# Storage Warriors, post your best/wierdest finds **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 31, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768 "2016-03-31T18:42:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/1 "2016-03-31T18:42:42Z")
I occasionally buy abandoned storage units at auction. I usually bottom fish, going for cheaper units - the most I have paid for a unit was $100, I usually stay in the $10-40 range. I only bid on units that contain something that I, or someone I know, want or need. Here are some of my interesting finds: **Most valuable overall** - the $100 unit I got because it contained a nice pair of folding truck ramps, like [these](https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Cargo-Control/Erickson/EM07464-2.html). It turned out to also contain enough tools, stereo equipment, motorcycle riding accessories and Pokémon collectibles to be worth about $1,000. Most of the good stuff was stashed out of view in two 4 drawer file cabinets. **Best single snag** - One unit yielded, among other things, a fully functional [Bowflex machine complete with leg attachment](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bowflex-XTLU-home-gym-with-leg-extension-and-pull-down-attachment-/172141757887). I paid $30 for that unit. **Luckiest win** - I accidently bid $10 on a unit and ended up winning it. It turned out to have several pieces of NY Giants memorabilia, including 2 Manning jerseys (replicas) and a NY Giants Tervis cup. My son-in-law is an avid Giants fan. **Funniest find** - probably the leopard skin bra. Couldn’t convince my wife to try it on, though 😃 **Scariest find** - several very small [plastic storage bags](http://www.aliexpress.com/item/wholesale-5mil-thick-mini-small-earring-pe-clear-Ziplock-bag-selfseal-Lock-Reclosable-Plastic-Bag-2x3cm/1008795664.html?spm=2114.40010408.3.22.usiNrU)coated with white powder residue :eek:. Didn’t find those until I was back home. Didn’t taste to see if it was powdered sugar. Other items in the unit lead me to believe it was not. I keep what I want/need, give away what anyone else wants/needs and donate most of the rest to Goodwill. I sell very few items, but the ones I have sold more than pay for the habit. Anyone else share this hobby? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/2 "2016-03-31T18:55:20Z")
I’ve never done this but have seen the TV show. From what I can see, it looks like much of the stuff in these storage spaces belongs in a landfill. So how does that part work; can you just fill the dumpster at the storage place? Or do you have to drag it to the transfer station yourself? What about things like bedbugs? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/3 "2016-03-31T19:49:40Z")
Much does go straight to the trash, but using the dumpster at the storage site is a huge no-no. The buyer must take everything out of the unit and off the property. Most storage facilities collect a deposit of $50-100 above the bid price to ensure you do so. You get the deposit back when the unit is empty and “broom clean”. This has lead me to several self imposed rules: 1. I have never bid on a unit that contains 1 or more mattress/box springs/cloth furniture due to the potential for bugs (and the PITA of hauling them off). I have bought a unit with a leather sofa. 2. I never bid on a unit that looks like someone backed up a truck and dumped it in. 3. I never bid on any unit that looks like clean up would be more of a pain than the stuff is worth (which, for me, is a pretty low bar!). 4. Any and all clothing is bagged and taken straight to Goodwill. Except that one shirt that I really liked. It’s just a hobby for me, but I can see how it could become a full time thing. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/4 "2016-03-31T22:16:15Z")
How do you find auctions? It sounds like fun. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/5 "2016-03-31T23:24:18Z")
They advertise in my local newspaper along with other auctions. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/6 "2016-04-01T12:29:59Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > How do you find auctions? It sounds like fun. I go the online route. Google “on line storage auctions”. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/7 "2016-04-01T14:20:00Z")
Also, how long have you been doing this? I expect that the TV shows have brought more people to the auctions, and perhaps raised the amounts needed to win them. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/8 "2016-04-01T15:15:57Z")
About 100 pairs of crotchless panties. From size 2 to 30. All brand new in packages. Sold surprising well on Ebay. Best find on a locker I paid only $40 was a fresh rebuilt small block Ford 302 engine. Came with all the receipts. Sold it for $1200. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/9 "2016-04-01T18:35:30Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Also, how long have you been doing this? I expect that the TV shows have brought more people to the auctions, and perhaps raised the amounts needed to win them. I’ve been doing it about a year, so I can’t really speak to that question. > [@racer72](#): > > About 100 pairs of crotchless panties. From size 2 to 30. All brand new in packages. Sold surprising well on Ebay. Ooh! Next time I find underwear in a storage unit I’ll just cut a hole in the crotch and profit! ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/10 "2016-04-01T19:18:05Z")
