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Messages - Highlander

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1
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Which one to choose?
« on: March 17, 2011, 01:31:09 AM »
Thanks for all of the reply's.  All have good points.  Gonna head south in the morning for the 9am 10 locker one.

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General Storage Auction Talk / Which one to choose?
« on: March 16, 2011, 08:35:05 PM »
This has been a slow auction week.  The only buying opportunities are tomorrow at 9am for 10 lockers 40 minutes away in a lower-end part of town or a 3 locker auction at 11 am 15 minutes away in a well-to-do part of town.  Don't think I can make both.  My thoughts are to go to the 9am one and if I can get to the 11am one, great.

Am afraid that I would miss a really good locker, but 10 lockers makes more buying opportunity than 3 lockers.

Thougtss?

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Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: income tax refunds
« on: March 14, 2011, 10:23:19 AM »
I would like to see a tax refund again. I always have to send them a check. Which reminds me. If a buy a $600 unit, do I have to send them a 1099?

Only if you want to claim the locker cost as a business deduction.  I send out 1099s to the auctioneers.

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Stories about Storage Auctions / Re: Post your pics
« on: March 06, 2011, 12:03:26 PM »
How do you plan on selling those Xmas bulbs?  In bulk or piece by piece?  eBay, craigslist or locL auction?

I only ask because last we we won a locker with a ton of high-end Xmas decorations.  Am planning on holding them until September.

5
Has technology helped your sales?  Or has is made it harder to sell?

The Internet and sites such as craigslist and eBay has help boost sales overall and modern communication puts us in touch with the world.  But has technology hurt your ability to sell?

MP3s are making CDs go the way of the cassette tape and it seems as though vinyl records bring in more than CDs.  Computers and cell phones become outdated a year after they are purchased.  Ever try to sell a six year old printer?  Game systems advance each year.  How has technology helped or hindered you sales?

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General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Flip or hold?
« on: February 27, 2011, 11:15:39 PM »
When do you decide to trash the items or donate it for a tax write off?  Used clothing or kids toys for example, I have and outlet for them but the buyers are picky and pay bottom dollar.  After all of the sorting and hauling, I have to wonder if some of it is even worth the time for 25 dollars.

CDs are a another one.  I used to be able to easily get $2 each for them and sell the whole lot.  Nowadays, they get cherry picked and the rest refused.  Two days ago I took nearly 200 into two stores.  Moved about 25 of them for$27 bucks.  Thought I would get at least 125.

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General Storage Auction Talk / Flip or hold?
« on: February 27, 2011, 08:58:18 PM »
I am just curious to see what other people's preference is when it comes to selling the items from a storage locker.

Do you prefer to flip the stuff quickly for less or do you hold it for longer and get a higher price?

If you hold it, how long is your maximum before you mark it down?

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Stories about Storage Auctions / Went "halvies" with another bidder
« on: February 24, 2011, 08:51:25 AM »
Bought two lockers yesterday.  First one went for 70 bucks and had a Frigidaire gas range/oven in it along with a few boxes of books and a ceramic rooster collection.

Then at the next auction, I ran into a bidder I met at the first two auctions.  We got there late.  Drove across town and watched the aucioner, property manager and the "bidders" leaving on the golf cart.  We hung around for a little bit and before longer all returned.  The "bidders" was a husband/wife team that bought one of the two lockers for $80.  Pat and I were told that the other locker was still available but had a minimum bid of $300.

It was a 10x30 that had belonged to a sporting goods rep.  In the very front of the locker were more than 10 cases of brand new athletic clothes, balls, bats, backpacks, swim goggles, jerseys and baseball gloves.  Beyond that were five display racks followed by five sealed shipping boxes that were 6-7 feet x four feet.

My curiousity was peaked, and I guess so was Pats.  He looked at me and asked I I would go halves with him.  I was just thinking the same thing.

Turned out the the shipping boxes were just displays.  We sold all the balls and soccer shin guards to Play it again sports and recovered $117.  We spend the afternoon dividing up the stuff.  I should make about $250-$300 over my cost at my yard sale this weekend on the clothes and backpacks.  Its just gonna be a pain it the ass to get rid of the rest.

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The "Other" Job / Re: My full time "other job" is
« on: February 22, 2011, 11:19:52 PM »
I am a the Director of Business Development for a loca ambulance provider.  My postion affords me the flexibility to go to auctions. 

I am hoping to develop this into a full-time gig eventually.  Having owned an ambulance service in the past, I got kinda used to making my own hours. 

I don't take orders well...

10
The lockers I have seen so far have been a mixed bag.  Some good, some not so good.  About 2 weeks ago, I was at an auction in Fort Worth.  One 10x10 climate controlled unit was filled with NASCAR collectibles.  There was even a autographed racing slick.  Someone estimated it at about 10K worth of stuff that was visible.  It sold for 2600.  Too bad I only brought 1400 with me.

Oh well, maybe next time....

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Welcome to the Online Storage Auctions Forum / Hello all. Glad to be here.
« on: February 21, 2011, 12:46:47 PM »
Hello.  My name is Donny and I am from just north of Dallas, TX.  I am a relative newbie to the Storage Auction scene and look forward to learning from you old hands at this.

Unlike some people, i have realistic expectations and don't expect to find a bag of jewelry in every locker.  As a teenager, my grandparents managed a storage facility and I used to help them out there.  There are treasure to be found, but you really have to shift through the chaff to get to the wheat.  I recall one locker that did not sell.  All it contained was a beat up dresser.  We got it for 1 dollar.  I found an antique .32 caliber pistol in the only drawer still intact.

I have been to about a dozen auctions so far and won my first one last week.  I spent $200 on it and it looks like we're going to make $300-$400 over that. 

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