GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - Storage wars

kane · 12-09-2010, 02:34 AM

For about two years I bought storage units and sold the stuff inside just like on this show. It is a wild, fun and at times frustrating and time consuming thing, but you can make some decent money at it if you stick with it.

Here are a few things to look out for and remember for those who saw this show and want to try it out.

1. Get to know the bidders. If you do this enough you will start to see all the same people at the auctions. Know who buys what and how they bid. You might be able to sell them stuff later and it could help you get out of their way and save money if you know they are the kind of person who will bid at all costs.

2. do your homework. Just because you don't know what the item is doesn't mean it is not valuable. One of the best units I ever bought was filled with track (running) stuff. There were programs from track meets, a poster etc. It turns out the poster was a very rare Steve Prefontaine poster that sold for $250 and some of the programs were from track meets where the guys on the cover eventually went on to win gold medals so some of them sold for $100+ each.

3. Own your own truck. When you buy the unit you will normally have 48 hours to empty it out so you will need to be able to move it fast. You will also be making a lot of runs to the dump. If you have to borrow/rent a truck every time you need to do this you will go insane.

4. Have outlets for your stuff. A lot of the stuff you get has some value, but you can't sell it on ebay. Use Craig's List and other local papers. I found half a dozen small local area papers that would let me put free classifieds in their paper for things that were less than $100. I use those to sell mattresses and appliances (and trust me, you will get a lot of mattresses). Also as you make contacts you might find people who will buy some of your items. I would save a lot of it and have a couple of garage sales every year to move a bunch of it.

5. Most units are not winners. You will get the occasional unit full of great stuff. Like I got one that was packed with sports memorabilia, but you get a lot that are just people's junk. Be prepared for it and know cheap, fast ways to dispose of it.

6. Know the companies you buy from. There are some storage places that will gather up all the shit people leave behind when they move out, put it in one unit and sell it at the auction. The more reputable ones will tell you it is "found" merchandise, but others will not and you are basically paying them to haul off their garbage.

7. Out of the way places can be your friend. There were a handful of out of the way places that held auctions during the day in the middle of the week. On a few occasions I was the only bidder. I eventually came to an agreement with a few of them and if nobody else showed up they would sell me each unit for $1.

8. Have storage space. You will quickly accumulate shit so you will need to have a place to put it while you sell it. You will also need a place to go through the stuff you buy and decide what is good and what is garbage.

Anyway, those are just a few tips for those of you who want to give it a shot. I suggest you go along once and just watch, maybe bid if you see something you know is good or you can get a unit for a great price, but start slow and see what it is all about. It can be fun, but it is hard work.

If you really are going to give it a shot and have any questions post em up or drop me an email below, I would be happy to answer them. It isn't something I do anymore, but I might be able to steer you in the right way.

12-09-2010, 02:34 AM
kane Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: portland, OR Posts: 20,684	For about two years I bought storage units and sold the stuff inside just like on this show. It is a wild, fun and at times frustrating and time consuming thing, but you can make some decent money at it if you stick with it. Here are a few things to look out for and remember for those who saw this show and want to try it out. 1. Get to know the bidders. If you do this enough you will start to see all the same people at the auctions. Know who buys what and how they bid. You might be able to sell them stuff later and it could help you get out of their way and save money if you know they are the kind of person who will bid at all costs. 2. do your homework. Just because you don't know what the item is doesn't mean it is not valuable. One of the best units I ever bought was filled with track (running) stuff. There were programs from track meets, a poster etc. It turns out the poster was a very rare Steve Prefontaine poster that sold for $250 and some of the programs were from track meets where the guys on the cover eventually went on to win gold medals so some of them sold for $100+ each. 3. Own your own truck. When you buy the unit you will normally have 48 hours to empty it out so you will need to be able to move it fast. You will also be making a lot of runs to the dump. If you have to borrow/rent a truck every time you need to do this you will go insane. 4. Have outlets for your stuff. A lot of the stuff you get has some value, but you can't sell it on ebay. Use Craig's List and other local papers. I found half a dozen small local area papers that would let me put free classifieds in their paper for things that were less than $100. I use those to sell mattresses and appliances (and trust me, you will get a lot of mattresses). Also as you make contacts you might find people who will buy some of your items. I would save a lot of it and have a couple of garage sales every year to move a bunch of it. 5. Most units are not winners. You will get the occasional unit full of great stuff. Like I got one that was packed with sports memorabilia, but you get a lot that are just people's junk. Be prepared for it and know cheap, fast ways to dispose of it. 6. Know the companies you buy from. There are some storage places that will gather up all the shit people leave behind when they move out, put it in one unit and sell it at the auction. The more reputable ones will tell you it is "found" merchandise, but others will not and you are basically paying them to haul off their garbage. 7. Out of the way places can be your friend. There were a handful of out of the way places that held auctions during the day in the middle of the week. On a few occasions I was the only bidder. I eventually came to an agreement with a few of them and if nobody else showed up they would sell me each unit for $1. 8. Have storage space. You will quickly accumulate shit so you will need to have a place to put it while you sell it. You will also need a place to go through the stuff you buy and decide what is good and what is garbage. Anyway, those are just a few tips for those of you who want to give it a shot. I suggest you go along once and just watch, maybe bid if you see something you know is good or you can get a unit for a great price, but start slow and see what it is all about. It can be fun, but it is hard work. If you really are going to give it a shot and have any questions post em up or drop me an email below, I would be happy to answer them. It isn't something I do anymore, but I might be able to steer you in the right way.