Professionals in the business have long suspected that many of the storage auction programs are faked or at least shown in a way that exaggerates certain qualities while downplaying others. The purpose of reality TV is, after all, primarily to entertain. Little wonder then that realism is sacrificed at the altar of good television.
Some reality shows are better than others, though, when it comes to realism. Although Dave Hester’s lawsuit against the producers of Storage Wars brought to light certain issues that plagued that program, such as the planting of valuable items while the storage hunters fake surprise at their “discovery,” many people in the auction business stand by Storage Wars as one of the most realistic shows in the genre. Bidders lose money on units, find normal household items and generally act practical, making this show the benchmark of “good” storage auction TV.
Other programs are not nearly so well respected. Take, for example, TruTV’s offering, Storage Hunters. If the obviously derivative name were not enough of a clue that this program may lag behind its competition in quality, a few episodes are enough to show most viewers why this show is pretty unpopular. Storage Hunters is actually TruTV’s second attempt at a storage auction television show after its first short-lived and failed attempt, Forbidden Storage. Both shows suffer from similar problems: The auctions are unrealistic, the units look obviously staged, and the auctioneers act unprofessional.
According to many viewers, Auction Hunters combines the worst qualities of Auction Hunters with the over-the-top drama of the repo shows in order to deliver something to hook viewers. There are even fights breaking out and, in one particularly infamous example, a convenient explosion that seems obviously staged. Here are a few more troubling issues that suggest storage Hunters is fake:
- The auctioneer is crass and often verbally abusive, behaviors which would never work in a real-world auction.
- The auctioneer travels around the country to run these auctions, which is essentially unheard of in the industry
- Every unit not only contains rare or valuable items, they’re usually tidy and staged almost like a store front.
- There are a surprising number of people wearing “Staff” shirts at the auction for no clear reason. Coupled with the fights that break out intermittently, this certainly gives the show a “Jerry Springer” vibe.
To people in the industry, it would appear that the crew of Storage Hunters fake every aspect of the show in an attempt to make it seem more exciting. Given the subject of some other TruTV programs, this is hardly surprising. The new program, Container Wars is at least moderately more realistic, but as a rule, TruTV is almost never a reliable source of information.
The show is a FAKE. I’ve seen it a few times and there’s one couple and they ALWAYS rub it in when they win the bid and that FAT PIG SLOBBED REDHEAD (Scott’s wife) ALWAYS talks smack to the winning bidder. Today 6/10/13 I just seen a show where Scott and his fat pigged wife bought a MINT CONDITION Yacht for $27,500. They should BOTH be fired from the show cause they always talk crap and start stuff then the obnoxious auctioneer lets THEM stay while kicking out the other bidder(s) who they started crap with. That’s all this show is about. Scott and his fat pig wife always bashing others weather they win or lose.
I agree that it’s fake, but the ” FAT PIGGED SLOBBED REDHEAD ” is actually Brandon’s wife ,Lori, not Scott’s..
I thought they were talking about Brandon & his husband Lori (the boss) its as if they are the bad guys on the show, as all shows need bad guys, although some would try and say the Taylor brothers but I would rather them get something than him & her
Andrew: I suppose it’s on your point of view or how it’s perceived. I really don’t see the husband and wife as the bad guys.
It’s reality TV, of course parts are staged for entertainment otherwise people wouldn’t watch. As to your list of reasons the show isn’t real, there are plenty of explanations for all. TruTV has hired THIS particular auctioneer for the pure fact that he IS entertaining. If you had Barbara Walters auctioning these bins off, no one would be watching. He travels the country because that’s what TruTV pays him to do. I agree some of the bins appear “staged” but what is a storage bin “supposed” to look like according to you? I mean its a 10X10 square box that people store things in… Also don’t get it twisted, every bin does not contain valuable items, just every bin WE watch on the show. Do you really think they show every little thing? No. Oh and what would a show be without fights?! So all in all its real with a twist. And I agree about Scott’s wife, disgusting.
I agree with you in some respect Erica but when you watch it and think about it yeah it is 100% not real maybe your just having trouble accepting the fact that you have been lied to
This is the worst example of fakery on “reality TV”. Yet I beleive that many of the the other reality “hunter” shows are bad just not as bad. What I have noticed is that some “finds” seem to show up from one show to the other as supposedly amazing “new” finds.
It sickens me that all these rubbish American shows are making their way to British tv screens. People need to stop watching this crap creating a demand for it. You have already destroyed the history channel with these shows.
Storage Hunters is a staple of the UK channel ‘Dave’ (yes, really) which is made up of at least 80-85% repeats, usually from the BBC. They have very little content of their own: Argumental, Car Wars, One Night Stand and two series of Red Dwarf, and they imported Suits.
