Many times I don't use my light that I bring to auctions but I do bring them.  I do however sometimes loan it out.  But that is to 2 of the regulars.  It helps establish a relationship.  Mostly, these two have deep pockets and can squeeze me out of a unit if they want to.  However, already once they were only semi-interested in a locker that I wanted and didn't bid me up.  For the most part lockers I want they could care less about and vice versa.  Twice a locker I wanted I won and then just sold the stuff they were interested in to.  The one other guy I loan my light to is another "old newbie" who has the same interest as me.  Him and I compare notes, help each other spot stuf, etc.  If he wins a locker I like he invites me in to look and stuff.  All the other newbies are just SOL.  They should come prepared like I did and/or do some research at home.  Those are the people that cost me money more then the regulars.

Lol - acman.... for me it's trunks even more then boxes.  I stopped myself yesterday at $150 on a 5x10 that had some older furniture that would of needed work and boxes / trash bags to the very top.  Saw way too many cloths in the bags to risk it that day.  Opened at $100 and almost had it.

Now for the unit -- it should pay for itself and then some.  I'm in a big golf / fish / rec area with everything except snow.  With that many people drive the 2 hours or so to the ski resorts.  So here is what I pulled from the unit:

Golf bag (dunlop) with tees, spot markers, and 28 used balls.
Found the following clubs/irons in the bag and behind it that couldn't be seen.  Keep in mind I know zip about golf equipment so I'm learning.

Titleist Driver
Titleist 4 wood, 3 wood
Wilson Staff - 1 wood
Wilson Metal 3 wood, 5 wood
Wilson 5 wood
M.X.D. 2 wood (Maximum Distance - 13 Loft - 17-4 PH)
Toney Penna Original 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 iron
Star Flite (Bob Rosburg) 7 iron
Controller Driving Iron
Executive Spalding - pitch wedge
Truex M88 - putter
Green Killer V (Allied) -- putter
Performance Light -- 5 iron
Dynatour 1 wood (Titanium)
Power Bilt (Grand Slam) - 9 iron
Performance Light (Fairway Flyer) - 5 wood

U.S. Kids Klubs - wedge & putter

Delta Turkey Flock -- new in box (retail for $50 - $65)
ZeroXposure Jacket (Activewear, authentic element protector - Size M)
Primos wood duck call - Model # 807
iHome2go - like new
6 different reels
2 rods, 1 with another reel
A "Fishing Machine" by Sicroix -- this is an expandable fishing rod.  Looks pretty cool.  When first saw the shape of the leather case it looked like a pistol case.  Got very excited for a min there.
3 hardside tackle boxes and 1 soft side
15,000,000 candle spot light -- this sucker is huge but bright.  I'm so going to take it to an auction
2 ski bibs - one man and one woman (woman one is new w/ $50 tag still on it)
Various hats - one is a John Deer hat with 2 Bass Pro autographs on it

I have not inventoried all the fishing lures, anchors, etc. yet.  Some of them are brand new still in packs and such.

This was the first time that it was a "call you later" type.  Was ok with me since I had to get back to my main job.

I did just get a call and I won a unit for $26.
D-106 C. Lutes, bed frame, boxes (cont. unk)

Started to clean out the unit.  Now I know why I got it was junk furniture, trash, and 2 trunks.  I'm a sucker for trunks and thus put the token bid in.  First trunk had some nascar coke bottles and stuff wrapped in newspaper.  Second trunk had nascar and coke stuff.  Should do well with the unit despite the $20 dump run I expect.

Found a gift card on the floor from best buy -- just called and it has $34.66 on it.

So do you think it was worth $80 or no?  Put it all in my truck and started to work on an inventory.  Post results later.

With more and more people paying up on their units you can run into these dry spells.  I had such a spell few weeks back on a saturday auction.  Three facilities, 30 units in paper - down to 12 units at 2 facilities on friday afternoon, saturday saw 1 facility with 4 units.  One was trash that no one bid, 2 were ok but on empty side, and 1 decent unit.  You just never know.

Welcome to the forums.

Hmm - not sure I have any of those type stores in my area.

Tried to sell my inflatable Santa and other xmas stuff at the flea.  No takers so far.  Talked to a few of the other vendors and they were the same.  Only person selling Christmas stuff was a guy doing hand-made specialty wreaths.

I always meet people at a neutral spot like a gas station or starbucks.  Not ran into any of the nut jobs yet.  Those get saved for the flea market I guess.

My only CL complaint is the "I'm interested in emails" that then turn into "I don't have the cash right now but have a great job.  You can to at somerandomlink.com"

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.