StorageBattles.com, an online-auction website serving self-storage businesses, has merged with another storage-auction website, Salt Lake City-based SealedOnlineBids.com. Together the sites have more than 1,000 registered facilities and 25,000 registered bidders. The combined company will be branded as StorageBattles.com with operations based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Combining our experienced staff and advanced technology platforms will undoubtedly strengthen the level of support to our growing customer base, said James Grant, president and CEO of StorageBattles.com. Ever since reality television brought self-storage auctions into the limelight, we have seen growing frustration about auctions held at facilities. Our online auctions allow facility operators to maximize their loss recovery without the inconvenience of holding sales on site.

StorageBattles uses an eBay-style format in which self-storage operators post pictures and videos of units up for auction, along with descriptions of unit contents. Potential buyers can bid on units after they sign up for a free website account. The system allows bidders to participate in auctions outside of their immediate area and pick up the items in the days following the lien sale.

For operators, online auctions take all of the extra work out of the process and give them more time to handle the daily operations, Grant said. It also eliminates the chance of any type of liability like someone slipping and falling at the facility or the potential of a robbery occurring with all of that money at the on-site auction.

StorageBattles was created by storage-industry veterans with more than 30 years of experience who were frustrated by the inadequacies of onsite auctions, according to a press release. The site was designed to increase auction efficiency and alleviate frustrations experienced by operators and bidders.