| Even though the United States Government is a | | | | margin. |
| body of laws and restrictions, it also offers many | | | | Use Caution Another time I bought some shelving. |
| little known opportunities for its citizens. The | | | | I drove all night from Tennessee to reach |
| federal government, being the largest employer in | | | | Maryland and to my surprise found there were |
| the United States (state governments being | | | | over 45 hundred pounds of shelves. My pickup |
| second) is also a treasure trove of information | | | | wasn't big enough and I couldn't justify the cost in |
| and goods, much of which are at little cost or | | | | renting a truck so I had to abandon the purchase. |
| free for the asking. Because the government | | | | When you do that they re-auction the item with |
| deals in public safety and statistics, there are | | | | no refund. On the other hand I bought two |
| specific agencies directed toward providing | | | | portable generators that I picked up in Virginia |
| information on all aspects of living and doing | | | | that were like new, but they had oddball |
| business. There are teams of fact finding people | | | | government receptacles that had to be |
| gathering information on subjects ranging from | | | | converted. Oh, and there are thousands of cars |
| the life span of a bug to space travel and | | | | for sale, of every make and model, for very little |
| everything in between. Each agency maintains a | | | | cost. The same rule applies, be careful, you could |
| data base of facts on their particular charge. Most | | | | end up with a pile of junk. Call the sale |
| of these facts are public information and can be | | | | administrator and ask some questions. They are |
| used for study, research or publicizing, without | | | | always happy to assist with a thorough |
| having to acquire special permission. | | | | description of the item. I called once on what |
| Try Out A Government Auction Federal and | | | | looked like a dozen or so tires. It's a good thing I |
| State governments hold scheduled auctions for | | | | did, it would have taken a eighteen wheeler to |
| public benefit. The Federal government also holds | | | | pick them up. |
| an on going surplus auction which is open to the | | | | It's a little intimating Go on-line to or just to name |
| public. Also, many new items the government | | | | a couple where continuous auctions are in |
| purchases are offered to the general public at a | | | | progress. Register, the same as you would with |
| reduced price. From bedding to commercial | | | | ebay, and sort through or search for an item to |
| kitchen equipment you can buy new, from the | | | | bid on. Place a bid, using a credit card as your |
| government. Non profit organizations fair even | | | | collateral. If you are outbid and at bids close you |
| better because they can buy many surplus items | | | | will be notified by the email address you provided |
| not offered to the general public. | | | | to them. If you win, you have a set number of |
| I have had the experience of buying at | | | | days to pickup the item. Caution: Find out which |
| government auctions. The range of products | | | | days they are open for pick up. Be sure to be |
| found at auction never ceases to amaze me. I | | | | there within their operating hours, and have all |
| have seen every thing from dental equipment to | | | | your paperwork ready. It wouldn't hurt to tip the |
| Jet engines sold at ridiculously low prices. How | | | | loader if you will be coming back another time. |
| about a building or, what the heck, a C-131 | | | | The people who run the auctions are contractors |
| airplane? You can find them at government | | | | and have their rules while they are on a military |
| auctions. True, for some items you have to sign | | | | base which has its rules. It's just a matter of |
| an affidavit as to what you are going to do with | | | | following instructions and working with both |
| the product which is easy for law abiding citizens | | | | entities for a smooth experience. Like anything |
| but not so easy for felons. Most items are sold in | | | | else, Government auctions can be a good or bad |
| lots, meaning there could be ten to one hundred | | | | experience. Just be cautious and your experience |
| items in a lot. You should be careful however, the | | | | will be good. Be prepared for anything from |
| pictures they show can be deceiving. I once paid | | | | having difficulty getting onto a military base to a |
| forty five dollars for what looked like twenty or | | | | crabby loader but the transaction will go smooth |
| so new uniform pants and shirts. When I picked | | | | nine times out of ten. It's that one time that is |
| them up there were three huge boxes full, adding | | | | aggravating. Remember, the customer is always |
| up to over a ton. Luckily I was driving a heavy | | | | right does not apply when dealing with the |
| duty 4X4 pickup that could handle the load. | | | | government and its contractors. If you want that |
| Another thing, you will probably have to travel a | | | | really good deal, you will have to put up with |
| few hundred miles to pick up your product. Take | | | | condescending people. Not to say they are all that |
| into consideration the cost of retrieving your | | | | way, they are not. Most people are very nice and |
| purchase or having it shipped to you. This cost will | | | | willing to bend over backward to make your |
| outweigh the purchase price itself by a huge | | | | experience a good one. |