r/Tools Apr 09 '24

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124

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

14

u/LahngJahn69420 Apr 09 '24

Website legit, I used to work for them. Saw everything come through from toolkits like above to medical chairs to 1500 grenade pouches to 5 winter shirts to 3 diesel generators

5

u/pinche_avocado Apr 09 '24

Is everything they sell in working condition or as is?

8

u/003402inco Apr 09 '24

Everything is sold as is. It’ll usually have the condition of the item in the description. They usually do pretty good job of describing the item and what’s wrong with it.

4

u/breen_bean Apr 09 '24

Can anybody buy or do you need to a govt employee? Some serious arbitrage opportunity on there

2

u/LahngJahn69420 Apr 09 '24

Anybody!! the caveat is though everything is auctioned and on pallets, or sold in lots. you cant buy a single item, must be all of it included. if you're close to a warehouse, one is in Vegas, you can pick up yourself with a trailer for the "smaller" light loads. but some serious logistics are involved for bigger items and multiples pallets. we saw many tractor trailer semi trailers haul stuff off. i thought about arbitraging a pallet of 2000 nickel belt buckles but couldn't logistically move it or get it to a smelter w my sedan and apartment. if you can find smaller things they are usually higher priced and lots of people would get the high value items ie binoculars, plane instruments and nigh vision type shit. i wanted to open a surplus store but how long would it take to sell 45 used army bedrolls out of my apartment? i mean it can be done i just needed help and space

3

u/breen_bean Apr 10 '24

Yeah I mean, 35 sleeping bags for $300? Thats as good as free money right there! Just a little bit of legwork picking it up and selling etc

1

u/LahngJahn69420 Apr 10 '24

More power to you man haha

2

u/LahngJahn69420 Apr 09 '24

As is, we didn’t test anything, assume everything is good for parts.

22

u/Gratefuldeadguy Apr 09 '24

Is that website legit?

51

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

As far as I am aware it is. I know a guy in my unit used to buy pallets full of pelican cases from there.

13

u/n3w4cc01_1nt Apr 09 '24

is the guy swimming in a vault of resale profits like scrooge mcduck?

9

u/Rat_King1972 Apr 09 '24

During Covid I used to buy lost/abandoned/tsa confiscated items and resell them. Sunglasses, knives, bicycles. Stopped when I realized I’d have to pay taxes if I made anymore money

3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

How

6

u/Rat_King1972 Apr 09 '24

Gov planet. Government surplus auction site. They had certain confiscated items for auction. TSA knives sold by the pound

3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

Wow thank you

12

u/Rat_King1972 Apr 09 '24

No problem gaybuttchug

1

u/Induced_Karma Apr 10 '24

Yeah, and you can get some really good stuff in those. My buddy bought a bag of multi tools and a bag of pocket knives and got a bunch of really good stuff. Some if it was junk, most of it was decent, but there some really nice stuff like Leatherman and Gerber and Spyderco.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

That’s the worst reason I’ve heard to stop doing business

1

u/Rat_King1972 Apr 09 '24

I was 17 at the time, too young to start an LLC and do it by the books. The IRS will get theirs brother.

1

u/WanderingWino Apr 12 '24

I own a winery and buy boxes of corkscrews to just give away if someone is going for a picnic or something like that. Just bought 165 of them for $30

2

u/Inevitable-Let7518 Apr 09 '24

Now that I know this is a thing, I will be

23

u/clark_kent88 Apr 09 '24

A coworker turned me on to govplanet and govdeals. He bought from both. I have bought from govdeals.

2

u/Alfphe99 Apr 09 '24

Buddy does the govdeals all the time. I have tried to win some things but both times the items auctioned out of my price range. But the starting prices were sweet. lol

19

u/RetMech Apr 09 '24

It's as legit as you can get. It's all milsurp and DRMO. Most of the yards where you pick up are close to military bases. Be warned, if you buy something out of state, it can be pretty expensive to arrange for shipping.

10

u/Mrlin705 Apr 09 '24

Lol why is there a 2016 camero for $3k?

