Ep 5. The Real Thing

In season 1, episode 5 of Auction Hunters, titled "The Real Thing," Allen Haff and Ton Jones are back in the auction game, this time bidding on abandoned storage units in Long Beach, California. They come across a unit filled with old arcade games, including a rare and valuable Pac-Man arcade machine. However, they soon discover that the machine may not be all that it seems.

As they dig deeper into the unit, Allen and Ton also uncover a bundle of old newspapers from the 1950s, a vintage soda machine, and an antique barber's chair. They quickly realize that the unit belonged to an eccentric collector who had a penchant for nostalgia and memorabilia.

With the Pac-Man machine in tow, Allen and Ton head to a local arcade expert to see if the machine is indeed authentic. The expert confirms their suspicions that the machine is a fake, but also reveals that it was made by one of the best Pac-Man machine builders in the industry. Despite being a reproduction, the machine still holds some value, and Allen and Ton decide to put it up for auction.

Meanwhile, the vintage soda machine catches the eye of a potential buyer who offers to trade a rare jukebox for it. Allen and Ton consider the offer, but first, they need to make sure that the jukebox is in good working condition. They take it to a repairman, who fixes it up and confirms that it is a valuable antique worth much more than the soda machine.

With the jukebox in their possession, Allen and Ton head to an auction where they hope to make a big profit. However, things take a surprising turn when they realize that they're up against another heavy hitter in the auction business: Storage Wars star Darrell Sheets.

As the bidding heats up, Allen and Ton begin to strategize, using their knowledge of the industry and their intuition to try and outmaneuver Darrell. The tension mounts as the bidding war reaches a fever pitch, but in the end, only one of them can come out on top.

"The Real Thing" is a thrilling and suspenseful episode of Auction Hunters that showcases the incredible finds and intense competition that comes with the territory of buying and selling abandoned storage units. With expert appraisal and skilled bargaining, Allen and Ton prove that there's always value to be found in the unlikeliest of places.