My wife worked for the county cops and we both have relatives / friends in various local/state forces.  So for us we side on caution.  This is how I handle things:

1) computer w/ kiddie porm -- would be turned in if I even looked and found it.  Normally if a computer boots I pull the specs and then if we don't want to "play with it" I'll wipe and re-install windows to sell.  Wife has a masters in forensics and has a few tools to see what people have "deleted" from their computer.  Never found anything really interesting....yet

2) Gun - I'd run the serial # to make sure it's not stolen.  For us we don't have to turn it in, just run the number.  Deputy will even come to the house to do it.

3) SSN / Credit Cards - most time these get shreded unless facility takes back personals.  I once turned in a bunch to the local police.  Unit had 8 different SSN cards, a dozen CC cards, etc.  All with different names, account #s, the like.  Didn't look like a combined unit so turned in just in case stolen / fraud.

4) Drugs - not really gotten any.  Had one unit that smelled like weed and found a few seeds but that is it.

5) Pirated movies / CDs - go in trash.  No need to report as almost everyone has a CD or Movie.  Did loose out on a unit that I didn't bid to agressive on due to all the pirated movies.  Was full of computer equipment that I liked but also 1000s of DVD's in totes with pirated movies.  He had a full tower with 8 DVD burners so was copying / selling.  I could see me buying it and then cops busting me thinking I was the one doing it.

I take pictures of a unit when I win one.  I then pull everything out and do the sorting at home.  If did find drugs or something elict I'd just turn that in.  Would be no reason for police to seize everything.  Unless of course it's boxes and boxes of cocaine or other drug.

Leota - how much did the computer parts / electronics go for?  I'm curious as I recycle that stuff for decent money.  Woudl love to find a unit like that.  I've only had 1 unit with lots of computer stuff and I only took it to $300.  Was a large unit with lots of computers, looked like a laptop, but 1000s of pirated CDs.  Had a DVD burner tower so he could burn 8 movies at a time.

Gratz Homegrown on your purchase.  IMO anytime I can get a small, decent unit for $50 it's worth the gamble.  As my past Saturday auction showed.

I buy when I can with what I have on me.  90% of the time this is small units that clean out quick, 99% of the items are smalls, and I can sell quickly but over time.  The large units IMO take more time but you get more of a ROI.  Furniture is where the big money is most times.  Only if you find that gold ring, old coin collection, etc. in a small unit do you get the same return.

Honestly - I prefer any units that I can buy at my price.  I'm cheap and don't go over $200 on many units unless I really want them.  If I'm more ah so/so about the unit I'm just not that aggressive.  I'm still doing better at yard sales then anything else.  So I always try and keep $100 or so in reserve for saturday morning yard sales.

Well today found me at my local small town location.  7 units were down to 4.  They put min bids on the units.  I ended up buying 3 of the 4.  Was only 3 people for the auction.  Myself, a new/old regular, and some couple I never saw.  One unit I already could say to have made money on.  Pulled out a pair of sapphire and diamond earings that my wife loved and is keeping.  I should make money on all of the units.

A 5th unit came up for auction.  It was one that the lady was suppose to be there at 11 to pay partial for in order for unit not to go up for auction.  Well we were done with the 4 units, was like 11:20 so they pulled her lock.  5 mattress/box spring, junk bed showing.  They pulled the large wood blocking view down and was 4 stacks of large vac packs w/ cloths, could see some furniture in back.  I offered $20, she wanted $25 so I said sure.  Turn around to put lock on door and a black lady comes running up.  She had the $300 partial payment for them.  Now at this point the unit is technically mine.  I could tell they (young ladies) were uncomfortable.  Of course the lady is pleading and begging -- that has her whoel house in there.  I said "shouldn't of told me that".  My "nice guy" complex kicked in.  I had the ladies give me back my $25 so they could make more money on the $300 from the lady.  I also avoid all of the drama I knew was about to unfold, plus I now have some good-will with the ladies for future auctions.

As a part-timer / hobby I can play the nice guy.  If did this for a liven it would of been give me the $300 and it's yours, or nope, sorry, come by the flea next weekend and you can buy your stuff back.

One of the ladies did come up to me later when I returned to start cleaning out unit to say thank you, and that they will not forget the goodwill.

A 10 x 10 area with peg boards = smalls / electronics / movies.  That is doable for $100 a month flat fee.  10% for large item consignment is just AWSOME.  I'd be all over that if had something like that in my area.  All the stores that I have talked to it's 50%.  At 10% I could buy furniture at yardsale, etc. and sell it there for a nice profit even after the commision.

Good luck to ya.

You can still sell it.  I have part of a sectional in the kids rooms.  They love it as the 2 chairs vibrate and the middle folds down for drinks/tray.  The missing arm part goes flush next to the wall and saves space in a tight room.

We've had 1 at the store also that sold the 2nd week we had it.

Well I find the saturday auctions to have more "new" faces also.  However, part of that is most of the regulars are at the flea selling.  The one 3 facility saturday auction I attend normally has 20-40 people.  It's silent bid so not really sure how many of them are serious.  I do agree on the entertainment part.

I've attended a number of auctions now with 40+ people.  It makes for a long day.  However, 95% of them don't even bid.  They are just there to look and watch.  When it's a silent auction I hear a bunch of "they don't call it out like Storage Wars?".  I've even had someone ask where Dan Dotson was....I was like seriously??

I'll see on the 20th how your theory holds.  6 units in the small town near me.  Last time we had 5 people at the auction, with only 1 other serious bidder.  I bought 6 that day.