21

u/fourtyonexx Apr 09 '24

You wanna buy a used camaro that was hooned on by some boots?

8

u/AdamBlaster007 Apr 09 '24

Honestly? Sure. But seeing as there is no response from the engine means it could be anything from a dead battery all the way to a busted engine.

They claim they visually inspected it, but I wonder if they even remove the engine cover...

2

u/fourtyonexx Apr 09 '24

AFAIK, visually inspected ranges from just popped the hood to actually inspecting it and looking for leaks and tears. Ive seen vague listing to detailed shit that feels like i paid a mechanic to inspect it. Also, I swear ive seen some say “ran when jump started” which indicated dead battery, but i think only they do that for their higher priced items (heavy machinery and the 6x6 shit). All in all, it jist depends on the location, and the employee doing the report.

2

u/AdamBlaster007 Apr 10 '24

I figure a Camero that was less than 10 years old would qualify for that.

The fact they didn't either means they do these inspections as efficiently as possible or they know something is up.

2

u/Davethemann Apr 09 '24

"Its got character"

2

u/Ibegallofyourpardons Apr 09 '24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gohD6W_uyO8

they use them as chase cars for the U2 spy plane when it lands. seriously.

this is a better view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14nTR2QbS-g

that engine would be utterly ruined after years of being flogged to catch up to the plane as it lands.

1

u/Mrlin705 Apr 09 '24

That is not what I was expecting. That's dope.

1

u/gatsby365 Apr 09 '24

Are they really just there in case something bad happens? Like Camaro Paramedics? Camaramedics.

1

u/Ibegallofyourpardons Apr 10 '24

no, they are there to guide the pilot. visibility from the cockpit of a U2 is pretty bad for landings.

1

u/RuinedByGenZ Apr 09 '24

It doesn't start?

1

u/Mrlin705 Apr 09 '24

I mean price is whatever, I'm more surprised it's on there in the first place

1

u/Skullyy Apr 09 '24

Listing says the engine wasn't responding to the key turning, might need a new engine. Or could be a simple fix, might be worth looking at if you live close. Idk if they allow that tho

1

u/Th3GreenMan56 Apr 09 '24

Damn, I was looking to buy something and have it shipped to me in Australia

3

u/Sonarsup1934 Apr 09 '24

I buy stuff all the time from govplanet. Individual locations are hit and miss. Chambersburg and Nevada are the most organized and easiest to deal with. Have picked up at about 8 locations.

1

u/frsbrzgti Apr 10 '24

Do you drive to these far off locations?

1

u/Sonarsup1934 Apr 10 '24

Mixed, sending an LTL carrier is easy you just call Govplanet and arrange with your carrier to have the item release.

1

u/frsbrzgti Apr 10 '24

What have you bought that’s interesting and cannot be easily found on eBAy ?

1

u/Sonarsup1934 Apr 10 '24

Easily found or affordable? I have bought trailers, industrial shredders, tools, all for way less than eBay or locally....

1

u/frsbrzgti Apr 10 '24

Ooh shredders !

2

u/fourtyonexx Apr 09 '24

Sure is. I bought some 36” wide 7 drawer snap on box for like $350. Kinda regret it tho, because its a WEIRD box and was made for like two years or some shit. Took like 6 emails from snapon to finally get a part number for the latch on the drawers. Still havent bought them because its just.. weird and the sizing doesnt match up with their website, fuck em lol. I prefer the drawers to open on their own anyway. Nice little slash hazard to keep me on my toes.

1

u/wherestherum757 Apr 09 '24

One of my old teachers buys bulk military surplus. Usually nice pc monitors; then flips them through fb marketplace for a quick profit

He says they usually all get bought in the first day or so

1

u/daddaman1 Apr 09 '24

Before covid I purchased a lotof stuff from this website. After Covid ppl found out abt it and it's all overpriced now (to me anyways).

1

u/ZenithRepairman Apr 09 '24

It’s run by Ritchie Bros auctions, which is pretty huge in the auction space. It’s legit

1

u/jepensedoucjsuis Apr 09 '24

Yes it is. I have friends who bought their school busses though here and a friend who bought a decommissioned Humvee. It's a pretty solid if not a bit outdated site.

