A Look at Three Different Types of U.S. Government Auctions
If you’ve heard about EBay and you fancy going to an auction, whether live or online, there’s one secret you must know the greatest bargains available can be found in auctions conducted by the U.S. government. That’s right; the government conducts its own auctions. These auction
How come you’ve never heard about them? Well, unlike private auctions, these auctions aren’t usually advertised. Unless you ask about them in specific government agencies like the U.S. Customs Service or visit government websites, chances are you’ll never encounter them in your daily newspaper. These auctions range in type, depending on the items to be auctioned and the way the government has acquired them. Let’s take a look at three common types of U.S. government auctions:
Surplus Auctions
Surplus U.S. government auctions feature a variety of goods and items. These items are usually things that the government does not need anymore, things the government has bought and has to finally dispose or replaced. Among those you will find in surplus auctions are the following:
* Office equipment (like telephones, tables, and chairs) and office supplies (like stationeries, pens, and envelopes)
* Equipment like computers and photocopying machines
* Cars and trucks
* Aircrafts and boats
Some of them have never been used, some are still almost brand new, while others have been used for quite some time.
Seized Property Auctions
The seized property auctions conducted by the U.S. government usually include properties and items that have been confiscated from people who had tax and other payment problems with the government. The items in these auctions often include high-end and expensive stuff like real estate properties and cars.
Police Auctions
Police auctions are somewhat related to seized property auctions, but the items offered in these auctions are commonly seized from criminals and from people who acquired said items through ill-gotten money (taken from drugs and other illegal means, for instance). The police force may have confiscated items piling up, and the only way to dispose these items is to offer them on auctions. These items may include:
* real estate, houses, and lots
* luxury vehicles, sports cars, SUVS, and other types of automobiles
* jewelries, diamonds, and other gems
* electronic machineries and equipment
All the said auctions happen either live or online. One good thing about them, aside from the low prices by which you can have the goods offered, is the almost exclusivity of the auctions. Because not many people know about them, only a few attend and bid. Therefore, the chance of getting your desired item is bigger.
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