Expensive Items You Can Find for Cheap at Government Auctions
When most people want to buy something secondhand, they resort to a few tried and true venues — garage sales, thrift stores, and Craigslist. In this day and age, these three things attract the majority of people who are looking to buy valuable things at a fraction of the cost they would be brand new.
Unfortunately, the deals aren’t always there. Garage sales are unpredictable at best and limited in their inventories. Thrift stores are stuck thirty years in the past, and Craigslist is filled with scammers or “deal snatchers” that will beat you to the good stuff unless you make it your full-time job.
What if we told you there was another way? Government auctions are a great way to find high-quality items at low prices, and you’d be surprised to see how many great deals you can find. The best part? There just isn’t as much awareness about government auctions, so you’re often able to find great secondhand (or new) items, with less of a crowd to compete with.
Here are some valuable items that you can find for cheap at government auctions.
Vehicles
Let’s start with the big one — did you know that government auctions are a great place to find used vehicles?
Government auctions, for those who don’t know, are made up of items that the government has seized or confiscated for various reasons. These things need to go somewhere, so they’re sold to the general public.
The money that is made from government auctions is often used to settle tax debt that people may owe, and so on. This is why you often find vehicles in the mix — they’re among the most valuable possessions that someone owns (short of property) so they’re often the first to go.
At the time of this posting, an upcoming government auction we’re hosting has a Dodge Caravan, a Ford Windstar, and a Toyota Tundra for sale. And, as it turns out, vehicles sold in government auctions are often more reliable, because they’re taken with little notice. Most people choose to get rid of cars when they’re no longer valuable — most cars sold at government auctions are in normal working order when they’re taken to the auction house.
Firearms
Everyone who is a gun aficionado knows just how expensive it can be to collect firearms. Guns alone cost a hefty amount of money, and that’s not even accounting for ammo or attachments. Most firearm owners are looking to save money wherever they can, and that’s why they should stop by a firearm auction.
At Bid Fast and Last®, we routinely host auctions on behalf of the government, and many of these are gun auctions. Due to our Federal Firearms License (FFL), we are legally qualified to buy and sell firearms, a quality that you won’t find at every auction house.
Over the many auctions we’ve hosted, we’ve sold a staggering variety of firearms. In a recent auction, a Walther P38 Pistol, Ruger Precision .22LR, Engraved Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle, and a New Glock 27 were among the many guns that we had for sale. Government auctions are truly a great opportunity for firearms collectors and hunting enthusiasts to catch some amazing deals, so be sure to stop by our High Desert auction house!
Jewelry
For the jewelry enthusiast, there is never a shortage of enticing items for sale at a government auction. You’ll find plenty of jewelry of the modern and antique variety, and enough gold bracelets, necklaces, and rings to fill a treasure chest.
We all know how ridiculously expensive it can be to buy jewelry new. Wouldn’t you be overjoyed at the prospect of having a venue where you could pay a fraction of that price, while still having an amazing variety to choose from? They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend — you’ll find a lot of new friends indeed if you stop by one of your nearby auctions.
Technology
Technology can be a mixed bag when you’re buying it used. Thrift stores are a no-go unless you’re in the market for a good VCR, and Craigslist is frustrating because you’re unable to inspect the item yourself — and many used gadgets aren’t in the condition you would hope for them to be in.
But at a government auction, the tech is reliable and often new. Remember that government auction items are usually property that was legally seized or confiscated, meaning the owners had no intentions of selling or getting rid of them beforehand.
While you might struggle to find great used tech at bargain prices, there’s a whole lot of it to be found at government auctions. Many Apple aficionados come to our auctions because you can find iPhone and iPads without paying the “Apple premium.” Gamers like to stop by our auction house because they might find a PS4 or a Nintendo Switch in great condition (the latter also being one of the items in our next auction).
Place Your Bids at Our Next Government Auction In High Desert
Do any of these items sound appealing to you? Whether you want a new vehicle, an impressive shiny watch, a pristine firearm, or a replacement laptop, you’re sure to find something you like if you participate in one of our Bid Fast and Last® auctions.
We conduct our auctions live, but you can also participate online. Read here to learn how you can partake in our online auctions, and be sure to contact us if you have any questions! Additionally, if you’re looking for a professional auction service to hold an auction for you, we are also happy to help. Call us today, and you can take part in the best auctions this side of Eastern LA and San Bernardino.
