It seems to be getting back to the ways it was but not all the time. We have been on a few that have only maybe 10 people max but then gone a few days later and there are 50+. The bidding seems to have died down on a whole but then again at some areas it is crazy. Ex: Yesterday we were on an independent run and most of the bids were normal. We proceeded to Stockton and at least two units that should have been 500.00 max went for over 1000.00.  Some older woman was doing the high bidding. One unit was two stacks or more of Staples tubs, and regular tubs EMPTY and a makeshift safe that had a large hole drilled  in the front plus more obvious DO NOT BID ON THIS UNIT flags!  There was some positive items in it but on a whole not that good.  Anyway, this woman bid it up to over 1000.00, we all just shook our heads. Then the other had (seriously) termites flying out as soon as it was opened and she bid 1160.00 on it! We couldn't believe it, but then again we have seen crazies like this before. We had to laugh when this regular piped up with "My papa always told me, Some people have more money than sense." She was closer to the truth than we might know. :-)

I think I need to update a little. Went to an auction Tuesday and there we lots of other companies having auctions too, thank goodness, only serious bidders were at the one I was on. Got a 10x20 for 350.00 stuffed with what I needed to sell right now, if newer people were there would have sold for 850.00+.  It makes a big difference who attends and how many different auctions are being held in a day. I know, everyone knew that but was glad to see it almost normal for at least a day. Oh, just a throw-in extra bonus, as I was going through the unit (hidden way), a 5 drawer jewel cabinet with jewels and 1 large metal jewel box with a couple of jewels, plus a safe with video cameras and digital cameras. Totally shocked and surprised! Sure brought back the good old days! :-)

@BigBizzz, that's good advice, and we have been doing a little of that so far.  Being new to the area (not new to bidding) we are still learning the areas from Northern to Central Calif in all directions. Have heard some bad stuff about Tiger Facilities Management and one National on Evergreen and that we should never go to the 40+ units advertised for San Francisco, that they are mostly homeless units. Haven't heard anything bad (yet) about an auctioneer other than personalities. Still trying to figure what areas in a 50+  mile radius of Sacramento area are decent and bad but that will take a while, no biggie there. Buyers in California all a whole, have been very helpful. We were surprised that they helped us with a bit of info so quickly. Have a great day and thanks for the advice.

:-)

Went to an auction yesterday and units that should have gone for 300.00 - 600.00 max, went for 650 and 1000+ and this was with regulars! Granted I think maybe the prices were so ridiculous might be caused by the fact there were 75 + people there and it was crowd mentality of "Gotta get this no matter what!!!!" I had noticed in general, the prices were calming down a bit and then all of a sudden it's bad again. The units were pretty crappy on a whole and when something decent came up it was stupid bidding.

We check the weekly schedules, look to see where, how many stops and then decide what is best for us. We go from Chico to Modesto area to Vallejo and Grassvalley area.  Anything around Sacramento is what we check within 50+ miles.  Now that NorCal has taken over some of the (or almost all) Extra Space auctions from another company, we will be joining them too. It's volume and location that makes us finally decide at times.

Bought a 10x20 size locker for 250.00 in Central Cal that was packed. Couldn't understand why it didn't get bid higher until afterwards the mgt said it was a locker previously owned by a picker/bidder and could only assume some of the rest knew (which is part of the business).  The locker didn't look trashy just full of "stuff". Was sick thinking the locker would be nothing but junk left over and a haul to the dump. Well, we saw some nice looking tools and household items along with a few other things to start with, thus the bid. So figured we would at least get our money back on resale. As we started loading the trailer we came across boxes of what we thought was ALL costume jewelry, imagine our surprise when we found gold and silver rings, necklaces, earrings etc. mixed in. Then we found bags of OLD silver coins, vintage vases, dishes etc. Most likely that kind of a find for us will be few and far between but we will take it anytime we can! Over the years we have learned we win some and lose some but the winning feels much better. 

We recently got a locker that had four boxes comics of Marvel and DC from 1983 to into the 90's. War of the Gods, The Uncanny X-Men, X Factor, Havok & Wolverine Meltdown1, X-Force, Alpha Fight, Cage and Iron Fist, Marvel Universe, and a very thick X-Men Vol. 1 Essential Comic book (total at least 300). Whoever previously owned them had almost all of them in their sleeves, maybe hoping for later that they would be collectibles. We decided to hold onto them for a while and do some research. Who knows, maybe one day we will be like that Dave guy on Storage Wars and his news papers or all those books he got in a unit and said he would make thousands from them! Hey a gal can dream can't she?