Although the United States government is a body of laws and restrictions, it also offers many little-known opportunities for its citizens. The federal government, as the largest employer in the United States (state governments are second), is also a treasure trove of information and assets, much of which is low-cost or free for the asking. Because the government deals with public safety and statistics, there are specific agencies aimed at providing information on all aspects of life and business. There are fact-seeking teams of people gathering information on topics ranging from the lifespan of an insect to space travel and everything in between. Each agency maintains a database of facts about its particular charge. Most of these facts are public information and can be used for study, research or publicity, without the need to acquire special permission.
Try a government auction
The federal and state governments hold timed auctions for public benefit. The federal government also holds an ongoing surplus auction that is open to the public. Also, many new items purchased by the government are offered to the general public at a reduced price. From bedding to commercial kitchen equipment, you can buy new from the government. Nonprofits are even better because they can purchase many surplus items that are not offered to the general public.
I have had the experience of buying at government auctions. The range of products found at auction never ceases to amaze me. I’ve seen everything from dental equipment to jet engines sold at ridiculously low prices. How about a building or, what the heck, a C-131 plane? You can find them at government auctions. True, for some items you have to sign an affidavit of what you are going to do with the product, which is easy for law-abiding citizens, but not so easy for criminals. Most items are sold in lots, which means there can be anywhere from ten to a hundred items in a lot. However, you must be careful, the images they show can be misleading. I once paid forty-five dollars for what looked like twenty new uniform pants and shirts. When I picked them up there were three huge boxes full, totaling over a ton. Fortunately, he was driving a heavy-duty 4X4 pickup that could handle the load. Another thing, you may have to travel a few hundred miles to pick up your product. Factor in the cost of getting your purchase back or having it shipped to you. This cost will exceed the purchase price itself by a huge margin.
With precaution
On another occasion I bought some bookshelves. I drove overnight from Tennessee to Maryland and to my surprise discovered that there were over 4,500 pounds of shelves. My truck wasn’t big enough and I couldn’t justify the cost of renting a truck, so I had to abandon the purchase. When it does, they re-auction the item with no refund. On the other hand, I bought two portable generators that I picked up in Virginia that were like new, but had weird government receptacles that had to be converted. Oh, and there are thousands of cars for sale, of all makes and models, at very low cost. The same rule applies, be careful, you could end up with a lot of junk. Call the sales manager and ask a few questions. They are always happy to help with a detailed description of the item. I called once about what seemed like a dozen tires. Good thing I did, it would have taken an eighteen-wheeler to pick them up.
it’s a bit intimidating
Go online to gsauctions.com or gogov.com just to name a couple where auctions are ongoing. Sign in, just like you would on eBay, and order or search for an item to bid on. Make an offer using a credit card as collateral. If you are outbid and at bid close, you will be notified via the email address you provided. If you win, you have a set number of days to collect the item. Caution: Find out what days they are open for pickup. Make sure you are there during their business hours and have all your paperwork ready. It wouldn’t hurt to dump the charger if you’re going to come back at another time. The people running the auctions are contractors and they have their rules while they are on a military base which has their rules. It’s just a matter of following the instructions and working with both entities for a seamless experience.
Like anything else, government auctions can be a good or bad experience. Just be careful and your experience will be a good one. Be prepared for anything from having a hard time getting into a military base to a cranky shipper, but the transaction will go smoothly nine times out of ten. It is that time that is aggravating. Remember, the customer is always right does not apply when dealing with the government and its contractors. If you want that really good deal, you’ll have to put up with condescending people. It does not mean that they are all like that, they are not. Most of the people are very friendly and willing to go out of their way to make your experience a good one.
in concussion
The government is a valuable resource for information and will provide assistance in obtaining government-backed loans or grants. The state and federal government have auctions and sales open to the public. They have posts on how to save money on heating costs, as well as driving tips. Use your government, they get paid to be there for you.
