I absolutely hope they DON'T do a show like that. I used to buy storage buildings with a partner, but they're priced out of the market now. One storage owner here is absolutely angered by the show. Newbie buyers go through and pick then (contrary to the agreement of the purchase, buyer must remove all items in X days) walk away, leaving the rest of the junk there for her to clean up. Most newbie buyers don't come back so there's no penalty for them not to clean up the lockers. She's now concidering a $500 cleaning deposit before the sale. If they don't clean, they don't get the deposit back. That puts me out.
I don't even want to think what that'll do to thirft prices.
100% right on.
When eBay began television commercial spots in the late 1990's and into the early 2000's prices in thrift stores went WAY UP, due to increased demand. Supply of quality goods was quickly outstripped. Suddenly thrift stores felt like THEY were eBay, and could charge commensurate prices. Of course, the third (and often repeated) facet was the idiot thrift store newbie who had no idea how much he was being overcharged for what he was getting at his local thrift. ""It's a thrift store, it MUST be a bargain," he thinks to himself as he plops down $40.00 for a used CAREERS game with mid 1970's graphics....
It would be interesting, I'll admit, and it would be fun to participate, but I already participate in a show like this - it's called
real life. Thrift store finds and flips often mean the difference in our household budget in any given month, and this would surely upset that.
There was an article in a recent USA Weekend (the Sunday Supplement) about things that sell for big bucks that you have in your attic or basement. Nothing new learned and many things overlooked (Jay- no mention of Pyrex at all) but it was aimed squarely at those who think that their Welch's Grape Jelly "Archie" glass is worth hundreds or thousands.
I can't imagine a show like this would do much for the slim pickings of bargains still out there, but if Michael is behind it, then I'm with him.
My only concession would be if they made a game show out of it - Like BBC's Bargain Hunters. Two teams get a set amount (Say, $40.00), and they hit a thrift store. They can spend up to that limit BUT then they have to sell what they bought to see if they were good or not. If people see the VERY REAL risks involved, they won't be as likely to swoop in and create a buying frenzy. One of the problems of the Storage Wars shows is that the down side (taking a massive loss, for instance) is rarely, if ever, shown. Even on American Pickers - I can't remember EVER seeing them buy something that just didn't sell. They know the market, but no one is 100% right all the time.
FWIW