They practice repeatception as well. You can see some shows twice, even three times a day, sometimes a number of days in a row; not different episodes either – THE SAME DAMN ONES. They aren’t even ashamed of it.
I don’t mind some of their repeated stuff – Man vs Food, QI, Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, the Top Gear specials (Jeremy Clarkson has disappeared too far up his own arsehole on a search of the sun for the series to be funny) – but Storage Hunters is so blatantly (and badly) faked it would be insulting to morons.
lori an Brandon r idiots please fire them from the show they think they own every auction please get them of the show they suck
I have watched a lot of the storage hunter programes,and I too think they are all fake,that branden & lori are the two people i cannot stand,tlhey always look smugg when they win a bid,or when they are outbid they look at the winner as if they should have won,,what a nasty couple they are.
John: The couple have the most experience and maybe that’s why they look smug to you? Or maybe they are?
I also read somewhere that Loris fat ass is one of the producers of the show…….so it really is even more fake!
Just watched an episode with loads of pizza boxes ‘covering’ the items. This could well have been a plant either by the production company OR a guy just wanted to get his crap on the show. But those pizza boxes come flat packed. this was obviously staged. Obviously. Conversely, I mean really, I could take $1m, smother it in turd and leave it in the middle of a storage bin…then not pay the bill… eventually, the company will auction the contents – hence storage hunters… No one will wanna bid on it as all they see is a giant turd. Now, being the schmuck (Like t-money!) who buys a giant turd for $200.00 watch Lori’s and Brandon’s faces when he starts fanning out $100 bills like confetti!
Jay: On that show, anything is possible on how they ‘find’ items and such.
are you people even asking yourself this question? of course Storage Hunters is staged; do you honestly believe they make 3k per unit? only those on the show win the auctions? they consistently fight fight w/ one another? the same auctioneer is all over the world? he has body guards next to him at an auction? lol. its an entertaining show but why are we even asking ourselves this question – the answer is YES, its FAKE!
Matt: We pose the question and let you decide the answer.
what bothers me about the show is that only the same people ever bid or win bins, now and again some by stander chips in with a bid, but they never compete, then how often do they by a bin and think they have lost money and then suddenly find something worth a fortune to save the day, Lori is horrible, cant stomach her at all, rough as guts. Also, how does Brandon do the research and know how owned most bins, he knows what everything is worth, such a diverse range of things, then they always have a guy they can call, or knows somebody in the most obscure profession like circus equipment. I do like Sean though, he is funny,
Hi have read all your delightful comments, if you goggle the characters you will see that Brandon has been doing this since he left school. I think they are a good team, he has a lot of experience and she use to work in finance. The fights may be staged but it adds to the program. I enjoy watching it.
Click the link below to see our latest recaps of Storage Hunters UK.
https://onlinestorageauctions.com/category/storage-auction-tv-recaps/storage-hunters-uk/
I think FAKE is the wrong word to use but a lot of the content is obviously embellished. I do find it quite annoying that “reality” shows feel the need to edit or stage parts of programmes for the purposes of entertainment, I would much rather watch an actual reality show, seeing as this is the whole point of the concept! There is too many unrealistic things going on in Storage hunters, a set cast/bidders list (90% of the winners are the same handful of people),all the additional bidders looking like hired extras, random fights with nobody being punched, bin leasee would not put tarpaulin on their most valuble items, bidders valuation of items seem to be taken as gospel, high ticket items placed in bins filled with unrelated low end items, thousand dollar blind bids?! Huge bids for average looking things, booby trapped bins and the list is literally endless! It is a bit like watching a drama series with poor effects, script and acting and with it all being totally unneccesary.
Agree with the comments that Storage Hunters is faked (but not very bin turns out to be a winner) but it Is far more entertaing then Storage Wars which is mainly due to the characters involved and the Auctioner Sean . I have to admit being addicted to this program, Baggage Battles and American Pickers. If you prefer reality then stick with watching Drew in Salvage Hunters.
Can anyone tell me why Papa Bear calls virtually everybody ‘Big Dog’ ???
Oh do come on guys. Could there be any TV show that is less reality and more fake. From a pseudo auctioneer rolling his tongue in a pathetic attempt to mimic genuine auctioneers to the alleged ex-boxer Brandon, (although no-one can find ANY record of his boxing career, perhaps he was boxing kippers), trying, and failing, to appear tough, moody but knowledgeable, together with his sneering wife. Could the pair of them genuinely intimidate anyone? Ever? All of this coupled with the transparent schoolyard scuffles from the main protagonists and rag bag mixture of others flapping their lips and high-fiving to make it appear natural. Maybe they’re all merely failed actors trying desperately to get a foot back on the ladder to fame.