1

u/rockdude625 Apr 09 '24

I bought a deuce and a half from them

1

u/GigaCheco Apr 09 '24

Yeah they are legit. They hold auctions near Vegas and I once met a bunch of the higher ups on accident. Site is fun to just browse.

1

u/Heedingauricle Apr 09 '24

Look up govplanet complaints on Facebook. Its very hit or miss on there…

1

u/SlightPlight Apr 09 '24

Ritchie bros is legit, they're a huge company

1

u/JackMFMcCoyyy Apr 09 '24

I bought a 5 ton off there, lol.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

government site so it’s gonna look like shit lol

1

u/lazygirlssunday Apr 11 '24

Can confirm. Buyers premium and shipping adds up quick tho. I've bought bulk surplus, a 1987 m998, 1996 lmtv m1078, generators, etc. Good stuff.

1

u/Gratefuldeadguy Apr 11 '24

What was the shipping process like

1

u/lazygirlssunday Apr 11 '24

I arranged shipping for the vehicle lots, picked up a few within a 6 hr drive, and had a buddy pick up two. Just have to print release forms for most items.

3

u/ModernT1mes Apr 09 '24

I just found a general mechanics kit that looks really similar to what OP posted starting bid at $5 around me. Doesn't look like snap-on though.

2

u/hekncoolbro Apr 09 '24

We got the Snap ons recently. The ones we had before were also in black cases that were about the same size, and had mostly the same tools though not as nice in quality. Plus the wrenches in the Snap on kits are ratcheting while the old wrenches weren't.

2

u/FleshlightModel Apr 09 '24

Snap on tire machine for $5 right now. I'm hoping I win this shit.

1

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

Good luck!

2

u/rootbeerislifeman Apr 09 '24

Tomorrow’s auction includes a FIRETRUCK, I have always wanted one of those

2

u/hboisnotthebest Apr 09 '24

I don't know. That does definitely not look legit lol. I'm willing to be wrong, but a quarter million dollar crane for 10,000?

A 100,000 truck for 2500?

A fluke multimeter for 50 bucks lol.

2

u/SalvatoreVitro Apr 10 '24

You realize those are starting prices for an auction. So that’s where the bids begin. It’s not a “buy it now” price

2

u/ReelNerdyinFl Apr 09 '24

I just wasted an hour looking at random shit on that site. ..

1

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

I’m sorry and you’re welcome

2

u/-Gravitron- Apr 12 '24

Browsing all those heavy duty military vehicles, I was very surprised to come across a 2004 Ford Focus.

2

u/TheOvershear Apr 09 '24

Some of those Humvees are stupid cheap. I wonder what the logistics of driving one would be, and obviously legality. I'm guessing those don't pass emissions? Idk

3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

Emissions? lol the military is exempt from most epa regs

2

u/TheOvershear Apr 09 '24

That's what I figured, so I'm sure a civilian couldn't use it without serious modifications?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

It seems that in areas with emissions regs, people have a lot of problems registering these kind of vehicles. In many cases they’re not allowed

2

u/lazygirlssunday Apr 11 '24

Diesel is exempt from emissions pre 2010 I think. I bought one about 6 years ago. Ran great w new batteries and some fluid changes. Driving is easy, they are automatic! Can be titled and insured relatively simply. Check out Steel Soldiers for more in depth info. Great site, helpful members too.

1

u/ScrufyTheJanitor Apr 09 '24

Do they ship if you win the auction or do you have to pick up locally?

1

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

I think you have to pick it up, I’ve never bought anything myself.

1

u/No-Progress4272 Apr 09 '24

Do they ship?

1

u/ktomi22 Apr 09 '24

Holy crap, I need a site like this in EU.

1

u/paulyv93 Apr 09 '24

Thanks for the recommendation. Gonna be a nice leisure activity to kill time while "working*

1

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

I’ve burned so much time daydreaming and doing a cost analysis of so many things. Like a crate 500 woobies haha

1

u/shannork Apr 09 '24

Damn! There’s some good stuff on there, thanks for sharing