Prices of Units in Small Towns

We are from a small town in Central Cal. We usually travel 2 hours at the most just to get to some auctions. That's fine for us been doing it for years this way and it works. Yesterday we went to an auction in our area and we couldn't believe the prices these simple nothing units went for. Couldn't figure out why at first and then realized most of the people that were there were locals and they don't travel out of the area to get to auctions so they bid outrageously just to get anything! One unit went for 725.00 and honestly was not worth (to us anyway) more than 300.00 max. Just a lot of bulk crammed in and not in a good way (some broken chairs etc) into a 5x10. I'm not saying they shouldn't heck if they spend that much and see they get junk maybe they will stop going. ;-) But, question is, does anyone else see this type of thing going to small towns?

I am from the other side of the country and see the opposite.  Small town auctions with very few buyers at some of them.  At an August auction me and only one other guy showed up he was a former buyer in poor health just looking really.  I got three units for $45 total.  Auction in early October me and 2 other buyers at start I got first 2 units for $125.  None were packed, but solid in profit on all of them. 

I am from the other side of the country and see the opposite.  Small town auctions with very few buyers at some of them.  At an August auction me and only one other guy showed up he was a former buyer in poor health just looking really.  I got three units for $45 total.  Auction in early October me and 2 other buyers at start I got first 2 units for $125.  None were packed, but solid in profit on all of them. 

That's terrific!! I wish we could get a little of that here :-)

I'm in a medium sized town (500K) and its hit and miss. Some auctions are great and units sell for reasonable prices then the next day, prices go out of control. Bidding wars for trash.

I'm in a medium sized town (500K) and its hit and miss. Some auctions are great and units sell for reasonable prices then the next day, prices go out of control. Bidding wars for trash.

medium is 500K??...well then I am in a tiny village 10K in this particular town. 

medium is 500K??...well then I am in a tiny village 10K in this particular town. 

Well, I lived in Houston 28 years and Los Angeles for 3 years, so yeah, 500 K is medium to me.

Only 10K people? Do you even have a storage facility in your town?

Ive not hit a small town auction in several months, but from my past experience, I have seen it all.

From the auctions with only a hand full of people and nobody being a professional reseller and not even wanting packed units or units with a lot of furniture so Ive won those dirt cheap.;

To auctions with tons of people who are not from that town but come from larger cities and metro areas from every direction, each thinking "small town auction, no bodies gonna be there!" and thus the large crowd of pros and city buyers run the prices of the units through the roof.;

To the local small town whale who makes sure he wins every single unit, no matter the cost, to keep outsiders and the few locals who show up from cutting into his territory.

So I guess you never know what it's gonna be like. 

Well, I lived in Houston 28 years and Los Angeles for 3 years, so yeah, 500 K is medium to me.

Only 10K people? Do you even have a storage facility in your town?

  Yea well, actually it's a guy that drives into an empty lot and opens the trunk of his car. 

LOL - Does he deliver too?