Storage Wars (stylized as STORAGE WAR$) is an American reality television competition series that airs on the A&E network. It initially aired for twelve seasons, from December 1, 2010, to January 30, 2019. A season premiered in April 2021. A 15th season has aired as of August 15, 2023.
When rent is not paid on a storage locker for three months in California, the contents can be sold by an auctioneer as a single lot of items in the form of a cash-only auction. The show follows professional buyers who visit storage facilities throughout the state and bid on these lockers. Before each locker is auctioned, the buyers are given five minutes to inspect the contents from the doorway, but may not enter the locker or touch any of the items.
After the day's auctions are completed, the winning bidders sort through the lockers, estimating the prices they will set on the contents and/or consulting with experts for an appraisal of unusual items. Running totals on-screen display the cost versus the estimated total value, and a final tally at the end of the episode summarizes the buyers' net profit or loss.
History
Thom Beers is the executive producer and narrator of the show. He provides a quick explanation of the show's premise at the beginning and does a recap of the featured buyers' profits or losses at the end of each episode. He has stated that the series avoids delving into behind-the-scenes stories of the lockers' original owners because "all you see is misery there, and I didn't want to trade on that". In the United States, Storage Wars premiered on A&E on December 1, 2010.
Season one of Storage Wars consisted of 19 episodes, 17 of which were filmed at various self-storage facilities throughout Southern California. The show enjoyed ratings success, and its second-season premiere attracted 5.1million total viewers, making it the most-watched program in A&E's history to that point.
Storage Wars was recommissioned for another 26-episode season in January 2012, with the season officially premiering on June 5, 2012. Only 20 of the 26 episodes were aired however, with six of the episodes being held back for broadcast during the second half of the show's season which began airing on December 4, 2012.
Storage Wars concluded its season on January 30, 2019, and there initially was no news regarding a season renewal. A season was eventually announced in March 2021 and premiered on April 20. Season 14 premiered on November 2, 2021, with Barry Weiss (who had left the show after season 4) returning as a buyer..
Season 15 aired 24 episodes and concluded on August 15, 2023.
Spin-offs
Several spin-off series were also produced, most of them airing on A&E:
Storage Wars: Texas (2011–14) Storage Wars: New York (2013) Storage Wars: Canada (originally aired on OLN from 2013 to 2015; re-runs aired as Storage Wars: Northern Treasures on A&E) Barry'd Treasure (2014) Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job (2014) Storage Wars: Miami (2015) Storage Wars France: Enchères surprises (aired on 6ter)
Participants
Main buyers
Dave Hester
Dave Hester, also known as The Mogul (seasons 1–3; seasons 5–12): At the start of the series, Hester owned Newport Consignment Gallery in Costa Mesa, California and the Rags to Riches thrift store, but closed them in June 2011. He now operates his own auction house, Dave Hester Auctions. Hester has had confrontations with the other main buyers, especially Darrell and Brandon Sheets, and is known to frequently raise bids when somebody else wants to buy a storage unit. Hester's son Dave Jr. occasionally appeared on the show with him. Dave Hester's signature catchword is a loud "YUUUP!" when making a bid. He has this word imprinted on his trucks, T-shirts, and hats. Hester's call originated from him being a bid-catcher in auction facilities, helping auctioneers spot bidders in a crowd. In December 2012, Hester was fired from the show, and sued the show's producers for wrongful termination; part of his lawsuit was tossed out in March 2013. Hester didn't appear in the fourth season but returned for season five.