Wow....this place looks quite different than the last time I was here.....oh well......

Worst score....have had quite a few in the past few months, but for me.....our first safe.  Picked it up (obviously small safe here), shook it, heard heavy items.....thought....finally!

Got it home, cracked that mother and it was full of.....................
adult devices* (Censored for Google, they don't like that word  ).  I kid you not.  I understand the 'why', but dang was I disappointed.  Kinda sums up our locker buying of late.

I've been working on a new website (Minnesota Vikings~hey....we don't stink anymore!!) and home-schooling and it's eaten up all my free-time, but I'll try to check in occasionally as I miss some of yous guys and gals~

Absolutely chaotic life I'm leading right now.  Home-schooling is proving to be a FULL-time job, allowing me little time to process and sell.  I know eventually I'll get a nice rhythm going but right now.....I'm runnin' like a headless chicken~

Went to a little known caravan on Friday.  Just regulars in a rather 'rough' area of town.  First location 3 lockers.  First a 5X10 went to our whale for $25.  It was full, but looked rather crappy.  He'll do great on it, but most (us-7 regulars) felt the work wasn't worth it.  Next two almost as icky and went cheap.

Next facility was more of the same.  There was one nice unit that ended up going for $600.  I was in up to $400.  Our whale and a buddy of mine landed the remaining (5) lockers for cheap.

Next facility I decided our whale had won enough and challenged him on a 10X10.  It had some interesting items showing including some Earnhardt Jr diecast boxes, vintage furnishings and tons of boxes & bins.  Landed it for $425.  With our whale saying 'let them have it'. 

There were some other nice units with one having 7 beauty parlor chairs, a nice washer/dryer, small fridge and other 'beauty' items.  Whale got it for $150 after I ran him up $25.  He asked why I ran him up and I said "I wanted that unit.....just didn't know where I could move 7 dryer-chairs"  He laughed and said he takes stuff like that to an auction in NM.

We came to the last unit at this facility and it was a 10X10 packed.  I looked at it and told the whale I wouldn't run him up.  He got it for $100 and will do great on it.  He laughed and told me he'd trade me straight up for the first we won!

Anywho......we bowed out then and started the dig.  Didn't look too promising for a big profit, but I could see a hard double.  Lots of smalls and knick-knacky stuff.  Day two of processing landed a bag with numerous old purses and in those old purses.......jewelry!  Landed a couple old gold rings and had my buddy meet her gold guy......unit paid in full +!

Digging out of our massive inventory will find us with a yard sale on Friday and the Swap on Saturday and hopefully a great deal of 'extra' cash on Sunday!

Did go to an auction yesterday but it was with the 'popular' auctioneer.  About 60 people.  80% green.  And 90% dumb.  Two girls smoked in midst of the crowd.  They bid up a locker with a nasty 80's sofa and dinette set to $340.  Actually just packed up the family and left.  Think that is the last time for a while with that mess.  Time is limited and gas expensive......not worth it.

Hope all is well and if I ever have free time.....well.....I'll probably take a nap~

Alright~time to liven this place up a bit! 
August stunk for us.  Minimal auctions with prices too high and Don and I both bought stinkers.  We'll make the money back, but finding venues to sell from has been tough with weather conditions.  We're either sweltering or showering.   And craigslist has completely died!

So we missed Cubesmart this month as we didn't have a ton of capital nor did we feel like dealing with long drives to look at piles of garbage.  Talking to a couple regulars today told us we made the right choice.

Today found us caravaning with a Phoenix based auctioneer who comes down here every other month.  His auctions usually draw a huge crowd and high prices, but I've gotten some great units too.  Well today found a a minimal crowd (about 15 at the start) and lots of pretty good units.  We are watching our finances, so were being quite picky.  I did buy one for $10 that I will come close to making 10X the investment.

