HarmonicaBruce
Well-known member
I don't know if this is legitimate or not, I just found it surfing the net:
Public Surplus: Van
Some interesting looking deals!
Public Surplus: Van
Some interesting looking deals!
Vans being auctioned
- Thread starter HarmonicaBruce
- Start date
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VanLifeCrisis
Well-known member
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some red flags for me. looks like a cheap site. ok, but contact info is email address? address is a PO, no site location or business location? strange for an 'auction' at best i think this is a fascade for govdeals auctions and its derivatives, at worst a money scam to get your info and loot.
im sure no 'agency' is going to negotiate a contract for bulk merchandise thru an email address or web sign up form either so where that stock come from?
im sure no 'agency' is going to negotiate a contract for bulk merchandise thru an email address or web sign up form either so where that stock come from?
Canine
Well-known member
The BBB gives it an A+, but that doesn't mean it is a good way to go. It is a third party, online business that coordinates with other entities that want to auction off their vehicles. The bummer part of this is Public Surplus deals only with the financial part of it. Any logistics must go through the actual owner of the vehicle.
Many of the vehicles are government surplus, so that means you need to work around government hours. Also, every state agency has some lame bureaucratic requirements that could very well conflict with your schedule or needs and Public Surplus's rules. For example, the owner of the vehicle may require that you move the vehicle within 24 hours. Public Surplus may hold onto your money for 48 hours before releasing the vehicle. This could give you and/or the owner of the vehicle some unwarranted yet still legal grief. This is very unlikely to happen if one auctioneer at a time did one state agency at a time.
I'm not apposed to auctions, but keep in mind every auction is somewhat different. As soon as you win a bid, you are locked into an agreement whether you read the rules or not. When you use Public Surplus, you aren't dealing with one auction- it is more like dealing with several auctions at one site. Very hard to keep track if you are bidding on multiple vehicles from multiple owners.
I refuse to buy auction vehicles because you cannot reasonably have them checked out. It's like playing the lottery with worse odds. If the cost of the auction fees, the vehicle, and the cost of the repairs is less than the price of scrap, then at least you would only be out your time.
There are exceptions of course. The vehicle may have an otherwise highly expensive, rare rear differential that you need for a custom build. Or you may have some inside information that a million dollars is hidden in the fuel tank.
Many of the vehicles are government surplus, so that means you need to work around government hours. Also, every state agency has some lame bureaucratic requirements that could very well conflict with your schedule or needs and Public Surplus's rules. For example, the owner of the vehicle may require that you move the vehicle within 24 hours. Public Surplus may hold onto your money for 48 hours before releasing the vehicle. This could give you and/or the owner of the vehicle some unwarranted yet still legal grief. This is very unlikely to happen if one auctioneer at a time did one state agency at a time.
I'm not apposed to auctions, but keep in mind every auction is somewhat different. As soon as you win a bid, you are locked into an agreement whether you read the rules or not. When you use Public Surplus, you aren't dealing with one auction- it is more like dealing with several auctions at one site. Very hard to keep track if you are bidding on multiple vehicles from multiple owners.
I refuse to buy auction vehicles because you cannot reasonably have them checked out. It's like playing the lottery with worse odds. If the cost of the auction fees, the vehicle, and the cost of the repairs is less than the price of scrap, then at least you would only be out your time.
There are exceptions of course. The vehicle may have an otherwise highly expensive, rare rear differential that you need for a custom build. Or you may have some inside information that a million dollars is hidden in the fuel tank.
HarmonicaBruce
Well-known member
My first van was an 89 dodge b250 that was owned by Cornell University. It was a blind auction, you didn't know what other bids were out there. I bid $875 and won. The van was very low mileage, about 70k as I recall. It was a great ride for me, except it only got 14 mpg. The van would sometimes pull a tiny trailer that held a roll of cable. They only drove it a couple of miles across campus then they parked it and worked. But, being Cornell, they got the "towing package", including trans cooler and gearing. What a great ride, and for cheap! I recommend buying vans from universities, especially ivy league universities.
Canine
Well-known member
Harmonica, that is a good example. There are good deals to be had! One good thing I should mention about state vehicles is that they normally have excellent maintenance.
I had purchased a county plow truck. It needed a lot of work, but I got a good deal on it, tho. They ordered the extra heavy duty version, so that is what appealed to me at the time. Wouldn't do that again, though.
I had purchased a county plow truck. It needed a lot of work, but I got a good deal on it, tho. They ordered the extra heavy duty version, so that is what appealed to me at the time. Wouldn't do that again, though.
