“Are You Crazy?”: 13YO Wins A Government Surplus Auction, The Story Then Gets Unexpected Twist

By participating in any government surplus auction, any person, one way or another, is actually trying to buy a pig in a poke – and winning can turn out to be either incredible luck or a complete failure that you will be ashamed to even remember for many years. Even if you have a good sense of self-irony.

The story that we offer to you today, from the user u/ourmanflint1, happened many years ago, when the Internet didn’t exist yet, and our hero couldn’t simply google what he was buying at the auction. However, this kind of “fog of war” is what actually gives the story its unique flavor – so let’s read on together!

More info: Reddit

This story happened many years ago, when the author was 13 years old and very fond of photography

Smiling teen holding camera outdoors, representing teens picking up a portable darkroom at a surplus auction.

Image credits: dn290383sas / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The teen’s dearest wish was to have his own darkroom, so he put all his efforts into finding something like that

Teens at a surplus auction discover a portable darkroom but find a large army trailer instead.

Teens discovering a portable darkroom at surplus auction find an entire army trailer filled with vintage photo equipment.

Light proof room with ventilation needed for portable darkroom in teens’ surplus auction find of army trailer.

Teens discover a portable darkroom while picking up a surprising find at a surplus auction, an entire army trailer.

Teens discover a portable darkroom at surplus auction, unexpectedly find a whole army trailer instead.

Image credits: ourmanflint1

Two teens sitting on a couch using a laptop, exploring their discovery of a portable darkroom and army trailer.

Image credits: mego-studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The author’s elder brother once suggested he place a bid for a “portable darkroom” at a government surplus auction

Teens discover a portable darkroom and a whole army trailer while picking up auction surplus electronics and communications devices.

Text explaining sealed-bid surplus auction process using mail to communicate bidding and payment instructions.

Teens discovering a portable darkroom surprise at surplus auction, unveiling a whole army trailer instead.

Portable field darkroom showing enlarger, trays, storage, and supplies arranged inside a self-contained setup for teens.

Teens at surplus auction discovering a portable darkroom and unexpectedly finding a whole army trailer nearby.

Teens at surplus auction excitedly bid to pick up a portable darkroom and discover an entire army trailer instead.

Image credits: ourmanflint1

Military army trailer parked outdoors with palm trees and clear blue sky in the background.

Image credits: user18448585 / Freepik (not the actual photo)

So the boy did – and he received a letter declaring his win soon after

Teens excitedly pick up a portable darkroom won at surplus auction, discovering a whole army trailer instead.

Teens inspecting a large army trailer found instead of a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction.

Text stating no way of picking up stuff from miles away, relating to teens and portable darkroom auction find.

Teens retrieving a portable darkroom at surplus auction unexpectedly discover a large army trailer instead.

Teens at a surplus auction surprised to find a portable darkroom turns into discovering a whole army trailer.

Teens inspecting a large army trailer mistakenly believed to be a portable darkroom won at surplus auction.

Teens discover a large army trailer while picking up a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction.

Teens discover portable darkroom won at surplus auction turns out to be a whole army trailer outdoors.

Teenagers surprised by finding an army trailer instead of a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction.

Teens inspecting a vintage portable darkroom at a surplus auction, surprised to find an entire army trailer inside.

Teens discovering a large army trailer instead of a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction.

Teens inspecting a large vintage army trailer they found instead of a portable darkroom at a surplus auction.

Image credits: ourmanflint1

Teen holding vintage camera inside car, exploring portable darkroom concept during surplus auction adventure.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The price was $80, and the lot was located somewhere near San Diego, so the boys asked their friend to give them a ride

Text excerpt describing a dusty field and storage yard filled with neglected green junk covered in tarps and tied with rope.

Teens uncover portable darkroom setup inside a large army trailer won at surplus auction.

Dilapidated 20-foot army trailer found by teens replacing expected portable darkroom at surplus auction site.

Old photographic supplies and vintage enlarger found inside a portable darkroom from a surplus auction.

Teens reacting with surprise after winning a portable darkroom at surplus auction, discovering an entire army trailer instead

Teens surprised to find a whole army trailer instead of a portable darkroom after surplus auction pickup.

Teens inspecting a surprising find at a surplus auction, discovering an entire army trailer instead of a portable darkroom.

Teens discovering a portable darkroom and an army trailer at a surplus auction, inspecting the unexpected find.

Teens loading a large military-style army trailer found instead of the expected portable darkroom at a surplus auction.

Teens inspecting a large army trailer they found instead of a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction.

Teens discover a portable darkroom won at surplus auction, unexpectedly find a whole army trailer instead.