On to the next two facilities where I saw nothing I wanted then on to a facility with 9 units up for auction.  Ended up buying 2 for $200 each.  First one had a locked tool box....just the smaller 4 drawer kind, a washer, dryer, treadmill, a couple crates of dvd's and beyond that.....who knows.  It was packed full.  Told Don I'd go to about $350 on it.  Couldn't believe it when I got it for $200~one thing to note was a regular with deep pockets looked over and asked if I had the bid (@ $200).  I nodded and he grinned and said "Sell it!"  Felt good to know he would step aside for us......guess we've officially arrived at regular status.

A couple more units that were ok, but nothing that jazzed us until the final one opened and it was quite full of furniture.  Went head to head with a couple guys outta Vegas.  Landed it at $200.  Should be a good one with two dining sets (real wood), a wild assed sectional (hope it's all there) and some wicker furniture.  We'll see, but I think it will be prove to be quite profitable.

Went on to the next facility and really wondered why as 3 lockers is a lot to unload, but thought what the heck.  While waiting for the auctioneer we borrowed a pair of bolt cutters from a cantankerous old fart (we actually like each other....we just don't let anybody know) and broke into the one tool box we took from the one unit.  It was full.......of tools!!!  And not just made in China crap tools, but some serious good air/impact body working type tools.  Also found a diagnostic test kit in there.  Hoping for more tools or the air compressor tomorrow!

Didn't buy another locker and bowed out as we were tired, hot and hungry.  Came home and were hit with the most monstrous storm of the season.  Had to pull a few folks out of the sandbar that now crosses just south of our home.  Yikes.

I have no idea how we did here, but feel we may have knocked it outta the park.  Will update tomorrow as we will get everything back here and start the 'dig'.

Tired now.....gonna kick back and research some more tools~

edit~My bad~I just read the fine print and this 'promotion' is by invitation only, so if you weren't invited......you can't play.  Sorry for any disinformation.  Now I'd love to know if everybody received an invitation or if I truly am that special~


WOW~seems they're looking for folks to sell right now as there is another selling offer.
Free auction style listings tomorrow (8/22) through the 31st of August~

And here I was worried (and thus pacing myself) I'd use all my listings this month~

OK~breathing time.  Home-schooling is exhausting! But I did manage to sneak out on Monday (left Don as the substitute) and hit what 'used to be' a little known auction.  It's a two facility caravan but the first had cancelled.  Left us with one facility with 6 units.  Nearly every 'regular' was there and about 10 newbies bringing the crowd to about 30.

First locker opened up (it was two units sold as one) and was FILLED with VHS tapes (most home-recorded), a couple ornate concrete pedestals and misc.  Went to a regular for his opening bid of $25.

Next couple of lockers were crap.  Watched a regular vs newbie battle in which the newbie had the facility manager 'encouraging' him with "it's a nice room" & "did you see the carburetor box".  Newbie got it for $275.  As I was walking to the next locker the manager told the guy 'please just open the box now.....I have to see if it's in there'......sheesh~
 
Really didn't bid on much as there wasn't a whole lot worth bidding on.  At one point I had a gal (first timer) come up to me and ask "What do you do with the stuff you don't want?".  I looked her over, grinned and said "It's ALL yours!"  She looked taken aback and said 'I have to take it all?!?!'  "Yep"~

When we got to the last unit, I thought I might as well throw out a bid or two....you know....for appearances sake~Didn't really want the unit, but would have taken it for cheap.  Ran it up to $100 then prayed somebody would take it.....in the direct sun, in 105 degrees and dirty, nasty, bulky.  It ended at $275. 

All in all a waste of gas, but it got me out of the house for a bit~
Next auctions aren't until the 28th.......so again.....back to Ebay~

Sent to my 'messages' on my seller dashboard.
Usually there is an announcement, but didn't see that for this promotion.

Alright....have a couple minutes here (home-schooled kids are on lunch break) and thought I'd take a minute to let you know that fixed price listings are the special o' the month on Ebay.  List up to 5,000 listings in a fixed price format (insertion) fee-free.  edit to note: now through the 18th~

I realized I was using up quite a bit of my 'free' auction style listings so this is an alternative.  I listed two items this morning (one I contacted a gal who I knew would buy) and both have sold......girls and I took a field trip to the post office today~

Anywho......get busy~get listing and start making moolah!!