Auction Scene #1...January, 2012

Dang money that sucks about you not feeling well and the thrift store you sell to/at.  In my area that is how they advertise.  By putting stuff out by the road / sidewalk and in front of the store entrance.

Yeah has turned into a netflix day still raining. We are ok but feel if we spent time in the rain would be knocked out.

On the Thrift it does suck that is how she has been selling so much. If people don't see it out they think she is closed. She would keep things fresh put the new stuff out front.
She said it was the county code, I doubt that. the landlord has talked to her about putting the stuff in the parking lot/ there is a Dr. office next door.
 The original Dr. there passed away around the time she opened, now there is a new one there so I think that is part of the problem. She is in a great location but IMO I think she pays to much in rent for what she gets. But she has been doing well there.  And there is nothing else for rent there.

Sure hope we don't have to go get that stuff we would need a barn. LOL

Thanks Craiglstauction.

The three auctions I went to today had a decent crowd (30 or so...6 regulars). Lkrs were nothing special. Prices OK, I just wasn't interested in the goods.  Regulars got some, newbies got some. I didn't even bid until the last facility and the next to last lkr. I went to $650 on a 10 x 15 and let the other regular get it for $675.

Always more auctions...three tomorrow in fact !

Had four auctions to attend this week, but the Seattle area got a light dusting of snow, so everything was cancelled!  I'm going crazy with nothing to do!

Been a while for me, just hit my first auction of the new year today. 2 Lockers, 15 people total. First locker went for cheap, pretty nice clock showing, winner jumped the bid from $100 to $200 and scared everyone off. Later on I talked to the guy again, he said after getting the clock checked out it was a legit piece, should pay for the unit.

I liked his bidding strategy, but I think it would leave me wondering if I could of gotten it cheaper. I'll admit it, I'm the type to bleed the bid out in $5-10 increments  .

I liked his bidding strategy, but I think it would leave me wondering if I could of gotten it cheaper. I'll admit it, I'm the type to bleed the bid out in $5-10 increments  .

This used to work for me...over a year ago!  No more. If there are any serious regular bidders there they will just take it on up $25 or more at a time. Also, some newbies will think..."Hell, if HE likes it at that price I think I'll bid too."

Anymore, I let the basic bidding start and come in late. Sometime works, sometimes doesn't.

I'm still up in the air if I want to go out today.  Yesterday was a little crazy.  The auction that would get 15 bidders had close to 50 and prices were crazy high.  Not one of the regulars even bid on any lkr's  never mind win one.  I did not go to the next one after seeing what I saw.  People come and bid to high and lose money and you don't see them anymore.  The problem is you lose one and 5 take their place. 

This used to work for me...over a year ago!  No more. If there are any serious regular bidders there they will just take it on up $25 or more at a time. Also, some newbies will think..."Hell, if HE likes it at that price I think I'll bid too."

Anymore, I let the basic bidding start and come in late. Sometime works, sometimes doesn't.

I have gotten so tired of the madness at the auctions that I have completely changed my bidding strategy. Two things are happening now at the auctions. New newbies are just gambling so they will pay any price to win what looks like a good unit. older newbies are "bird doging" the regulars, basically any unit a regular shows interest in, they jump on. So now I start every unit i am interested in at 75% of the maximum I am willing to spend. I think I have done enough research to guess the total value of a unit based on size, volume, and quality. The other regulars look at me like"what the heck are you doing?" but we all know the price is going to get that high anyway and higher. In fact I haven't won a unit since mid December so I am still getting out bid. What other new bidders don't know is when I start the bid at 75% of my max, and the final bid settles at twice that amount or more, the chances of making any money on that unit are probably less then 10%.

I think it just amazes me how these prices are still going for so much! I know that a fool and his money are soon parted, but this is outrageous.

 I mean I can see what you guys paid for units pre and post SW because of my Sealed bid auction and hitting public storage places. I just wish I had done this 3 or 4 years ago when I originally heard about this. My only hope is that one day SW will at least put something at the begining of the show saying that lockers don't always hold antiques and that this is not a get rich quick method. But I realize that this will never be the case.

Question to everyone else here.  Do you guys try to inform people who are looking into getting into this or newbs at the auction hoping to get a locker no matter what?  I just wonder if it would have an impact on prices?

I think the ones going into this are going to be in for a shock if they are expecting antiques or anything of value.  I am a newbie going to my first auction this weekend. I guess it depends how much you are willing to spend. Would I keep raising bids just to get a locker? No. I would like to think I am a realist, and have a general idea of what things are worth. Any one with a brain I think would know how set up SW are. I don't get how they put such a high value on stuff. And in my opinion, sure Dave can win by the "supposed" value of contents, but that value doesn't hold if he has to sit on the item. When you really think about it, how many people really put their valuable stuff in storage?

