Government liquidation site

[Blacknwhitepit]

Has anybody bought from these auctions?

I ran into a buddy who said he got a great deal on an air compressor.

Here is one I would like to look at, but it is too far away

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=1085519&convertTo=USD

Earlier today there were some snap on toolboxes. Lotsa interesting stuff here.

10T JACK: http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=1089062&convertTo=USD

TIRE CHANGER: http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=1080953&convertTo=USD

TIRE SAFETY CAGE: http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=1085493&convertTo=USD

-BWP

 

[bmwpower]

Can't say that I have, but I've sure looked at more than my share of military vehicles on that site. Almost pulled the trigger once...

 

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

Hrm, I'd be intersted in knowing too..

 

[CraigFL]

I've watched the auctions for years -- off & on. Everytime I see somthing I'm interested in, it a lot of 100 items that weighs 5000lbs so I usually pass...

 

[kblazer87]

I buy stuff from them all the time. Some good stuff to be had but also some junk you need to watch out for. If you want to bid on something I would advise a good inspection. Descriptions on the site are sometimes hit or miss.

 

[AGBill]

I did purchase a Yale forklift for my garage (everyone needs a forklift, right?) through this group from the Marine Corps Logistics Center in Barstow, Calif. My observations on government surplus auctions:

1. You really need to go inspect the hardware before you bid on it. The pictures and descriptions can be very misleading. The stuff you are interested in is usually 400 miles away...

2. Hardware often sits out in the weather for months before it is scheduled for auction, and what was a great condition soon is rusty and in poor condition.

3. The good old days of buying a $50 forklift in good condition are over. Period. With the internet and a large group of people that continuously watch for bargins, you can typically see savings of 20 - 50%, but no more....

4. To give you an idea of winning prices, the 1998 Yale forklift I purchased was a 4,000 lb, pneumatic tire, gas engine, triple mast, side shift unit with 6,000 hours. The winning bid was $4,300. Not a great price, but a savings of maybe 30-40% from an open market purchase.

5. When you go to pick up your hardware at the auction site, you are on your own to get your purchase on the trailer. They will not help with dead batteries, no fuel, etc. They could not find the key for my forklift to start it so they got a large forklift and picked up up my smaller forklift and put it on the trailer. I was told to chain it down and get out now.....

Would I buy at government auction again? Yes, but let the buyer beware, and don't expect real great prices.

 

[Ign]

I agree w AGBill on #3. Whenever I've watched stuff on there I can't believe the closing price. It seems just like eBay - people get caught up in the competitive bidding process and pay way too much IMO. Of course YMMV but I finally gave up, watching things like 2wd pickups go for more than what I could buy a cleaner newer 4wd locally. I even watched some lots of tools and was amazed at the final prices, they seemed way out of line.