Image credits: ourmanflint1

Two teens pushing a vintage army trailer won at surplus auction instead of a portable darkroom.

Image generated by Bored Panda using ChatGPT

It turned out the purchase was a huge old army trailer, which the friend’s truck had absolutely no chance of towing

Teens discover an unexpected army trailer instead of a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction parked in a driveway.

Text passage describing someone going inside a house and calling warehouse numbers, seeking help after multiple attempts.

Teens discover a portable darkroom inside a surplus auction find, revealing an entire army trailer unexpectedly.

Text conversation about a 13-year-old discovering ownership of a surplus trailer through a department of disposal call.

Teens discover a large army trailer while picking up a portable darkroom won at surplus auction.

Teens discovering a portable darkroom won at surplus auction, unexpectedly finding a large army trailer instead.

Text describing a dad handling a driveway obstacle and selling an item after running an ad in the LA Recycler newspaper.

Text on a white background reads: I eventually built my darkroom, and my family still teases me about the Beast.

Teen holding a bid paddle beside a large decommissioned military trailer won at surplus auction.

Image credits: ourmanflint1

The author left his hapless purchase there, but the military guys then towed it straight to his driveway, thus making him the common laughingstock

This story happened many years ago, when the Original Poster (OP) was a 13-year-old boy who desperately dreamed of becoming a photographer and setting up his own darkroom. But the equipment for it was really expensive, so the teen had to just rent it in photo studios. Then another solution was suggested by his older brother.

He was two years older, a typical tech geek, and often bought all sorts of interesting technical devices at government surplus auctions for absolutely ridiculous prices. One fine day, the bro showed our hero an ad where a “portable darkroom” was being sold – for only $80! Well, the OP applied for the bid and, after some time, received a letter that he had won!

The problem was that the lot won was in San Diego, and it was necessary to get there at least. They agreed with some guy called Lance – a shady dude, who the older bro sometimes worked for – and he gave them a ride in his truck. But then it turned out that the lot was on a Marine base, was made around the middle of the last century, and back then people had completely different ideas about “portability.”

Long story short, the author’s purchase turned out to be a huge old trailer full of broken photography equipment – but they couldn’t even move it from its place. Not even with Lance’s truck. Our heroes returned home empty-handed, but that was not the end at all. After a while, some military guy towed the trailer up to the OP’s house and left it right there on the driveway.

For weeks, the author became the laughingstock of the neighborhood, and his family too, until he sold the relic of a bygone era to some hippie for just fifty bucks. That was the happy end to his dreams of a darkroom – although relatives sometimes, even after almost half a century, remember this “dinosaur” and start giggling inevitably.

Teen boys playing with toy cars indoors, enjoying time together in a casual home setting.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Well, the word “portable” itself has really changed in recent decades – so my grandpa, who was a communications guy during World War II and laid telephone lines with long coil wires and telephone equipment in bulky boxes, by the end of his life in the late ’90s, never came to terms with the fact that those “mobile phones” were too small for him.

On the other hand, it’s entirely possible that our hero got a bit cheap by missing out on his surprise purchase for just $50 – he should’ve kept it and sold it later, when it would’ve become completely vintage. In the end, we managed to find several ads where similar “portable darkrooms” of the military type – and not even on wheels – were being sold on eBay for a couple of thousand dollars.

However, people in the comments still noted that our hero got off pretty well, getting free shipping and managing to get $50 back from the $80 he spent – and he didn’t even pay any abandonment fee. Other responders noted that the military in California usually only puts things that are worn out and outdated beyond belief up for surplus auction.

The author himself recalls in one of the comments that this story was one of the wonderful memories from his carefree childhood, when trees were big, the world was warm and beautiful, and an old army trailer blocking the driveway of his parents’ house was his main problem in life. So what similar things can you, our dear readers, recall from your teen years?

People in the comments enjoyed the story and also noted that selling it for $50 after getting free shipping was actually not a bad deal

Teens discovering a portable darkroom at a surplus auction uncover a large army trailer instead.

Teens discovering an unexpected army trailer while picking up a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction.

Teens uncover a portable darkroom and discover an entire army trailer at a surplus auction site.

Comment conversation about nostalgia and memoir writing, with one user praising the other's storytelling style.

Teens inspecting a portable darkroom won at surplus auction, surprised by discovery of an entire army trailer behind it

Teens uncover a large army trailer instead of a portable darkroom won at a surplus auction, surprising find at the event.

Teens exploring a surplus auction find a portable darkroom and unexpectedly discover a whole army trailer.

Comment discussing government surplus auction in California with a warning about worn-down items from use.

Teens uncover a vintage portable darkroom and a full army trailer at a surplus auction surprise find.

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