Mike Braiotta has a heart of gold.

In a recent interview with NY Daily News, Mike Braiotta was telling a story about the time a delinquent tenant showed up to an auction and was crying because she couldn't afford the back rent.

 “You’re always aware that what you buy can recount someone else’s life,” he says. “One time I went to an auction for a locker where the lady hadn’t paid her $200 storage fee. She was there, she was crying. I paid $350 for the locker and told her, ‘It’s yours.’

“It was all personal stuff. She was so thankful. Sometimes you spend your money just to do something nice.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/new-yorker-love-lands-storage-wars-article-1.1229487#ixzz2Gy1uBBTP

If this is true, it just shows he has a heart of gold. Have you or would you ever do something like this for a total stranger?

Have you or would you ever do something like this for a total stranger?

No.

I would, and tried to when we first got in the business.  It ended up backfiring, I got harrassed by the owner and then the owner's daughter, and I tried to sell them a particular item they kept whining about for a measly $10 and then they never showed up.  I sold it on Ebay for $100 later.  Now when I see owners there trying to win their stuff back, I just steer clear.

 I think its just good PR. If Mike wasnt on tv you or I would care or ever hear about it.

That's what I was thinking too...It's just a PR piece.

This is Mike from Storage Wars. That is a 100% true story not made up for good PR.

This is Mike from Storage Wars. That is a 100% true story not made up for good PR.

Well "Mike" assuming you are the real guy...can we expect some good info from you about the show ?

Hey Mike! You're my favorite on storage wars. 

Well "Mike" assuming you are the real guy...can we expect some good info from you about the show ?

It's definitely him. The email address on file is attached to his apparel website oplockdown.com
The Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr accounts on the page all reaffirm it.

So Mike, what's up? People treating you any differently now that your famous? How long were you buying units before you made it on the show?

That's what I was thinking too...It's just a PR piece.

Really? The guys throws down $350 and helps out someone in emotional duress and instead of the compliment he deserves, he instead gets trashed as a PR stunt hog?

NOT 

Really? The guys throws down $350 and helps out someone in emotional duress and instead of the compliment he deserves, he instead gets trashed as a PR stunt hog?

NOT 

No one actually accused him of anything, we just put that out there as plausible.

Nice smiley manipulation by the way...I like that!

What's up guys sorry for the late reply. I bought 8 rooms on Tuesday and in 10 degree weather it is no joke unloading and sorting. Thanks for all the support. Me buying that locker for that lady was one of those things I just felt I had to do. I grew up in a real hard way and I know what it's like to be piss poor. Anyway I will deff answer as many questions as I can for you guys.

That's awesome, I'm glad you decided to drop by again. I'm sure you have a lot of fans here. Do you sell a lot of your merchandise on Craigslist or through contacts and word of mouth? Any plans to open a store in the future?

I'm a normal person just like the rest of you. Few fans here and there nothing crazy. I use every trick in the book to try and get rid of my stuff. Craigslist used to be great but has been taken over by spammers. eBay also used to be the way to go but the fees are out of this world. I did own a 2nd hand store. I opened about 3 months before hurricane Irene hit. The area I was in was flooded and I lost pretty much everything. After that storm considering I just opened I had no energy left to rebuild. I went back to the old school way of selling what I like to call (hand to hand combat) granted there is a lot of work trying to sell things without having a store but it does have its perks.(little to no overhead). I have thought about opening a new shop but I'm still unsure about it. I just started listing some items on my website so hopefully that will take off soon.

That's smart. I like to buy the unit, rent it and then sell the items directly from the unit. No sense in having to move stuff if you don't have to.