Not only do they get paid, but get "fringe" benefits as well. Notice Jarrod, Darrell and Dave all have brand new Fords? One episode shows Barry giving Dave a Yuuup hat....now his trucks and trailers are all labeled with it.  How about proceeds from their clothing lines? Also in the works, Storage Wars New York. 

I think its funny how people get so worked up over the show. It's TV. If it showed how much work goes into cleaning out, selling and profiting from the lockers...no one would watch.

I got a kick out of a comment at an auction we went to last weekend. One of the regulars was stating that he has found porn in almost every single lkr. So we get to a lkr of an older lady. A comment was made about the chances of finding porn in an 80 year old's lkr. Someone replied "well, she wasn't always 80". 

We own a chimney repair/cleaning business. I sell on eBay to supplement income during slow season and for Christmas money. I love garage sales and resale stores. We bought our first locker yesterday (nice already having a truck and enclosed trailer). We will see how it goes.

Well, went to our first auction. It was 11 below, but sunny and the roads weren't too bad considering the major snow yesterday. About 20-30 people there...mostly couples though. 5 units, 2 locations. We bid on the 2nd locker (10x10) and got it for $425. It was the unit with conditions: she relinquished unit in return for family photos and a ceramic xmas tree given to her by her mother. No big deal.  Full unit, lots and lots of boxes. There is a large anitique dining table with claw feet (that caught my eye, along with an old sled, boxes marked Halloween).  She has been renting the unit since 2002 and hasn't been in it in at least 2 years (talked to the owner before the sale). We haven't cleaned it out yet, only brought a few boxes, etc that would fit inside the truck.  The units weren't outrageous, ours was the highest and had the most interest with different bidders. I think one other unit went for over $300, full, but things marked with rummage stickers, and about 4 mattresses and clothes.  Last unit was pretty much cleaned out except for a/c units, old couch, pallets, etc. Most of us walked away so I don't even know if it sold. I wanted to take pictures before we went into it, but it was an inside unit and was not light enough   I honestly think we will at least break even (albums, vintage crystal set with box, the table, lawn jarts, few boxes of good canning jars with lids, singer sewing machine with case...and that's just what we looked through. Way too cold at that point to do any more!

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice. It was appreciated and very helpful!!!

I would put stuff on the ground at the flea market.  I have never sold at one, but when I go, I hardly ever look at the stuff on the tables unless I am looking for something in particular. If there's stuff in boxes on the floor...that's where I look! Never know what kind of "treasures" might be in there. 

Would it be possible to break down a mattress? I wonder how much effort it would take and if it would be worth it?

The worst part of living in the midwest....winter time and no garage sales!!!  Nothing beats an unadvertised sale!! I have learned not to go to any sales listed on Craigslist!