Are the ones you’ve been to set up like in the TV show, where they open the door and you can look in from outside but not enter the unit? Ever find anything illegal in a locker? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/11 "2016-04-01T20:29:02Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Are the ones you’ve been to set up like in the TV show, where they open the door and you can look in from outside but not enter the unit? > > Ever find anything illegal in a locker? I do the on line version. Instead of looking in the door in person, the storage facility posts pictures. Some do a good job with the pictures, some are crappy. I don’t bid unless I have a really good idea what is in the picture(s). As for illegal, see “Scariest find” in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/12 "2016-04-01T20:49:58Z")
Do the the storage places really not do a first pass through the units before auctioning them? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/13 "2016-04-01T20:58:43Z")
Also, damn you, because now I’m considering this. Can you tell me the basics of how the online auctions work? I found the major sites, but they’re a bit confusing. I promise not to compete with you! ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/14 "2016-04-03T10:50:46Z")
Nearly twenty years ago I briefly worked for a couple of storage companies. Most of the stuff that was auctioned off or got left behind wasn’t that exciting but there were a few that I remember: \*\*Scariest find \*\*- One customer left behind an old worn rifle. That morning the district manager – a cold hearted person who everyone hated - had dropped in for few minutes. When I found the rifle later that day, I handed it over to my boss who joked that she might find it useful the next time the district manager visited. \*\*Most expensive \*\*- Another customer renting a large unit fell way behind and despite many phone calls and letters sent by registered mail never bothered to pay or even contact us. The day before the contents were to be auctioned off we called them again a couple times but still got no answer. We left messages on their answering machine and hoped for the best. The next morning we found a they had left a reply on our answering machine that they would come in at noon and pay. My boss immediately grabbed the phone only to get the answering machine again. She left a message that their reply did not stop the auction, the auction started at 10:00am sharp and they better get down here and pay or else. At ten o’clock with the auctioneer and the bidders ready to start, my boss asked that the large unit be sold last to give the tenet a little more time. This did no good - at about 10:45 the lock was cut and the door opened. Inside was an antique rocking horse and many piece of beautiful antique furniture in excellent condition. After a brief inspection by the bidders the auction started and by the time it was over storage company was about $2000 richer. The auctioneer and the winning bidders finished up their business by about 11:30 and moved on to another storage facility down the street. At 12:00 exactly the tenet and her husband showed up only to find that she had lost everything. The now ex-tenet shrieked, became hysterical and ran to her storage unit only to find that the winning bidder had put his lock on the door. The husband tried to pay but when that was refused became very angry and yelled that he was going to sue us. Explaining several times all the steps we had gone through to try to get them pay on time did no good and finally my boss ordered them to leave. It was an ugly scene that ended only when my boss picked up the phone and threatened to call the police. They left with the ex-tenet in tears and her husband screaming that they were going to take us to court. I never heard anything about them again. \*\*Strangest \*\*- We had one tenant who would stop by from time to time to unload things into his storage unit. I saw him several times but never paid much attention him. One day I noticed that he had forgotten to lock his unit so I looked inside and found it was filled about waist deep with neat stacks of newspaper. I reported this to my boss and she told me that this tenet had several other units filled with stacks of newspaper. As soon as one unit was filled floor to ceiling he would rent another. My boss did mind at all - the tenant always paid his rent on time and gave us no trouble. **Saddest?** - One of my duties was to call customers who had fallen behind in their rent. One gentleman I called had a voice that sounded like it was coming from someone who very old and had one foot in the grave. He would always tell me that he wasn’t able to come in and that we could just toss out the contents of his unit if we wanted. Of course we couldn’t do this - it was against company rules. This went on for over a month until one day I called and no one answered - not even an answering machine. Over the next couple weeks I called several times but no one ever picked up the phone. Not long after this I quit and moved onto a better job so I never heard anything more. I have always wondered what happened - did this he die? When I would call was there a cobweb covered dead body sitting next to a ringing telephone? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-warriors-post-your-best-wierdest-finds/750768/15 "2016-04-04T12:51:49Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Do the the storage places really not do a first pass through the units before auctioning them? Well, never say never but that would be a huge no-no and (in most states at least) highly illegal. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Also, damn you, because now I’m considering this. Can you tell me the basics of how the online auctions work? I found the major sites, but they’re a bit confusing. I promise not to compete with you! It’s pretty easy. Register and provide a credit card for billing purposes, filter the listed auctions for those closest to you, sort by ending date/time and start looking at pictures. When you find one on which you want to bid enter your bid amount. You can go back anytime prior to auction closing and raise your bid, or simply bid your maximum amount and let it “auto bid” as necessary.