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Messages - Mike in SD

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16
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Hardest things to find in storage units
« on: February 06, 2014, 09:52:22 PM »
I wouldn't mind finding a gun or two.  Been doing this on and off since 2007 and have never come across a single one.

17
I usually let my assistant handle the cash at auctions...

18
My guess:

Beginners/Low Rollers: $500 or less
Average Buyers (Swap meeters, part-timers with day jobs, online sellers): $500-$2,000
Mid-Level buyers (Large swap meeters, small thrift shop owners): $2,000-$5,000
Whales:(Large thrift shop/warehouse owners): $5,000-$10,000
Mega-Whales (Same as whales but may have larger operations and/or multiple locations): $10,000+

19
Company News / Re: Help pick OnlineStorageAuctions.com's logo
« on: January 19, 2014, 09:15:29 PM »
Just sent you a PM, Travis.  Contact info for a great graphic illustrator I used for a logo, in case you want to explore more options.

20
Company News / Re: Help pick OnlineStorageAuctions.com's logo
« on: January 19, 2014, 03:18:34 PM »
No disrespect, but none of the above.  I know next to nothing when it comes to graphic design, but is there some program that everyone uses?  It seems like the majority of logos look like these. 

21
Online Storage Auctions / Re: How many people buy online?
« on: January 13, 2014, 01:49:10 PM »

Three years ago I almost bought the auction business of one the four major auctioneers in my area. The cost was $60K and I think I could have gotten it for $50K.  As we were beginning talks the tv shows came on.


As with every boom, people think it'll last forever and get greedy. Probably for the best that you didn't purchase his business. Besides, you wouldn't want auctioneering to cut into your picking time  :).

22
Online Storage Auctions / Re: How many people buy online?
« on: January 12, 2014, 04:59:48 PM »
The only way I will be bidding online is if the facilities conducting auctions will allow a preview period.  No matter how good the photographs and descriptions are, they can not account for foul-smelling units and viewing for yourself in person.  I also see too many fools bidding up units to crazy high prices, which I'm sure is to the delight of both the facilities and these online auction websites.  Some people still don't realize that with every gold rush, it's the ones who provide the picks and axes who get rich, and seldom the miners.

23
For obvious reasons, any sale conducted by American Auctioneers (Dan & Laura Dotson's company) will typically have large crowds.  People watching Storage Wars will look at the auction schedule on their website and show up, looking to buy that one magical unit and make their millions.

24
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Cost to rent a 10 x 15 locker
« on: January 01, 2014, 10:10:08 PM »
Yikes!  Here in San Diego County a 10"X15" runs anywhere from $125 to $200, depending on location.

25
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Costume Jewelry
« on: December 23, 2013, 10:36:23 PM »
Also, you might consider selling it in lots on eBay. Often, people will see a few pieces that they really like and end up buying the entire lot just to get them. For example, my wife came across a lot of 75 pieces of miscellaneous costume jewelry . She really only wanted 3 elephant pendants. (She collects anything to do with elephants. It's getting ridiculous, but that's an entirely different story.) We ended up buying the entire lot. She kept the pendants that she wanted and gave out the rest of the pieces to family members.

Good point, Travis. It would be too tedious & impractical to sell these items individually. My eBay lister would probably quit on me if I made her do that...

26
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Costume Jewelry
« on: December 23, 2013, 04:04:44 AM »
Appreciate the input, I'll probably list them on both Etsy & eBay and take the rest to the swap meet.

27
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Have you ever found a hand gun?
« on: December 22, 2013, 01:45:35 PM »
To bad you didn't find them a yer ago.    AR mags were going for $50-$100 depending on size.  Now stocks have been replenished and aftermarket companies banged out $10 ones.

Tell me about it.  Found 38 .223/5.56mm AR mags in a unit earlier this year.  Now they're only going for about $5-$10 each.  :(

28
General Storage Auction Talk / Costume Jewelry
« on: December 22, 2013, 12:27:02 PM »
So I bought a 10X10 the other day that was PACKED, floor to ceiling with boxes. During the clean out, I came across several boxes of costume jewelry.  There's about 40 small Ziplock bags full of the stuff. The quality of the items ranges from low to some vintage. For those of you who have experience with costume jewelry, what is the most effective way to sell?

29
General Storage Auction Talk / Re: Do vintage electronics sell for you ?
« on: December 13, 2013, 06:45:52 PM »
It depends.  Condition is definitely a key factor when dealing with vintage electronics.  I found a Marantz 2325 receiver and a pair of JBL Jubal speakers in a unit.  Put $125.00 into repairing the receiver, and sold it for $740.00.  The wood on the speakers was trashed, so I cannibalized them and sold the speakers themselves for $125.00 and the tweeters went for $400.00 (rare, sought after JBL L65's).  It also doesn't hurt to have a reliable, affordable audio repair tech in your contacts list for when you do come across these items.

30
Online Storage Auctions / Re: Photos / Description Misleading
« on: November 28, 2013, 03:45:28 PM »
A solution to this issue would be a preview period in which potential bidders could view the units in person. Online liquidation auctions usually allow this the day before the auction closes. Hypothetically, the storage facilities could do the same thing if they're willing to set aside a few hours to oversee the viewings. It would give bidders the advantage of assessing the units in person & the convenience of bidding remotely, while limiting the liability of the storage facility.

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