| Move over, eBay! The government is right behind | | | | find considerable information about the program, plus |
| you! As a competitor, that is! | | | | news about upcoming public auctions and a link to the |
| By chance, I came across a Web site that lists | | | | auctioneer's Web site. The private-sector auctioneer |
| auctions (some online) and takes bids for vehicles | | | | posts an auction listing on the Web site three days |
| seized by various government departments. Curious, | | | | prior to the auction. (There were no listings on the |
| I Googled for "government auctions," and was | | | | day I visited the site.) |
| amazed at what came up. Auction fans and bargain | | | | Government Liquidation |
| hunters, be sure to check out these sites. | | | | The Government Liquidation site is an online |
| U.S. Department of the Treasury | | | | marketplace for the sale of U.S. Government surplus |
| The home page of the U.S. Department of the | | | | and scrap material to the public. It claims to have |
| Treasury/Seized Real Property Auctions reads, "From | | | | more than 500 commodity categories and thousands |
| the extraordinary to the ordinary . . . our auctions | | | | of surplus items added weekly. |
| have it all." Wow! The U.S. Treasury must have hired | | | | "Whether starting a new business or expanding an |
| a copywriter for this auction site! It's quite | | | | existing one, GL provides small business owners and |
| compelling--at least compared to the bland auction | | | | end users with an opportunity to cost-effectively |
| sites that some of the other departments publish. | | | | realize their dreams," reads the site, whimsically. |
| The Department of the Treasury auctions real | | | | Categories include aircraft parts, audio and video |
| estate seized throughout the United States and | | | | equipment, boats, computers, heavy equipment, |
| Puerto Rico. Items include homes, commercial | | | | electrical equipment, industrial equipment, machinery, |
| buildings, vacant land, and multi-family residences. | | | | material handling equipment, medical and dental |
| Proceeds from sales go to support continued law | | | | equipment, scrap metal, plumbing, testing equipment, |
| enforcement and provide restitution to victims. | | | | and trucks and related equipment. Auctions in |
| Oh, did I mention that the seizing happens through | | | | progress on the day I visited included a dental chair |
| IRS--Criminal Investigation; Immigration and Customs | | | | unit, a radiograph unit, a utility boat, a 5-ton truck |
| Enforcement; the U.S. Secret Service; and the Bureau | | | | tractor, a furnace system, and a great deal more. |
| of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives? "Most | | | | Interested site visitors can sign up for e-mail |
| property," reads the FAQ, "is seized due to | | | | notification or subscribe to the RSS feed. |
| smuggling, drug trafficking, money laundering, credit | | | | Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Program |
| card fraud, food stamp fraud, mail fraud or other | | | | According to the Web site, the Department of |
| illegal activity." Is it just me, or is anyone else not too | | | | Justice's Asset Forfeiture Program , administered by |
| keen on living in a house recently owned by an | | | | the United States Marshals Service, manages and |
| outlaw biker gang? | | | | disposes of properties seized and forfeited by |
| If that doesn't worry you, you can bid in three ways. | | | | federal law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys |
| You can be present at the auction, submit a bid by | | | | nationwide. |
| mail, or bid electronically. Electronic bidding is available | | | | When I visited, the site listed a number of current |
| for select auctions. If you win your bid, be prepared | | | | asset auction sales (all real properties) scheduled for |
| to pay cash, please. The government does not offer | | | | the months of June and July. The site also links to a |
| financial services. | | | | national sellers list--a list of agencies and entities that |
| The U.S. Postal Service--Not Just for Stamps | | | | are authorized to sell items seized by the U.S. |
| Anymore | | | | Marshals Service. This list included personal property, |
| Ever wonder what happens to the damaged, | | | | real estate, motor vehicles, boats, business inventory, |
| unclaimed and claim-paid items that the U.S. Postal | | | | art, jewelry, antiques and collectibles. |
| Service comes across? It looks like it's auctioned off! | | | | GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales |
| These are not online auctions, but the site posts | | | | "Giving you great value is our goal," the organization |
| dates, locations and a preview schedule for inspecting | | | | says. According to the FAQ, GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales |
| the merchandise. At the time I wrote this, several | | | | will sell approximately 35,000 vehicles this year. Most |
| auctions were scheduled. Perhaps you can find that | | | | vehicles will be available between April and |
| long-lost birthday gift! | | | | September, when a majority of the leases expire, |
| IRS Auctions | | | | but sales are conducted throughout the entire year. |
| The bad news is that the IRS seizes your property | | | | This site sells used vehicles after the leases expire; it |
| and other valuables if you fail to pay taxes. The | | | | does not sell seized vehicles. To bid, you appear at |
| good news is that you can buy it back via IRS | | | | the facility on the day of the auction, where you |
| Auctions . | | | | receive an auction-bidder number. You may start the |
| According to the Web site, the IRS no longer | | | | vehicle to check the engine and the air conditioner, |
| maintains a mailing list about its auctions, but uses the | | | | but you are not permitted to take it for a spin. |
| Web site instead. When I checked, there was | | | | Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service |
| information about auctions for a number of real | | | | Looking for used military items? Go to the DRMS site |
| estate properties (commercial and non-commercial), | | | | to bid. DRMS disposes of excess property received |
| various coins and precious metals, stock certificates, | | | | from the military services. The inventory changes |
| antiques, art, jewelry, collectibles and luxury items, | | | | daily, and includes thousands of items, from air |
| automobiles, motorcycles and trucks, turnkey | | | | conditioners to vehicles, clothing to computers, and |
| business opportunities, and firearms. | | | | much more. |
| Wanna buy a really sharp looking sailboat? Bidding | | | | According to the Web site, property is first offered |
| starts at $6,000.74. You'll also need to pay another | | | | for reutilization within the Department of Defense, |
| $2,600 for docking and storage fees. Oh, and you'll | | | | and then transferred to other local agencies or by |
| have to move it from Ohio, unless you happen to live | | | | donation to state and local governments. Excess |
| in Cleveland. You can download the mail-in forms for | | | | property not reutilized, transferred or donated is sold |
| your bid. | | | | to the public as surplus |
| U.S. Government Surplus Auctions | | | | * * * |
| The State and Local Surplus Property Web page links | | | | No doubt you'll find plenty of good deals. However, I |
| to surplus auctions for many, if not all, U.S. states. | | | | noticed that none of these sites provide a section |
| The sale items represent federal and state-owned | | | | for eBay-type feedback comments. You don't get to |
| surplus property. | | | | rate the government as a seller! |
| Following the link to California's surplus auctions, we | | | | |