Ep 5. Cash Is King

Baggage Battles season 2 episode 5 is titled "Cash Is King" and follows a group of skilled auction specialists as they travel to different parts of the world to participate in bidding wars for abandoned luggage, unclaimed freight, and other confiscated items.

In this episode, the team travels to the heart of America's deep south, where they attend an auction in Jackson, Mississippi. Among the items up for bidding are several pieces of antique furniture, vintage collectibles, and rare artifacts believed to be from the times of the American Civil War.

The show starts with the team exploring the auction site in Jackson, where they have come a day early to inspect the items up for bidding. Mark, one of the auction specialists, is particularly interested in a set of old coins that could fetch a high price if they are authenticated as rare. Meanwhile, Billy and Laurence are drawn to a collection of antique lamps and vases, which they hope to resell to collectors for a profit.

As the auction begins, the team faces tough competition from other bidders, including seasoned collectors and local dealers. In particular, they face tough rivalry from a group of investors who seem especially keen on acquiring the items related to the Civil War.

As the bidding heats up, tensions rise between the team members, who clash over their strategies and the value of certain items. At one point, Sally becomes unsure about bidding on a set of rare prints when she realizes they may not be as valuable as she had initially thought.

Despite the challenges, the team manages to acquire several interesting items, including the set of antique lamps and vases, the coins, and a rare Civil War-era rifle. However, they also lose out on a few items they had hoped to acquire, including a set of vintage toys that Laurence was particularly interested in.

Back at their warehouse in Ontario, the team prepares to sell their newly acquired items at an upcoming auction. They spend several weeks researching, cleaning, and restoring the items, hoping to make a significant profit. However, as the day of the auction draws near, they face unexpected obstacles, including one of the lamps breaking during shipping and a technical glitch in the online auction platform.

Despite the setbacks, the team manages to successfully sell most of their items at the auction, including the coins and the rifle, which fetch high prices from collectors. However, they are disappointed when the set of prints fails to attract any bids and they are forced to take a loss on the item.

Overall, "Cash Is King" is an exciting episode that showcases the risks and rewards of the auction industry. The team's perseverance and expertise are put to the test as they compete against other bidders and deal with unexpected challenges. Fans of the show will enjoy watching the team's journey as they acquire, restore, and sell their items, providing insights into the fascinating world of the auction business.