This is a story told to me by another "newbie" locker buyer at auction.

His first unit purchased this year he paid $250. It was ALL junk, he was taking EVERYTHING to the dump. On the last tote he was loading he heard something "jingling" in the tote. He dug to the bottom and found a lock box. In the lock box was a collection of gold and silver coins. The retail value of the coin collection was $15,000!

Since then he has bought 8 more units (+ one that day) and all 8 units were complete dump runs! The other regular who was listening to the story basically said. "I'm not saying your lying, but I been doing this for seven years and have never seen anything like that in a unit!"

I personally beleive the story. My question for the group, how long before he spends through that $15,000 he found if he is taking everything to the dump from 9 units purchased? How long before he spends himself into bankruptcy trying to find another "once in a lifetime" locker score?

By-the-way, the locker he won that day was a 10 x 15 about 4 or 6 old filing cabinets up front, a dining room table set with 6 chairs (I sold the same set for $200) end tables, 10-12 boxes, particle board computer desk, and whatever was behind the filing cabinets we could not see. This unit was about 1/3 full. Winning bid $825.00!

Cold hard cash. It's good everywhere you go, right? You can use it to pay for anything.

But that's not the case here in Louisiana now. It's a law that was passed during this year's busy legislative session.

House bill 195 basically says those who buy and sell second hand goods cannot use cash to make those transactions, and it flew so far under the radar most businesses don't even know about it.

"We're gonna lose a lot of business," says Danny Guidry, who owns the Pioneer Trading Post in Lafayette. He deals in buying and selling unique second hand items.

"We don't want this cash transaction to be taken away from us. It's an everyday transaction," Guidry explains.

Guidry says, "I think everyone in this business once they find out about it. They're will definitely be a lot of uproar."

The law states those who buy or sell second hand goods are prohibited from using cash. State representative Rickey Hardy co-authored the bill.

Hardy says, "they give a check or a cashiers money order, or electronic one of those three mechanisms is used."

Hardy says the bill is targeted at criminals who steal anything from copper to televisions, and sell them for a quick buck. Having a paper trail will make it easier for law enforcement.

"It's a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead," explains Hardy.

Guidry feels his store shouldn't have to change it's ways of doing business, because he may possibly buy or sell stolen goods. Something he says has happened once in his eight years.

"We are being targeted for something we shouldn't be."

Besides non-profit resellers like Goodwill, and garage sales, the language of the bill encompasses stores like the Pioneer Trading Post and flea markets.

Lawyer Thad Ackel Jr. feels the passage of this bill begins a slippery slope for economic freedom in the state.

"The government is placing a significant restriction on individuals transacting in their own private property," says Ackel.

Pawn shops have been forced to keep records of their clients for years. However under this bill they are still allowed to deal in cash.


And we were discussing the pros and cons of business licenses, registrations the other day.

I have two random used tires on stock rims I got out of a unit, one of them is from a Mitsubishi, don't know about the other one. Any suggestions about the best way to sell these things, or dispose of them if I have to?

Just wondering what everyones organizational size is. I am guessing most people are one and two man(woman) crews, but I'd like to know if anyone is running a larger operation, and if so how many employees/partners do you have and what responsibilities do you keep for yourself and what do you delegate out to your employees/partners.

When sorting through a unit won at auction, don't throw anything away until all the boxes and bags have been checked. Sometimes those random things that look like junk actually belong with other items packed in other boxes that make that item whole and sellable.

I just finished going through my latest unit and I have approx. 200 EMPTY video game boxes. They are mostly PS2 and XBOX with the original titles and manuals still inside. Just wondering if there is a market to sell them before I chuck them in the dumpster.

Hey guys,

Like many auction hunters I have thought about opening a "thrift store" as a way to create business and sell items found in storage lockers. Over the last few weeks I have been doing a visual inventory of the number of thrift stores, consignment shops, resale shops, in my area to get an idea of the competition. I was astounded by what I found. On one stretch of road less then 10 miles long there are at least 15 resale related shops NOT including pawn shops. Another road about the same distance had 7 resale shops. close to my home there are 3 shops in the same strip mall, and at least 5 others I can think of off the top of my head. That is NOT including the big non-profits like Goodwill, Salvation Army, Thrift Stores of America, etc.

My question is "How many thrift stores can a city support?" I have not tried to do a "head count" of the people running thrift stores and comparing that to auction attendees. I know several of the regulars are thrift store owners. I guess I am wondering if the shift in the American economy can support all the new thrift stores, or are there going to be a lot of people losing money and going bankrupt trying to open and run thrift stores?

Gripe #1 Don't show up to buy furniture without the exact agreed amount of money on hand. I am not a bank and I can't break your fifty, and no I won't take less than the agreed upon amount because you don't have the exact amount on hand. Go to the gas station across the street and get change, thank you.

Gripe #2 Does everybody on Craigslist think they are the next "American Pickers"? No I won't take $100 for the furniture I have listed for $300 that retails for $1200. I have already cut the price to make it affordable for people who normally would not be able to buy furniture of this quality. You are not going to make money re-flipping furniture I sell on Craigslist.

Gripe #3 the never ending questions, "Was this furniture yours or someone elses?" or "So where did you get this furniture?" Why? Do you want the furniture or not? I think it has something to do with Gripe #2.


Thanks for listening, that is all...