Auction Hunters
Auction Hunters is an American reality television series that aired on Spike from 2010 to 2015, following professional auction buyers Allen Haff and Clinton "Ton" Jones as they bid on the contents of abandoned storage units across the United States in search of valuable items to resell for profit.[1][2] The show premiered on November 9, 2010, and ran for five seasons, totaling over 100 episodes, each typically featuring the duo inspecting units with limited time, placing strategic bids, and then appraising and attempting to sell discovered treasures such as antiques, collectibles, and rare artifacts.[3] Haff, a second-generation antiques dealer, brings expertise in valuation, while Jones, an animal wrangler and collector, contributes physical prowess and negotiation skills during resales.[4] The series highlights the high-stakes nature of storage auctions, where bidders have only moments to glimpse inside units before committing, often uncovering items with historical or monetary value that can yield significant returns—or losses.[5]Premise and Format
Premise
Auction Hunters is an American reality television series centered on professional auction hunters who bid on abandoned storage units and other unclaimed property to discover valuable items hidden within. The show highlights the competitive world of these auctions, where participants purchase entire lots sight unseen, relying on quick assessments to identify potential treasures amid everyday junk.[6][7] In this high-stakes environment, bidders are typically granted only a brief period—often just a few minutes—to inspect the unit from the doorway without entering or handling contents, heightening the risk and excitement of sealed bidding. This limited access forces hunters to make informed guesses based on visible clues, such as labels, shapes, or partial views, before committing cash upfront. The process mirrors real-world storage lien laws, where facilities auction unclaimed units to recover unpaid fees, turning forgotten possessions into opportunities for profit.[7][8] The core goal of the hunters is to resell unearthed items—frequently antiques, collectibles, and rare artifacts—for maximum profit, transforming what might appear as discarded goods into lucrative finds. Allen Haff and Clinton "Ton" Jones execute this premise by traveling across the U.S., appraising discoveries, and negotiating sales at pawn shops or through experts. Premiering on November 9, 2010, on Spike TV, the series captures the thrill of turning uncertainty into financial gain through savvy bidding and market knowledge.[6][1]Episode Structure
Each episode of Auction Hunters follows a structured narrative arc centered on the hosts' pursuit of profitable storage unit auctions, typically spanning approximately 30 minutes. The process begins with the hosts arriving at an auction site, where they conduct brief initial inspections of the available abandoned storage units, limited to a quick glance inside to assess potential value without entering or handling contents.[2][9] This is followed by intense bidding wars against rival participants, where strategic decisions determine the units won based on perceived hidden treasures.[10][2] After securing a unit, the hosts proceed to unpack and inventory its contents, often uncovering a mix of everyday items and potentially valuable artifacts such as firearms, jewelry, or historical pieces. Item identification and appraisal form a core procedural element, involving consultations with specialists to evaluate authenticity and market worth—particularly for high-stakes finds like antiques or collectibles.[9][11] The episode then shifts to post-auction activities, including resale negotiations in antique markets or with buyers, culminating in a follow-up reveal of overall profits or losses from the haul.[2][9] Dramatic tension is woven throughout via elements like competitive rival bidders, surprise discoveries during unpacking, and high-pressure haggling during sales, heightening the stakes of each auction cycle.[10][12] This format underscores the hosts' expertise in spotting and valuing overlooked items, blending procedural auction mechanics with reality-TV excitement.[11]Cast and Production Team
Main Hosts
