, etc.  I tried calling the number, but she would not answer just text.  I have a old Motorola Razor so text is a SLOW PAIN.  Finally sent the message call or forget it she never called. 

Quite often I will get text messages about an item for sale on Craigslist. I will give them a little information then give my phone number and tell them to call for more info. Most of the time they never call. Sometimes the same person/number will text back after a week or more and ask the same questions. I don't answer a second time by text. I think there are some people out there who are scared to talk on the phone or just refuse to do it and expect to do all their communication by text. I don't play that game!

820
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #1...January, 2012
« on: January 30, 2012, 09:18:34 AM »
We had two more auctions on Saturday. 1st auction had about 40 people. Most of the regulars were selling so only myself and 3 other regulars. I got a 10 x 10 for $190. Seemed like a great buy compared to what units are going for nowadays, but got into the unit and said "Oh my, what have I done?" Turns out all the cushions for the sofa and coach are thrashed, and what little boxes and bags were in there are full of clothes and stuffed animals. The other furniture in there might get me back to break even. Hopefully I can find an affordable way to reupholster the cushions. Can't afford to let these just go to the dump, atleast not yet.

Oh, second auction was an AuctionZip so about 40 people showed for that one. Funny thing it was a totally diffferent crowd from the first auction. Two units, nothing good.

Overall at both auctions prices were moderate, but nothing in the units to get excited about either.

821
eBay / Re: Ebay items from storage lockers
« on: January 30, 2012, 08:29:37 AM »
Quote from: Magickalmoon01 on January 28, 2012, 04:02:23 PM
I have been selling on eBay for a few years now. Most of my items come from garage sales, resale stores, etc. So I know what I paid and what I need to get out of something for profit.

Here's my question. What is the best way to list things from a locker? I was pretty lucky to find some vintage things that are valuable, but what about the ones that my not be? I can't just throw it out or donate it, because even at a buck or two, its better than nothing. For instance, I have 2 small tackle boxes that are like brand new. Im thinking at $5 a piece I can move them on eBay. But I am hesitant to start listings at 99 cents. If it sells for that, I am in the hole by the time fees come out. 

How many of you do the auctions vs buy it now? What is everyone's thoughts on this? I can't have a garage sale now (winter with snow here) and flea markets are pretty much the same til spring.

If you have the time and patience you can do a 30 day "buy it now" name your price and include an accept offers feature for what you are willing to take. After 30 days no luck, then you might try .99 auction, but you should always research completed listings and see what the same or similar items have sold for. An .99 sale on Ebay is a big hassle when you can get $1-$2 at the flea market. You really should not use the auction format unless you know there will be a lot of interest or you just can't sell what you have anywhere else. Look into sweetening the deal. Can you through in some cheap tackle with the boxes to peek interest?

822
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #1...January, 2012
« on: January 30, 2012, 08:15:02 AM »
Looks just like my auctions!

823
New to Storage Auctions? / Re: I hit the "wow" factor....
« on: January 30, 2012, 08:08:54 AM »
WOW....I almost stuck myself with that used needle!

824
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Teed off!!
« on: January 27, 2012, 09:08:20 AM »
Quote from: Todd Hamilton on January 27, 2012, 09:01:52 AM
really?  3000 bucks?  whoa.. 


 ::)

Yea it was a 10 x 30 almost full. From the door you could see a Honda Valkyrie motorcycle, a riding lawnmower, a Donkey Kong arcade game, and other furniture and boxes stack out.

825
Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Auction Scene #1...January, 2012
« on: January 27, 2012, 09:04:53 AM »
Had our big corporate facility caravan run and a small independent facility auction yesterday. The other big corporate facility run on Tuesday I skipped but heard it was the usual junk for rediculous prices.

The big corporate auction only had 13 units between 3 locations. I think thats the least amount I have seen on this run. We started with 80+ people but because of the rain and high prices we ended with about 40+. I counted 9 regular bidders, about 10 older newbies or regular lurkers and the rest new faces. What I did'nt see was ANY newbies that won units on this same run in November and December. That is a clear indication to me that they lost money on the units or have turned over so little inventory or so little profit they have already given up on "storage wars". As usual, the new newbies paid the premiums and won most of the units. One guy who has won a unit or two at other auctions decided to gamble with the high prices and he won two units. It will be interesting to see if he is back next month or if going big to compete with the new newbies will wipe him out. The average price for a 5 x 10 3/4 full to full is now just north of $400.

At the independent facility had 6 units. We lost about half the regular bidders, and 3/4 of the newbies. Prices came down to where you could make some money on a unit. One of the regulars that I am friends with won two units for pretty decent prices. Unfortunately, I had to fight off a newbie for the unit I wanted so I paid at the upper level of my limit. (10 x 10 3/4 full) I haven't gone through the whole unit and inventoried everything but I think a realistic estimate is I will make 1.5 times the money back, if things go better than expected, I could double the money. Anyway at least I got my first unit of the year, so I'm up and running in 2012. Not sure I expect to win as many units this year as last year do to the prices, but as we like to say, and I heard plenty of yesterday, "You Never Know!"

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