Have you ever gone to your competitors auction?

I did this the other day - what an eye opener!!!

First of all we are a family owned single facility - we kinda do things our own way (with the help of Jeff's webinars) so I wanted to see how the "Big Guys" do it.

The facility I went to was one of the national chains (I wont give any names) and I was shocked to see that they were so .... well un-professional

First when I walked in I was greeted by a case of water and boxes full of donuts. The office manager asked me to fill out the paper work -- a half sheet of paper that requested the usual -- name, address, phone # -- and below that was a short paragraph about payment methods. I was a little shocked that they accepted credit cards! But to each his own. I signed the document and handed it back to her and was given a bidder number.
I was waiting to be handed a set of rules and asked to sign them, but that never came - in fact I had to ask for the rules. Never did I have to sign a release.

The auction was conducted by a regional manager -- she walked out and just started the auction -- no going over the rules - nothing.

Any rules that they did have were not enforced -- people were "leaning" into the units, using flashlights to open boxes etc.

After attending so many of Jeff's webinars it was everything I could do not to take over the auction and conduct it properly! How these people have not been sued is beyond me.

The other reason to go was to see the difference between doing auctions on the weekend and during the week. After seeing the crowd that attended that auction I will continue to hold my auctions on the weekend - I don't want those people at my auctions!!! They were rude and obnoxious!

I may not get as much money, but I know the auctions are done properly and we have a good time.

Anyone else have similar experiences they want to share?

__________________
Wayne
All American Self Storage
Palmdale, CA.
webmaster@all-americanselfstorage.com

I have gone to a competitors auction. They are the same as us , single facility, family owned. When I walked in the people waiting said "oh here is the competition this should be good". The same people were at my auction a couple of weeks before. The only difference was they did sealed bids. I don't because I just want to sell em as I go. I also open the doors for a peek! I sold one for $1.00 because I had no bids and I didn't want to remove the stuff and pay for the dump.
You never said: How do you run yours?

Our "Public Sale" (as you have to call it in Calif.) are held in accordance to Calif. state Lien Law (or as close as we can determine)

We have all bidders sign a copy of the sale rules - which includes a waiver in case of damage or injury, both to them and us or our property. We do not allow anyone under the age of 18 to attend.

At the start of the auction I go over the rules again - no chance anyone will not understand the rules! Once that is completed we go around to all the units and each unit is opened for inspection. They are allowed to look in the unit, but they cannot touch anything or enter the unit. After that I start taking bids. Highest bid wins.

No sale is final till all the property leaves our property! If the tenet comes in with money the bidder must put everything back into the unit! Never had this happen yet, but I make sure all bidders know it.

All bidders have until 4:00pm the day of the public sale to vacate the unit - anything left after 4 is considered abandoned and disposed of properly. We will make exceptions on a case by case basis.

I have been known to sell a unit for a buck just to get someone else to haul it off -- doesn't always work, but I try. I just want an empty unit so I can rent it.

I know this was a little long winded, and wondered a bit, but if you have questions I will answer as best I can.

__________________
Wayne
All American Self Storage
Palmdale, CA.
webmaster@all-americanselfstorage.com

No questions, thank you for the reply...We basically do what you do. We do not hire an autioneer and we call it public auction. We also have the winners of the bid give us a $25.00 refundable cash deposit just in case they don't clean out the unit entirely, which has happened in the past. The owners of the unit have until 10:00am the day of the sale to pay in full. The Auction then starts at 10:00am.

Our "public sale" begins at 9:00am -- most units have a $40.00 cleaning deposit, except the larger units -- they can go up to $100.00 deposit. Everything is CASH or cashiers check -- no personal checks, no ATM no Credit cards - nada -- nothin' but good old American CASH!!!!

Once again - if the tenet comes up with the cash BEFORE the goods have left our property they get it all back!!! It is very rare that the unit would go for more then what is owed, but if the tenet even brings me more then what we got at auction - it's theres!! I would rather they get there stuff back then some bottom feeder sell it at the swap meet!

__________________
Wayne
All American Self Storage
Palmdale, CA.
webmaster@all-americanselfstorage.com

Thanks for writing. It's great to get the positive feedback about the webinars. It's also comforting to know people take the legal counsel seriously. I hope others open their eyes as you have done...particularly before they find themselves in trouble (read: lawsuit)

The webinars are a GREAT source of information. Even in a general way they can save your butt!!!

We never miss the legal learning webinars!

Thanks Jeff and the entire ISS team!! You guys ROCK!!!!!

__________________
Wayne
All American Self Storage
Palmdale, CA.
webmaster@all-americanselfstorage.com