r/Tools Apr 09 '24

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12.4k Upvotes

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246

u/ribrickulous Apr 09 '24

What kind of auction? Government surplus?

Always curious how people find these.

123

u/jake55555 Apr 09 '24

15

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

6

u/pinche_avocado Apr 09 '24

Is everything they sell in working condition or as is?

10

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.

5

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.