Allen Haff is a second-generation antiques dealer born and raised in Michigan.[13] He studied English, journalism, and psychology in college before pursuing a career in resale. He began as a side job while working for an airline in Houston, Texas, and opened his first antique business at age 24, later relocating to Los Angeles for opportunities in commercials and television hosting, including Clean House.[14] With over 20 years of experience in the field, Haff specializes in historical items and serves as the strategist and negotiator on Auction Hunters, using his analytical skills to evaluate units, bid effectively, and maximize resale value.[13][14] Clinton "Ton" Jones, born and raised in California's Antelope Valley, is a hobbyist collector with extensive interests in hunting, fishing, knives, swords, guns, old currency, and jewelry.[4] An imposing figure over 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 300 pounds, he is a seasoned auction hunter in Southern California, bringing expertise in rare coins and currency, firearms, and safes to authenticate and appraise potential treasures.[4] On the show, Jones acts as the physical enforcer and authenticator, handling heavy lifting and on-site valuations that complement the team's operations.[4] Haff and Jones first crossed paths at Southern California storage auctions, where Haff, despite initially disliking Jones's boisterous style, lent him a flashlight and shared advice, forging a bond that evolved into a business partnership.[14] Their collaboration as "auction friendlies" was central to Auction Hunters, with Haff's reserved, strategic mindset balancing Jones's outgoing, attention-seeking energy to create the show's engaging dynamic.[14] This partnership highlights how their complementary backgrounds in antiques and hands-on appraisal drive the hunt for valuable finds. Following the show's conclusion in 2015, Haff has continued as a television personality, offering personalized videos on Cameo as of 2025. Jones has focused on family and works in operations and marketing for Firebird Targets.[15][16][14]Supporting Cast and Crew
The supporting cast of Auction Hunters includes several recurring on-screen experts who assist the main hosts in authenticating and appraising high-value finds from storage units. Craig Gottlieb, a prominent dealer in military antiques and collectible weapons, frequently appears as an appraiser, evaluating items such as Nazi-era memorabilia, firearms, and militaria with his expertise in historical provenance and market value.[17][18] His authentication process typically involves examining markings, materials, and historical context to verify authenticity, often negotiating sales based on rarity and condition.[18] Rafael Kosche appears as a weapons expert, focusing on firearms and blades.[19] Laura Soares, known on the show as "Elle," is a recurring supporting personality introduced in season 4 (2013), appearing as an assistant and occasional bidder who aids in unit inspections and sales negotiations.[20] Her role adds dynamic interactions, particularly during appraisals where she collaborates with experts to verify item details alongside the hosts.[21] The series features brief encounters with rivals at auctions, such as unnamed "old rivals" who compete aggressively for units, heightening bidding tension in episodes like "Nothing But Net" (season 4, episode 21), where they form alliances to outbid the protagonists.[22] Venue staff and auctioneers, often unnamed but recurring at storage facilities, facilitate the blind bids and unit openings, enforcing rules that shape the competitive environment.[23] Behind the scenes, Gurney Productions, founded in 2005 by Scott and Deirdre Gurney, served as the primary production company for Auction Hunters from its 2010 premiere through its 2015 conclusion, handling the reality format's fast-paced editing and on-location shoots.[3] Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney acted as executive producers across all seasons, overseeing the blend of auction drama and expert consultations to maintain the show's treasure-hunting narrative.[17] No major crew departures were reported during the run.Production History
Development
Gurney Productions conceived Auction Hunters as a reality series capturing the competitive world of storage unit auctions, drawing from the real-life practices of professional bidders who purchase unclaimed units in hopes of reselling valuable contents for profit.[24] The production company, founded by Scott and Deirdre Gurney, pitched the concept to Spike TV in early 2010, capitalizing on the surge in storage auctions that followed the 2008 financial recession, when economic hardships led to higher default rates on storage rentals and an influx of "blind" auctions of abandoned units.[25][26] On August 25, 2010, Spike TV announced the series' premiere, ordering an initial eight half-hour episodes produced by Gurney Productions, with the show set to debut on November 9, 2010.[24] Key milestones in pre-production included casting experienced auction participants Allen Haff, a second-generation antiques dealer, and Clinton "Ton" Jones, a reseller and collector, who had met years earlier while competing at storage auctions in Southern California and began collaborating with Gurney Productions in 2009.[27] Their real-world expertise in appraising and flipping items from auctions informed the show's format from the outset.[14] Following the strong performance of the first season, Spike TV renewed Auction Hunters in December 2010 for a second season of 20 episodes, marking the network's largest second-season order for a non-scripted series at the time.[28] In June 2011, the network announced a third-season renewal for 26 episodes, signaling growing confidence in the show's appeal. The series evolved over time, initially focused exclusively on storage auctions but expanding in its fifth season to include broader auction types such as cattle and police sales, reflecting the hosts' growing business ventures beyond storage units.[29]Filming Locations and Challenges
