Buy government surplus at auction

For fleet buyers, resellers and anyone who evaluates surplus lots: how government surplus is sold, what as-is and where-is mean, how to pay and collect on time, and how to check that a program is real.

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About this course

Level: Specialist
Access: Membership, $499.00 a year
Time: 1 h 10 min
Lessons: 4
Pass mark: 80%
Exam attempts: 3
Certificate valid for: 1 year

What you will learn

Tell federal, state and marketplace surplus sales apart, and know which programs are not open to the public.
Explain what as-is and where-is mean for your risk, and plan an inspection.
Plan payment and collection inside the deadlines of a sale.
Check that a surplus program and its payment instructions are real before you pay.

Lessons

How government surplus is sold 18 min
As-is, where-is and inspection 16 min
Pay and collect on time 16 min
Check the program and the payment 16 min

Questions

Can anyone buy at a government surplus auction?

Usually, yes. Public sales are open to anyone who registers on the marketplace or portal that the program names. Some federal donation programs are only for government bodies and eligible nonprofits.

Does the course cover countries outside the US?

Most examples are US federal and state programs. The course also names GCSurplus in Canada and VEBEG in Germany. Each program has its own rules, so read them before you bid.

Is this course legal or tax advice?

No. The course explains published program rules as they were on a named check date. The certificate of completion records that you passed this site's exam. It is not a licence or a professional qualification.