How to Buy from Government Auctions Online

Government auctions are a great place to find a deal on used government equipment, seized property and other goods. Government auctions have been around for a long time, but they required you to attend in person. Now, you can buy items that normally are in government auctions online. No need to research times and locations, obtain certified checks or approval -- just search online and bid on your government auction deals. The U.S. government has now created a website that combines auctions from all government agencies into one location to make it easier to find and bid on thousands of items.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Visit GovSales.gov. Search for items you want to purchase -- items include computer equipment, medical supplies, clothing, jewelry, books, sporting goods and even vehicles. Items are listed under category headings at the top of the site.

2. Drill down on the auction item links until you find a listing of items for sale. Look for items that list 'Internet Auction' under the "Sale Type" column heading.

3. Click on an item you want to bid on and read the government auction description for the item.

4. Click on the red "Bid" button in the top right hand section of the page when you are ready to bid on an item.

5. Fill out registration information and confirm your bid. You may need to register multiple times with different government agencies if you bid on items from different categories.

6. Watch your bid and increase it if others outbid you. The bidding process is similar to other Internet auction websites like eBay. The standard government auction online lasts for seven days.

7. Pay for your winning bid. After you are notified of your winning bid by email, you have two days to pay for your goods. You can pay by credit card on the "My Summary" page, under the "Trades" function. If you prefer to pay by cash, cashier's check or commercial money order, contact the agency information listed on your item's bidding page for the payment address and payable information.

8. Collect your items. You have 10 days after winning your government auction to collect your items. For smaller items, you may be able to arrange shipment with the government agency. For larger items, you (or a designated agent) will need to pick up the goods in person. For vehicles and large equipment there are companies that will arrange pickup and delivery for you -- just contact the government agency responsible for the bid for approved agents.

Resources

• GovSales.gov: Home