| What does the government do with all the unwanted | | | | *Land |
| things they bought with our tax money? They auction | | | | *Jewelry |
| it off at levels much below what they paid. Federal | | | | Depending on which auction you attend, even more |
| surplus, seized and forfeited assets make up the | | | | kinds of items are available. Interested participents can |
| majority of items at these auctions. Just about | | | | freely browse the GSA data base on the web. In |
| everything and any thing is auctioned. The most | | | | order to participate in an actual auction, you first need |
| extensive data base with government auction events | | | | to register with GSA. The registration process is simple |
| is the General Services Administration. Also referred to | | | | and does not require too much of your time. The GSA |
| as the GSA, they provide a factual resource without | | | | requires you to simply assign yourself a user name |
| misleading the public into thinking government auctions | | | | and password. Secondly, you need to provide a credit |
| are secret and for the few select. This is a | | | | card on file for identification purposes. Once you have |
| government sponsored resource and does not cost | | | | created this profile with the GSA, you can determine |
| the public money to be a part of. The General Service | | | | how you want your information presented on |
| Administration has its own website with categorized | | | | paperwork for a completed auction winning. Its |
| auctions. Each auction has a brief description and | | | | important to have your information in order before |
| picture of the item(s) being sold. The website is easy | | | | preceding to bid on auctions. If your profile is incorrect, |
| to navigate and is broken down into states. | | | | you cannot change the information you supplied in your |
| Categories of Auctions | | | | registration. For example, if you are bidding on behalf |
| *Agricultural Equipment and Supplies | | | | of a company, you must register as that company in |
| *Aircraft and Aircraft Parts | | | | the profile. You may also create separate profiles if |
| *Boats and Marine Equipment | | | | you are only participating as an individual. |
| *Communication Equipment | | | | In 1996, in accordance with public Law No. 104-134, The |
| *Computer Equipment and Accessories | | | | Debt Collection Improvement Act was passed. What |
| *Construction Equipment | | | | this means to you, is that you must provide a Tax |
| *Electrical and Electronic Equipment | | | | Identification Number in order to conduct business with |
| *Vehicles (Firetrucks,cars,etc.) | | | | the Federal Government. This isn't something to be |
| *Furniture | | | | worried about, its actually just using your Social |
| *Shop Tools | | | | Security Number or if a business, you use an Employer |
| *Household/Personal Items | | | | Identification Number. |
| *Horses | | | | Government auctions are an excellent resource for |
| *Treasury Bills | | | | the public to find deals on just about anything. In |
| *Financial Assets | | | | addition to this being a free service, no buyer fees are |
| *Lab Equipment | | | | associated with these auctions. If you come across |
| *Medical Dental Equipment | | | | any organizations claiming to be affiliated with |
| *Office Supplies | | | | government auctions but require a fee, avoid doing |
| *Trailers and Tractors | | | | business. Your tax money pays for this service, there |
| *Houses | | | | is no need to pay a middle man for free information. |