Has anybody ever been to a PODS auction? Update Post #14

[mackeysmom]

Hi -

Just read in my local paper that PODS is having an auction - open to the public - at the end of the month. They will be auctioning off the contents of unpaid/abandoned PODS units.

Has anybody ever been to a PODS auction?

I might check it out - not in the market to really purchase anything (I'm selling my house and am supposed to be DE-cluttering), but I'm curious to see what kind of stuff has been left behind

If I nab any bargains, I'll be sure to post!

-- Laura

 

[DaniellaBella]

I am a manager of a self storage facility. We have auctions about every 4 months that would most likely be the same as the POD auction. There is going to be mostly furniture, but you may find some "treasures" in the POD. Most of the people that come to the auctions at my job make a living off of buying and selling auction items. I would go. It's interesting and you might be able to score some stuff at a good price. I see storage units going from $5-2000. A wide range. Now when you do the buy a POD, most likely you will have to take everything in the POD. HTH

 

[iheartdisney]

I've been to the one out here. There is an auction company that covers several storage unit around SoCal.
They cut the lock and open the door, give everyone a few minutes to see what they can see, and then start the bidding. You can't touch, but if you have a flashlight you can shine it around and try to see more than just the stuff piled up by the door.
If you win, you have to pay cash, right then. You should probably bring a lock or two- in case you win, you want to secure your new belongings if you aren't loading them right then. You have to completely empty it and sweep it out, and there is no dumpster there, so it is all yours!
I didn't bid at the one we went went to. At the time they emailed, they said there were 12 units up for auction. The morning of, another email went out to say there were 8. When we got there, there were 3 units auctioned together, and one auctioned seperate. The 3 auctioned together went for $3800, but the one alone sold for $350. I think they have SOME idea as to what the contents are.

 

[digitaldevice]

I'd go, there lots of fun. I know cause I got to them all the time around here. Most people here only bid from $50.00 - $250.00. So you can get good stuff to sell on eBay.

 

[Chancedabowsa]

Hi -

Just read in my local paper that PODS is having an auction - open to the public - at the end of the month. They will be auctioning off the contents of unpaid/abandoned PODS units.

Has anybody ever been to a PODS auction?

I might check it out - not in the market to really purchase anything (I'm selling my house and am supposed to be DE-cluttering), but I'm curious to see what kind of stuff has been left behind

If I nab any bargains, I'll be sure to post!

-- Laura

yes , i'm sure you are gonna get a real bargain buying someones critters.

 

[delmar411]

yes , i'm sure you are gonna get a real bargain buying someones critters.

??????????????


OP, I've heard of storage units being auctioned but never been to one. Not sure why PODS would do that though. They are mobile units more for long term storage or moving. Makes you wonder how hard they tried to contact the owners or if they are military and deployed or something.

 

[mantaz]

It might me people that have put stuff in there they no longer really need or want. The storage people make money on the rental of each unit. So if the unit goes unpaid then it goes up on the auction block. Our storage facility holds an auction about once or twice a year so some of those unpaid units have been sitting for quite a while. There was one recently on the use that went unpaid. When they opened it up, it was old medical records. Great to know the Dr. quit paying for it! But with this tough economy these are the things that happen.

 

[mackeysmom]

I'm really just going to go to satisfy my curiosity (I'm always intrigued by other people's junk!!)

I didn't realize that in most cases you are bidding on the entire unit - I guess that makes sense though.

The notice in the newspaper included the names of the PODS' owners - some of them were companies/coporations - so I'm guessing those might be full of records/files.

The auction is at the end of the month - I'll post back with an update

-- Laura

 

[swilshire]

I've been to several self storage auctions, but typically they sell for more than I'm willing to pay. The resellers can pay more than the casual shopper.

Went to one sale on a day that was FREEZING and finally bought one unit. The only thing I saw that I wanted was a little bench. Paid $30 for the contents, which I was willing to pay for the bench alone. Found a nearly new roll of postage stamps that was worth almost that much, so I definitely came out ahead. Also found several clothing items with the tags still affixed that my daughter could use.

It is a real pain to clear all the stuff out and expect to pay a deposit that you forfeit if you don't. That's to keep you from just taking the good stuff. A lot of ours went to Goodwill.

It was sad to see the personal photos, divorce papers and other things you would expect the person to want. We took them back to the storage place, who holds them for a period of time in case the renter comes back.

Sheila

 

[bobcat]

My family owns a self storage business so I get to clean a lot of these units out. Much of what you will find is junk, but there are a few treasures sprinkled in. We don't auction any more since my dad passed and he was our auctioneer. Most of ours gets donated to local charities. Have fun!

 

[mjhd]

I absolutely LOVE storage auctions! I have bought several in the past, however, lately the competition has been overbidding IMO. I have gotten everything from XXX videos to gold jewelry to pack and plays. It's definitely a treasure hunt! You will need a lot of garage or similar space to sort the stuff - some units are icky since they've been there so long and you don't want this stuff in your house. Good luck!

 

[newtodis]

I would love to go to something like that! I'm subbing just to see what you get!

 

[DaniellaBella]

??????????????


OP, I've heard of storage units being auctioned but never been to one. Not sure why PODS would do that though. They are mobile units more for long term storage or moving. Makes you wonder how hard they tried to contact the owners or if they are military and deployed or something.

If the tenant is in the military, they cannot auction their POD/unit. I personally try my hardest to contact people when they go up for auction by calling them, sending them cert. letters. Some people just don't care/don't have the money to pay.

 

[mackeysmom]

Today was the PODS auction - I took the ride just to satisfy my curiosity

Of the 30+ units originally advertised in the paper, all but 5 had been paid for and were off the auction block.

One of them had nothing but a stained mattress in it , and one had bags and bags of empty clear plastic bottles (the kind that hold shampoo or conditioner. Both of those remained unsold.

One unit had had a washer, dryer, television sets (2), bedroom furniture and a bunch of loaded cardboard boxes. On top of the dryer was a purse - the purse was open and there were about a dozen credit cards and a load of business cards strewn across the dryer. That POD sold for only $300.

Another unit had lots of furniture - couches, chairs, tables, etc. Stacked up to the top. That sold for $800.

The final POD had a bunch of junky shelving units, some frames, a lot of little things. It did have a gorgeous framed mirror (framed in gold, but the DIY in me would have spray painted it silver). I don't remember what it finally went for, but I would have been willing to bid up to $100 just to get the mirror.

All in all, it was interesting. I wish there had been more PODS to look at/bid on, but I'm also glad to know that the owners were able to claim their belongings before the "vultures" swooped in

-- Laura

 

[Trixie15]

Ok the stained mattress - that's just icky. Makes you wonder if anyone was raped there. YUCK.

 

[mrsklamc]

That was my first thought, and then I thought "Nope, just watch too much tv." So I'm glad I wasn't the only one who went there.