Well we have some pretty loud talking regulars.  They are a couple of old retired guys.  Friendly enough and great to hang with.  They do tell the newbies up front that they have been doing this for XX years (for most 15 - 25).  If this was a easy way to get rich then what are they still doing here?

We poke fun at the shows alot also.  Other then Monday for the most part the crowds have grown but it's 80% regular bidders with a few noobs bidding.  With those people we pretty much waste their money at the start of a caravan or multi-unit location so by time we get to the end they have blown their wad.

Next week is 3 of the regular few locker locations that I sometimes make and other times don't.  I'll be curious to see how those crowds are.  We are talking only 2-5 lockers a day at a location.


Case in point from Monday.  The 10am auction had 20-30 people for 3 units.  Most of the non-regulars just followed the crowd since the paper said Metro was at 9:30 when it was really at 12.  An hour later back at Metro the crowd was already 60 strong and growing.  Auctionzip is not your friend

Question to everyone else here.  Do you guys try to inform people who are looking into getting into this or newbs at the auction hoping to get a locker no matter what?  I just wonder if it would have an impact on prices?

I tell everybody who shows interest in this, that it is and I quote "A truly nasty, dirty business".  Yes there is money to be made, but the work and the filth often leave me wondering why.  I let them know about unwashed clothing, stains on furniture, food left in lockers, an old broken hutch covered in roach crap, the porn, drug paraphernalia and numerous court documents chronicling broken lives.  It's gross and definitely not for the weak of heart, back or stomach.

I have gotten so tired of the madness at the auctions that I have completely changed my bidding strategy. Two things are happening now at the auctions. New newbies are just gambling so they will pay any price to win what looks like a good unit. older newbies are "bird doging" the regulars, basically any unit a regular shows interest in, they jump on. So now I start every unit i am interested in at 75% of the maximum I am willing to spend. I think I have done enough research to guess the total value of a unit based on size, volume, and quality. The other regulars look at me like"what the heck are you doing?" but we all know the price is going to get that high anyway and higher. In fact I haven't won a unit since mid December so I am still getting out bid. What other new bidders don't know is when I start the bid at 75% of my max, and the final bid settles at twice that amount or more, the chances of making any money on that unit are probably less then 10%.

I consider myself a regular.  To some I'm considered an older newbie I guess, but I have been told by some friends (who just go to observe) that people hone in on me.  When I want a unit they pay attention a bit more than when my husband does the bidding.  Could be why I've only won 4 of the 10 units we've purchased.  And I've never won one when my husband wasn't there.  Seems they always go too high.

Guess I'll have to keep an eye on that and hand the reins over.

And I like your bidding strategy.  Think I'll try that.  Or let my husband (since I'm being 'bird-dogged') tomorrow if we find a locker worth bidding on~

I think it just amazes me how these prices are still going for so much! I know that a fool and his money are soon parted, but this is outrageous.

 I mean I can see what you guys paid for units pre and post SW because of my Sealed bid auction and hitting public storage places. I just wish I had done this 3 or 4 years ago when I originally heard about this. My only hope is that one day SW will at least put something at the begining of the show saying that lockers don't always hold antiques and that this is not a get rich quick method. But I realize that this will never be the case.

Question to everyone else here.  Do you guys try to inform people who are looking into getting into this or newbs at the auction hoping to get a locker no matter what?  I just wonder if it would have an impact on prices?

I have tried in the past, but it's real tough when you got 60-100 new faces at the auction. Another thing I have noticed over the last couple of months with the newbies is not only are they bidding a lot higher then newbies over the previous year, there seems to be a real difference in attitude. It's kinda like all the brash poker playing egomaniacs have come out to gamble now. I wonder if its just a sign that the bad economy has turned the corner in my area so people feel more free to waste money, or if something esle is going on? Definitely a difference.

The other thing is even if you tell several people that no unit is worth over $250, then they see you bid on one and think going $275 isn't going to hurt, and then the other folks you didn't talk to start bidding and so it goes up, up, and away...

I wouldnt look for prices to get any cheaper, only perhaps higher with income taxes upon us. Adult christmas is here!

I wouldnt look for prices to get any cheaper, only perhaps higher with income taxes upon us. Adult christmas is here!

Will agree with you there.

Hope it works on selling though.  Why we have so much at the Thrift. Adult Christmas. 

Will agree with you there.

Hope it works on selling though.  Why we have so much at the Thrift. Adult Christmas. 

I may do the Blair auctions in March and April just for the shuts and giggles of seeing what fools will bid up to.