The production of Auction Hunters primarily took place at storage facilities throughout Southern California, with Los Angeles serving as a central hub for many episodes due to its abundance of auction sites. As the series progressed, filming expanded to diverse locations across the United States, including police auctions in desert areas like San Bernardino, California, where episodes captured high-stakes bidding on seized items.[30] Similar police auctions were featured in Las Vegas, Nevada, highlighting the logistical demands of traveling to urban centers for authentic event coverage.[31] Additional shoots occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii, for tropical-themed episodes, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to incorporate regional auction flavors.[32][33] Coordinating with real auction houses presented key logistical hurdles, as the crew had to secure permissions to film live events while complying with state regulations governing storage and police auctions, which mandate quick inspections and blind bidding to ensure fairness.[29] Desert shoots in locations like San Bernardino required managing extreme heat and dust, complicating equipment setup and crew endurance during outdoor sequences. Safety protocols were essential for handling potentially hazardous discoveries, such as antique firearms or unstable chemicals, with on-site experts often consulted to mitigate risks before transport or appraisal. The production budget allocated resources for nationwide travel, including flights and vehicle rentals, as well as professional valuations to authenticate finds post-auction. Challenges included navigating legal restrictions that prohibited excessive interference with auction proceedings, forcing the team to use discreet camera placements and rapid editing to maintain the event's natural flow without invalidating bids. Budget constraints for appraisals and interstate logistics occasionally limited the scope of expert consultations, particularly for high-value or international-sourced items in later episodes. Debates over staging versus reality emerged, as the fast-paced format amplified dramatic elements like rival bidders, though core auctions adhered to verifiable legal standards. Over time, production evolved with season 5 introducing broader auction types, such as cattle sales, alongside enhanced visuals and on-location effects to heighten viewer engagement.[29]Seasons and Episodes
Season Overview
Auction Hunters aired for five seasons on Spike TV from November 2010 to May 2015, totaling 100 episodes across various auction formats, primarily focusing on unclaimed storage units but expanding in later seasons. The series experienced typical hiatuses between seasons, with gaps of several months following each finale to allow for production cycles, such as the four-month break after Season 1 before Season 2 premiered. Production expansions, including additional episode orders mid-run, influenced the scope of later seasons by incorporating special events and new auction venues.[34][35][36]| Season | Episodes | Air Date Range | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (2010) | 8 | November 9 – December 21, 2010 | Introductory focus on storage auctions in Southern California; premiered with back-to-back episodes drawing an average of 1.1 million viewers per episode, marking a viewership peak for Spike TV's non-scripted originals at the time.[37][38] |
| 2 (2011) | 20 | April 5 – November 29, 2011 | Expanded to broader auction types beyond basic storage units, including estate sales; mid-season renewal added episodes during production.[35][39] |
| 3 (2012) | 26 | March 28 – September 26, 2012 | Featured the series' first live telecast episode and remote auctions with international-flavored elements, such as Alaskan wilderness units; included experimental formats to boost engagement.[34][40][38] |
| 4 (2013–2014) | 26 | January 30, 2013 – April 5, 2014 | Subtitled Auction Hunters: Pawnshop Edition, emphasizing high-value antique and collectible finds evaluated at a pawn shop; averaged 1.5 million viewers.[29][3][38] |
| 5 (2014–2015) | 20 | October 11, 2014 – May 9, 2015 | Final season with intensified rivalries among bidders and expansion into non-storage auctions like food trucks and yard sales; marked the end of the series after 100 episodes.[36][41][38] |