What do I do with all the CRAP? I bought my first 2 units a few days ago and unfortunately the hundreds of boxes I was so excited to go through....were crap. I know this is probably the most common problem in this business, but thought I would ask if anyone had any suggestions.

I first donated what I could, but they were picky about what they would take. Then I put aside everything that I can recycle (including anything metal and appliances I can scrap out). Then I took just one load to the dump and it cost me $60 and they were also picky about what they would take. I have several more loads of trash and don't know where to go with it. If the dump won't take it, who will???

In response to your current post I have decided to reviewed all your previous posts. So far you have posted like five times and three of the times you describe your merchandise as "crap" and want to send it to the dump. So you have purchased 2 or 3 units and have not found a pot of gold? go figure. Although I have not seen your inventory and purhaps it is all "crap", but then what in the "crap" were you bidding on? I can only hope you just happened to get three REALLY BAD units starting out and you did'nt spend $60 dumping items many of us probably could have squeezed $100 out of through different venues.

Some people think this business is gold mining, but a lot of times it's the American version of scouring landfills for stuff other people have thrown away that we can sell to make a living.

I could see this app being useful in a hybrid situation like if you are selling big ticket merchandise out of a location you don't have set up like a proper store with a cash register and credit card reader. I agree with Movieman this app would go off like a lead balloon at my flea market, five-ten years from now maybe it would be accepted by the masses, but then again someone has got to start the trend.

Yea when you first start doing this it pulls at your heart but after a while the photos and the units just all start to run together and it doesn't bother me so much. The only ones that still bother me are the units with children were it is apparent one of the parents died, thus causing emotional and financial trauma, causing the loss of their property. I have also found units where a child has died and perhaps the emotional stresses lead their parent/s to financial problems and losing their property. Most of the time it's a divorce thing, and although this can be traumatic, it is manageable for the kids and they end up getting new toys and clothes once every settles into place.

Got my first loser unit this weekend, and when I log in I'm back to noobie status. Wish I had been a looky loo yesterday, but it was just a matter of time I guess. 5 total hours of work cleaning out, 2 dump runs and a probable 40.00 loss. Oh well, it's fall break for the wife and kids and I'm on vacation for ten days. 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the people who stick it out and make a living of storage auctions are not uniquely blessed in that the always win profitable units. The people who stick it out are those who can take the loser units and determine how they went wrong with either bidding or selling and shake of the loss and keep going. Obviously you have to win more then you lose to be successful, but if you can drop $500 or more on a locker and it turns into a complete dump run which costs you another $100 in fees, fuel & labor; and have the confidence get out to the auctions and start bidding again, you are well on your way to being successful in this business.

My little caveat, I disagree with the notion of only bidding on what you can see, unless you have years of experience and can "see" a lot more than the average bidder. Auctions have become so competitive in most parts of the country you will never win a unit just bidding on what you can see, you are going to have to take some gambles to win units consistently.

I have never had to run up a regular. Typically it's a respect thing, let them get good units for a fair price and they will let you get good units for a fair price. There are a couple of regulars who brag about running people up and I have seen them do it but so far they have not done it to me. If they do, the deal is off and they won't get a unit for reasonable price for a while.

Some of you may disagree with this premise, but I think running up newbies is almost mandatory. Like Movieman said, it teaches them the true value of the units and then they are less prone to bid wildly if they decide to do more auctions. My personal reason is I have a niche type of units I look for and the storage auction industry has become so competative this past year, I can't afford to let somebody get the type of units I like for a low price with a good return potential. Every newbie that makes a substantial profit on thier first couple of units will be back for more! I have to protect my territory, so you will pay what I am willing to pay for the unit plus a little extra to win it, but I guess in a way that is not really running them up because I will not bid up units I don't really want.

This question is mainly for J.R.- Auctionone, but anyone else can chime in too.

J.R.,

The "old timers" say units are selling for 4 to 10 times what they would have before the TV shows.

For ex. a $250 unit now sells for $1000, a $10 unit now sells fro $100.

With your experience of doing auctions since 1981, what is your best guess as to how far back the prices for units will fall after the excitement of all TV shows has worn off?

Then Mr. Five comes in and starts to bid.  We get to $220 when it dawns on me I know what Mr. Five wants.  He wants the furniture and I hate furniture for the most part.  While I have the room to store it I don't mess with it right now due to time and such.  So I turn around and ask "You wanting the furniture right?  $50 and it's yours".  Mr. Five is a regular and has seen me these last few months around.  Him and I have talked and bantered in the past in a friendly way.  So he was a little surprised but said ok.  I was a little surprised as he gave me the $50 right then and there w/o a truck and such.

I would not make a habit of this. As informal as storage auctions seem they are officially a legal proceeding. What you and the other bidder engaged in is called "collusion". By that I mean you are manipulating the fair market price determination of that particular unit, even if everyone else had stopped bidding. I have stopped auctions in their tracks when I catch other bidders doing this type of thing. Yea, everybody looks at me like I am an A$$, but the law is the law. Now if you make a deal to share a unit BEFORE the bidding starts this is acceptable.

Remember, the US has been a consumer society for several decades. People, especially older folks might not even remember how much jewelry they have accumulated, either purchased on thier own or received as gifts. They probably have two or three pieces they really love and wear all the time and the rest is left in storage.

Don't forget that gold and silver only seem more valuable now because of the depreciation of the US Dollar. It was'nt that long ago that gold was only $250 an ounce, and silver was $5 an ounce. If someone loses thier $1500 sofa and loveseat set or $2000 bedroom set at auction, they probably are'nt even thinking of the few hundred dollars in jewelry left behind as well.

In our world (resellers) the furniture depreciates, and the gold and silver jewelry hold thier purchasing power. In thier world (locker owners) they lost a $1500 furniture set.