Government Surplus Sales and Auctions
Every year federal, state, and local government agencies find themselves with surplus goods that they no longer need. To get rid of this excess stuff they offer it at government surplus sales and auctions at big discounts. These sales and auctions are full of the same items you’ll find at any retail store with the only difference being price.
These surplus auction sales can be a great place to find office supplies for new and growing businesses. You can also find household items that you can use around the house. These sales can also be a good place to buy surplus items at a big discount that can then be sold at a profit on auctions sites like eBay.
All government surplus auctions and sales are free to the general public. As long as you are 18 years of age or older and have a valid drivers license. You will of course need money as well if you wish to purchase or bid on anything.
So why does the government have all this surplus it needs to get rid of ever year? The simple answer is that all these government agencies, from federal to local, buy billions of dollars worth of equipment, supplies, and sundries every year. This leaves these agencies with lots of older, slightly used, goods that still have a useful life outside of government use. Buy selling these items at surplus sales or auctions the government is able recover some of the cost and save the American taxpayer some money.
If you are wondering what you can find at one of these surplus sales the answer is just about everything. Cars, trucks, vans, and other modes of transportation can be had at highly discounted prices. Small business owner can find great deals on office furniture and supplies which can help keep operating expenses low.
One of the best ways to find government surplus sales and auctions is by using an internet auction website. These sites provide updated lists of times, locations, and the items that will be offered for sale. In some cases you can make purchases and bids right from your computer. It doesn’t get much easier to save money then that.
Andrew Bicknell
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/government-surplus-sales-and-auctions-671154.html
How do public car auctions work?
I’m looking to buy a used car and have been told good deals can be found at auctions. I’m just worried about buying a lemon that looks good on the outside and a POS later. Any experiences would be helpful. Any fees, deposits etc?
At dealer auctions you can usually get a bit of info
on a vehicle that you would like to bid on when you
are looking them over. At city held public auctions
you usually don’t have such luck in knowing anything
about the vehicle other than what you see, or the
auctioneer says about it.
A private auction such as estate auctions will usually
have more info than either of the other two types. You
just have to know a good deal about what you want
to bid on so that as you look it over, and maybe get
a listen to it running, you can make a good guess.
Even such things as how clean the engine compartment,
the undercarriage, the exhaust, the interior for wear, etc
can be a guide for you. You also should know the prices
that it would list for in your area. The retail value, the
NADA book value, the Blue Book value, and even the
Black Book area value are all needed to know a good
price deal as compared to the condition you believe it
to be.
Dealer auctions are usually only for dealers, and are
where dealers take cars that they haven’t been able
to sell themselves, or that they have gotten too much
money into without any chance to sell it, or that it is
just not something they want to sell in their line.
Private auctions are just that. Private sales to have a
bankruptcy cleared, or of an estate. Those vehicles
may not have had anything much wrong, and probably
have not have anything done to fix any existing issues.
Government auctions of cities, counties, state, and federal
are of their own older vehicles, surplus property, confiscated
property, or just abandoned property. Your best value deals
are usually with the state police vehicles, or surplus
property vehicles. They are either ones that will probably
last well, or for which you can get a tremendous price
deal. City, county, and others you just have to consider
them at face value. ie: does it look ok for the money.
You will have to register yourself before you can bid.
Some require immediate payment after the auction,
and some allow for a period of time in which you can
pay. Most will not take a personal check for your bid.
Just look everything over before the auction, and
then pay attention to the bids to decide if you think
it is worth going ‘all the way’ with your bidding.
Your best bet would be to attend several auctions
of any type before you go to one to look for a purchase.
Watch, and learn how things work, and decide what,
if any, deals might be found.
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