AmericanAuctioneers

Storage Wars' Star Set to Offer Advice at ISS World Expo

February 18, 2011

With popular self storage auction shows, Storage Wars and Auction Hunters, more people are flocking to bid on abandoned storage units and more self storage operators are seeing their doors flooded on auction days. But can facility operators handle the hordes of bidders and are they up-to-date on knowledge of lien laws?

For those needing some more information on the auction process, Inside Self Storages World Expo, March 14-16, at the Paris Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas is offering two seminars and a workshop focusing on the intricacies of lien sales.

Show auctioneers Dan Dotson from Storage Wars and Lance Watkins of StorageTreasures will cover the myths versus realities of auctions and how to run a profitable sale. Watkins will focus on how to increase revenue and Dotson will give attendees advice on keeping the auctions safe and secure.

Dotson and his wife Laura have become pop culture celebrities since the Storage Wars series began in the fall. The duo steer each hit episode as the owners of American Auctioneers. While months ago, only a handful of bidders would show up for one of their auctions, now they attract more than a hundred. Storage Wars was A&Es top-rated show for 2010, averaging 2.4 million viewers.

For a Quarter-Century, Dan Dotson Has Been Looking Through People's Stuff. The Good, The Bad and The Plain Old Strange, From Cash to Guns to Metamphetamine Labs.

January 28, 2011

"As a kid, I bought a dresser for $75, and inside were seven pennies from 1883 that brought in $26,000," says Dotson, a third-generation auctioneer.

He and his wife, Laura, run Riverside, California based American Auctioneers and are the stars of the new A&E reality series Storage Wars. "I don't bid on things anymore, but I know the rush."

Among the oddities the Dotsons have seen people unearth from storage units in the greater Los Angeles area:

Benjamins. "One guy bought a locker filled with what looked like boxes of soap, but when he opened them, all there was was $38,000 in cash," Dan says. "I think the police got involved."

Dr. K's gear. "One unit was filled with odd medical equipment, and we realized it all belonged to Jack Kevorkian," Dan says. "Strange, huh?"

Madonna's notes-to-self. "Just a few months ago, a storage locker sold, and it turned out to have diaries that belonged to Madonna," says Laura. "I'm guessing that buyer did just fine reselling those." (Madonna recently got the diaries pulled from an eBay auction.)

Doomed dinners."We saw one locker opened up, and the new owner found a menu from the Titanic and some valuable drawings made by (famed illustrator Alberto) Vargas," says Dan. "Not a bad haul for $200."

A&E Orders a Second Season of Hit Series "Storage Wars"

January 07, 2011

A&E Network has picked up a second season of the original hit real life series "Storage Wars." Production on 20 episodes for season two of the series is currently underway, which are slated to premiere in second quarter 2011. The announcement was made today by Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager of A&E and BIO Channel.

Season one to date; "Storage Wars" has averaged 2.3 million total viewers. The December 1, 2010 series premiere become A&E's most-watched nonfiction series premiere of the year and has continued to grow week after week.

"'Storage Wars' has garnered critical acclaim and has risen above the competition," said DeBitetto. "Premium storytelling and amazing characters have set our show apart and we are pleased that our series has struck such a chord with audiences."

New episodes of "Storage Wars" premiere every Wednesday night on A&E.

"Storage Wars" follows fast-talking auctioneers Dan and Laura Dotson and the group of loyal bidders that frequent their storage unit sales. As the bidders get a quick peek inside the units, aided only by the beam of a flashlight, they have mere minutes to decide if they're going to take the gamble. "Storage addict" and 32-year bidding veteran Darrell and his son Brandon Sheets, second hand store owner Jarrod Schultz, entrepreneur Dave Hester and antique collector Barry Weiss return for more high stakes fun as they all try to out-bid one another in the pursuit of storage treasure.