I believe it’s fake. One question I have is how come when Brandon and Lori get in to an argument with someone else, it seems Sean always takes Brandon and Lori’s side, even when they start it? Also, when someone beats Brandon and Lori on a unit, why does Lori almost always comment on them about spending more than it was worth like they were spending her money? Myself, I think they need to be brought down a few notches.
After reading many comments about show this is the first accurate and true statement i have encountered
Of course it’s fake, but I find it great viewing, the scuffles Brandon had in Boston with an old enemy actually looked believable!! I had to pinch myself, and get real. How come nobody has mentioned Jesse? He looks like a cross between the Fonz and Elvis after a few doughnuts. I like the guy though, he’s cool
I do believe that these auction are set-up even though I enjoy them all.
For many years I have been in the antique and second hand business, but what I would like to know is…who supplies the money to buy all these items, even though I have been in business many years, now retired, I don’t have this kind of money to spend so I belie
ve that the film company gives them a amount of money to spend.
Robert Dugan.
United Kingdom.
It is very fake but I do watch it.
Example – How come when a vehicle is found there are keys with them so they can be started or driven?
How come there is always a power point to try out the electrical items?
How come they always seem to know an expert who’s going to come out and give an evaluation and always seem to be for free?
How come when fringe (extras) players bid they are often ignored in favour of the main characters?
How come Brandon and Lori always seem to win? (coincidentally there is some kind of hidden treasure)
How come they often make the same characters lose on a bin? eg there was a stage Papa Bear was constantly losing
Saying all this the show is quite entertaining but frustrating as I know of no one who wants Brandon and Lori to win anything but they always do, so we sit in hope on seeing the rarety of them losing.
Absolute crap
Nope – absolutely funny. It’s fake nature is part of the circus. Just saw an episode where a bin was hoped to contain a shotgun but just had clays. The guy then actually says “where would you hide a gun?” So gives away totally he knows its there. Then when it IS found he knows its make, value…
Sorry but I just find that iconically stupid.
Well, we watch this stuff and gradually it has dawned on us that, like Santa Claus, this may not be quite real … pity because it is quite fun
The auctioneer seems pretty genuine to me (I have attended lots of auctions in the USA) and as for travelling around a bit – why not? If you have only 4 bins to auction you would employ an auctioneer (again, I speak from experience – I used to actually organise auctions and an expert autioneer can make a big difference to prices)
There is a web entry that claims that Brandon and Lori are the only genine buyers and the rest are just actors or casual workers (T Money it says is really a waiter in a local restaurant)
So … we get older … and more cynical
Yes maybe it a fake but I really love watching it.The characters are really great and cool. Sean makes it all but guys like Jesse. Papa bear Brandon and sexy Lory the black guy who says MONEY TO BID also green mile they are all fun to me and anyway compared to some others TV shows its one of the best in my opinion.
i dont care if it is fake, best thing on dave ! right here shaun…badabadabada hoogivme2/14……money! ahahahaha
pathetic horrible stereotypical fake, I’ve watched it once, that was too much, whats happening to the world? and the UK attempt is somehow worse
The english version one of the bidders the black lady also appears on a advert on tv I believe you have to be part of the actors union to appear in a tv advertisement
They all claim to know how much everything is worth, but we never see them trying to sell anything.
Just more american crap.
the show is fun to watch but they all talk bull sh!+ and its unreal who would leave a container that has loads of stuff with high value when only a couple months behind on rent or shipping charges and the lock would of been cut off before hand to stop the container owner from empty it before sale and you cant say how much something is worth till you have sold it and have the money in the real world
The ULTIMATE proof that it is fake : they pre-arrange the bins prior opening. In season 1 episode 9 5:29 you can see a big painting at the back of the room. You can see the same painting in the episode 11 at 7:23 with the same fucking yellow sticker on the side…. and in these episodes they supposedly are in two different states. Sure.
Cheap knock-off of storage wars. Bad characters, bad acting and the auctioneer is a bald heading troll. AND his rolling of his tongue every second word…..boring. Maybe he should attend one or two real auctions and get a clue.
Even storage hunter is fake but its entertaining. I watch it like a drama series.
It is a shame that when the open a locker while it is raining outside the locker is full of wet footprints and a tantalising large object in full view covered with a tarp. Also isn’t it odd that every locker opened has the same brand of lock on it. I could go on but I guess it is pointless! Reality TV – really?