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Bargain-Hunting at Federal Sales Programs

Here’s a shopping tip for people who want value for their money and are willing to do a little homework to get it. Agencies of the United States government conduct sales programs that offer a wide variety of items to the public. Some are routine but useful – office equipment and furniture, for instance. Others have long-term potential – land and buildings for which the government no longer has any use. And a few, such as valuable jewelry confiscated by the Customs Services, are true luxuries.

Agencies with sales programs include: Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Defense, Dept. of Energy, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, Government Printing Office, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Marshals Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Postal Service, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, Dept. of the Treasury, Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

Here’s what you should know if you want to do business with Federal agencies:

Know where the sales are being held: The first part of the process involves collecting information. Sales and auctions are advertised in the classified or business sections of national or local newspapers or on bulletin boards in post offices and local government buildings.

There are also two publications with up-to-date listings of sales and auctions: the Commerce Business Daily and the Federal Register. Many local libraries have copies of these publications available for use by the public.

You can continue your research by calling the nearest office of the Federal Government agency that is holding a sale or auction. Addresses and phone numbers are available on the Internet, along with a list of the things a particular agency typically offers for sale. Another reliable online source is www.fedsales.gov.

Beware of false advertising: As you can see, the information is out there if you want to do a little digging. You may see offers from private sources to sell you “inside” information about government sales. This information may not always be reliable. You can develop better information on your own by following the steps above.

Contact the sponsoring agency: They can tell you the time and place, what bidding procedure will be used, and the buyer’s responsibility for property removal. Be sure to ask what forms of payment are accepted. Charge or credit cards are sometimes accepted, but some sales require a guaranteed method of payment such as money order, certified check or cash.

Most sponsoring agencies will release an “Invitation for Bid,” containing a description of the property and all details pertaining to the sale. After learning the basics about the sales and auctions, attend a few to learn the procedures and analyze what makes a successful purchase.

Check the item’s condition yourself: Government sales programs rarely sell new or unused items. It’s up to you to examine a prospective purchase before the sale, and verify if it fits the description the agency gives you. Find out if you can return your purchase if you need to.

Don’t expect to find an amazing bargain, because all of the goods are sold at “fair market value.” Sometimes items being offered are appraised before the sale and will not be sold for a bid price the sponsoring agency deems unreasonable.

February 28, 2002

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