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Messages - Alias

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1
Flea Markets / Re: Stole Goods at swap meets <question>
« on: May 06, 2012, 07:20:18 PM »
You busted me.
I'm really ATF looking for leads......    :-\
 ;D


2
Flea Markets / Stole Goods at swap meets <question>
« on: May 06, 2012, 04:42:24 PM »
Just courious on trends from around the country.
This swap I go to has a long history. Was sold to current owner due to being confiscated by authorities.
Last owner was involved in organized crime (allegedly) and new owner has been investigated but not charged.
Swap has been frequently raided and focas of sting operations by local and state police. As well as ATF and FBI for individual vendors, not the swap as a whole.
There is a great deal of vendors selling "shop lifted goods" like allergy meds, high end shampoo....
Lots of car stereo's and lawn equipment.
Easily stolen, easily sold goods.

Even some stalls I assume were "fell off a truck" stuff.  Tho possible they buy wholesale...?

Police frequently go by stalls and run serial numbers and anything that is missing number or number is altered/scratched out...it will be confiscated and you have to go to court to claim it.


To the question....
Obviously swaps are a great place to sell stolen goods. Been going on for decades.
Just wondering how open it is in your neck of the woods?
And do your authorities take action?



Just started attending this swap and was amazed at how obvious and open

3
West / Re: Californians Beware
« on: May 05, 2012, 08:04:52 PM »
I'll back that advice!
I just got back in after a long time outa the storage auctions.
I tried to start right where I left off and f**k that!
I'm starting small, low risk, minimum amount of labor.
Spending a lot of time and gas but meeting good contacts and relearning things.
Just eves dropping helps. Looking at what's in lockers then going home and researching what it goes for and trying to find where to sell it.....so later if you come across it again.....


4
Stories about Storage Auctions / Staged unit story
« on: May 05, 2012, 07:45:13 PM »
Reading several threads on staged units and thought I'd share.....
Now this was told to me back in 1989-90ish by sn OLD timer and he was known to tell some good stories.
Some were truth....some based off truth....some...um....who knows?
So take this with a grain if salt.....

This guy was an 'events stager'. He'd set up for conventions.
Primarily for Sears (I think it was) so he would store displays till next use.
99% of the stuff (lawn mowers, air compressors ...) were either extremely good plastic replicas or the real thing with no guts. And of course a ton of boxes for the back drop.
He lost the account and everything was in s storage unit. He didn't want to empty and dispose so he defaulted on purpose.
So here comes the auction, doors open and looky here!!!!
LOOKS like a 20x30 filled with brand new lawn mowers, compressors, tools, tires.....and unopened box's stacked floor to ceiling, wall to wall!!!

Bidding went thru the roof!
He didn't know this but what ever is bid pays the storage bill....anything over the bill and legal fee's? Yep...he got sent a check for several thousand dollars and the bidder got stuck with empty boxes and plastic replicas.

By how he talked I'd say this was in the late 70's so several grand was a lot.
He said he did it a few more times and made a killing.
He was a conning, untrustworthy sort that'd sell ya out for a dollar and always a scam brewing so maybe this story is true. Maybe it's just something he thought up but never tried and turned it into a story....?


5
The Lounge / Re: I'm outa stuff....
« on: May 05, 2012, 07:02:45 PM »
So close to being on the road....
Just gotta drive over to Eastern Washington Monday morn to fight that ticket then a redeye out that night.
There are a huge number of estate sales this coming week in both the Dallas area and Oklahoma City but looking at the pictures it's not my sort of things....
Game plan is to find an area that has multiple sales then see if there is anything I wanna do in that area, if so...I'll hit the sales.

Hopefully find something. My flight home has "one checked bag free" and I travel with just a carry-on. So I as long as things don't add up to over 50lbs I can get it home free! ;)

6
The Lounge / Re: I'm outa stuff....
« on: April 29, 2012, 12:30:36 PM »
Nice math did not figure in the gas and time.

My friend didnt understand the gas thing.  I made some "jokes" about it hoping he would kick in a few bucks.
He'c never been to estate sales and after a few was hooked.
I had a nice list and it went in a circle so wasn't driving all over. He was trying for going to this one and that one....things 60miles round trip outa our way!

As it was I spent $25 in gas. So when he asked to go yesterday I told him sure but HE buys the gas.
We didn't go. lol


I'm heading down south soon to do some pick'n.  Hit Oklahoma City and Dallas area for sure. Depending on if I have time, I'm thinking of driving over to panama city, with a weekend stop in NOLA just because I really like it there.  Oh, and the 20hour lay over in Vegas! That's just for fun too!  ;D

But anything I pick, air/hotels/car/gas/food.......will NOT be included in the items price. Looking at it as a vacation and picks are just a bonus

7
The Lounge / Re: I'm outa stuff....
« on: April 27, 2012, 05:06:54 PM »
Today's estate sales went well. Some small, inexpensive, easy to sell items picked. Tools and crap. $5-$20 profit range.

Got a few low ball bids out. Doubt I'll win.

Did get a brand new, top of the line, electronic money counter for $20. Lists for $500. Used are still $300 range.

And then....drum roll please!?!.....a 1960s Eames chair for $50!
Condition it's in? $500-$600 chair.
Get my interior guy to re-leather it and we're talking $1500-$2000!
Hard part will be selling it. Not finding a buyer, I have an outlet for chairs. But ACTUALLY selling it.
I love that chair!

8
The Lounge / Re: Value Vilage Picks
« on: April 26, 2012, 04:04:43 PM »
So a few days ago I posted about the high prices at the Goodwill distribution center. Specifically the chairs at almost retail. The one I remember the best was an Ikea chair priced at $35.

Today I was at a local goodwill and saw the same chair (it might even be the SAME chair) for $7.99!
And it was pink tag which is 50% off on Thursdays so $3.99!   WTF?


9
The Lounge / Re: I'm outa stuff....
« on: April 26, 2012, 03:57:38 PM »
Pretty much still outa stuff....
Thanks to Craiglstauction's donation of cell phones to practice on I've learned that I'm not so good ST cell phone repair.  lol
Have tools and parts on order from china so haven't got to deep into it but not nearly as easy as iPod battery/screen replacement.

And the rocks sell but not much money in that. Really need to get on making them into things, book ends or what not. But arm is still limiting my abilities in manual labor.
Anxious to get on it tho even just at hobby level. Not a rock hound myself but really interesting talking to the guys that are. Amazing how some of them can look at my rocks and instantly tell they are from Alaska.

Hit some auctions this week with no luck. Another I'm thinking about in the morn.
This morn (and thru Sunday) im hitting the estate sales.

Got some really old tins and medicine bottles for $0.25/ea. And some old ceramic figures that I thought were underpriced but got home and researched a bit more and not really. Wont loose money but gonna be more hassle than it'd worth I think...

Hopefully by next week I'll have something worthy of sharing......


10
The Lounge / Re: Value Vilage Picks
« on: April 23, 2012, 11:48:23 AM »
That must be what our goodwills are doing. Price checking.
I was doing okay selling chairs but now all the thrift stores have them marked at retail.
Some still have a margin but not big enough to play the odds.

I've even noticed that CL is pretty slim on 'free' furniture and the 'antique' section is up.
Tho most aren't antiques, just old.

I'm not an expert at antiques in the slightest but I'm pretty sure, and I could be wrong here, that if a piece was sold at Ikea.... not antique. lol

My favorite is the ad's that say 'antique looking....'
What does that even mean!?  Been sitting outside in rain and sun and is worn and cracking?

And how did I take this post from value village finds to a rant on CL listings?
Sorry about that.

11
The Lounge / Re: Value Vilage Picks
« on: April 22, 2012, 11:29:46 AM »
Yesterdays picks were slim.
Checked out the goodwill distribution center and their prices were ridiculous!
Furniture was close to retail. Even clothes were high. Pair of true religion jeans, heavily worn, were $75! New at The Rack are on sale for $125.
Then hit Salvation Army. Got a suit for $30 that fits perfect, looks brand new. Retails for $279.
Ronco rotisery, brand new in box, for $5.
Put a hold on an antique wardrob thats $100. Took a million picks and put on craigslist and showing antique guy today. Haven't got a single response so if guy doesn't want I'll cancel hold.
Really nice and they only want $100. Know I can get more in time and even not I'd love to have it myself but simply don't have the room for it!

I'm really trying to figure out how goodwill, salvation, value village come up with pricing.
Some things are way low while others over the top high.  They had the exact table I own for $400....that's what I paid new ten years ago!
But then they have brand new small appliances for $5-$10? The wardrobe for $100 when all over town they are $400-600, some up over $1000...


And no one buy a "that's $75 all day" shop vac from the Storage Wars people.
Goodwill has 100's them for under $15!   lol

12
Other Forms of Selling / Re: Cash4books
« on: April 21, 2012, 10:37:00 PM »
Guess it's good if you have books just hanging around but put in all my books and 99% they didn't want.
The rest came to about $15.

Put in my friends text book that he paid $60 used and they offered $4.70.  Book store will pay $28.

But I figure my dads gf buys all the new releases in hardback then passes them to me.
I usually just pass them along or donate. Even a couple bucks apiece is better than donating....

13
Other Forms of Selling / Cash4books
« on: April 21, 2012, 09:17:10 PM »
Another site I ran across today.
Never used but gonna try.....
Any one beats me to it, or have used, let me know how it works.

cash4books.net

14
Other Forms of Selling / Accepting debit/credit
« on: April 21, 2012, 06:09:58 PM »
I had a card swiper but it just copied the card info and then had to transfer info to laptop (5second process) and it held info. Later you downloaded to get paid.
Basically you couldn't get authorization/conformation numbers.

Other option is to have a mobile hotspot so if people had paypal..which few do and fewer willing to log onto their accept via some dudes laptop.

Today was looking into this subject for a friend that wants to do a summer business of a food truck down at the beach.

Found this and thought I'd pass along to you flea market people.

squareup.com/pricing


Not vouching. Never used. Don't know anything about.
Passing along an idea. Not nessesaraly this product/company.

15
While I disagree with someone with access to a unit bidding on it I don't see legal reasons not to.
But why would they look in a locker and then bid on it when they don't have to auction it off in the first place. They could just take it, right?

Now refusing the bid? If there is a written, witnessed, reserve.....don't like that either but don't see why they couldn't.
But if there isn't a reserve then highest bidder wins. End of story.

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