When public agencies need to dispose of items, they frequently put them up for auction.
That’s why government auction platforms, such as GovDeals.com, are a great spot to uncover unusual items at steep discounts.
GovDeals lets you browse thousands of listings across almost every category, from heavy machinery and property to fine art and jewelry.
(Seriously — you can buy an ambulance or an enormous ruby, all through GovDeals.)
What Is GovDeals?
Think of GovDeals as an eBay-style marketplace specifically for government entities.
When an asset is no longer needed, public organizations — from universities to police departments — auction it off to the public.
In the past, many agencies would place an ad in the local paper when they wanted to sell surplus equipment or forfeited property.
Sites like GovDeals now allow governments to list items online, reaching a much broader audience. Proceeds from the sales go back to the selling agency.
You can stumble upon nearly anything on GovDeals, including gym machines, classroom projectors, laptops, food-storage containers, kitchen appliances, trucks, trading cards, RVs, designer wallets and hunting blades.
According to the company, GovDeals has produced more than $2.5 billion in sales since its launch over two decades ago.
How Does GovDeals Work?
Similar to eBay, you place bids on items listed on GovDeals and some auctions may have reserves even if the opening bid is very low. The highest bidder when the auction ends wins the item if the reserve is satisfied. You’ll need to register for an account to begin.
Most of the time you must collect the item in person. Occasionally, an agency will ship for an added cost.
You can filter listings by location or product category. Each listing provides specifics about the item, plus payment and pickup instructions. Read those carefully.
Some sellers ask for direct payment to the agency, while others accept payment through GovDeals’ online checkout.
15 Bizarre, Affordable Finds We Spotted on GovDeals
The odd variety on GovDeals is hard to fully grasp until you start scrolling listings.
Once you begin, it’s surprisingly addictive.
Wait — they’re seriously auctioning that?
Here are 15 items we discovered on GovDeals. Believe us, there are far more where these came from.
1. Violin Strobel ML80 — $120
- Starting bid: $1
- Winning bid: $120
- Sold by: City of Dover, New Hampshire
- Delivery available: No
Finding a violin of this type — complete with bow and case — for under $600 new is rare. This Strobel ML80 reportedly plays well, and you can own it for a sliver of its retail value via GovDeals.
Explore more musical instruments and gear here.
2. 14k Gold Ring — $100
- Starting bid: $1
- Winning bid: $100
- Sold by: State of New Mexico
- Delivery available: Yes, if buyer provides a shipping label.
Precious jewelry is a common attraction on GovDeals — especially gold. This 14k gold ring is a size 6 and could serve nicely as a wedding band. With gold around $63 per gram and this ring containing nearly 6 grams, it’s easy to understand why the auction drew 14 bids.
There’s plenty more jewelry available. See more pieces here.
3. Two Samsung Tablets — $25
- Starting bid: $5
- Winning bid: $25
- Sold by: Maryland State Police
- Delivery available: No
Two Samsung tablets with unknown condition and no warranty? If you’re willing to take a gamble, you might get lucky and find one that works.
If operational, this could be an incredible deal. Refurbished Samsung tablets typically sell for $70–$150 each on other marketplaces.
GovDeals lists a wide selection of personal electronics, from AirPods to laptops, fitness trackers, printers and even cassette players.
4. Sickle circa 1850 — $10
- Starting bid: $10
- Winning bid: $10
- Sold by: Dey Mansion Washington’s Headquarters Museum in Passaic County, New Jersey
- Delivery available: No
As the listing notes, this is an opportunity to “own a piece of history.” We’re not sure what makes this rusty corn sickle with a split wooden handle especially attractive, but it’s over 170 years old, which is neat.
It comes from a group of items deaccessioned by the Dey Mansion Washington’s Headquarters Museum. The lot also included a pot lid from 1850 for $2 and a washboard for $5.
The collectibles section on GovDeals raises more questions than answers. Why would a municipality auction a megalodon tooth? How did 300 comic books wind up in police evidence? Why is an Ohio school district selling a 1936 kitchen mixer?
5. Hundreds of Math Books — $343
- Starting bid: $5
- Winning bid: $343
- Sold by: Springfield R-12 School District in Missouri
- Delivery available: No
Starting a school? Otherwise, it’s tough to justify buying three pallets of math textbooks standing three to five feet high each.
Most of the books were reported as new but were discontinued due to a change in curriculum.
One downside: the listings didn’t specify grade levels, so you can’t be certain what you’re getting.
Under the educational category you’ll also find items like animatronics, microscopes, furnishings, smartboards and calculators. There’s a separate books category with textbooks, manuals and retired library volumes.
6. 1978 American LaFrance Telesquirt Fire Truck — $5,716
- Starting bid: $2,100
- Winning bid: $5,716
- Sold by: Ronda Fire Department in North Carolina
- Delivery available: No
Yes, for under $6,000 you could own a fire truck. This 45-year-old rig reportedly starts, runs and is “driveable.” We don’t know exact mileage, but its ladder and pump are operational.
So, if you happen to be in the market for a fire engine…
And who isn’t, take a look at surplus trucks on the site.
7. 300 Wood Pallets — $110
- Starting bid: $10
- Winning bid: $110
- Sold by: State of Nebraska
- Delivery available: No
With lumber prices high, this lot of 300 wooden pallets is a bargain. They could be repurposed into a yard fence (hello, privacy) or turned into pallet furniture. They’re in fair shape, so adjust your plans accordingly.
In addition to inexpensive pallets, you can find lumber and various building materials.
8. 2015 Black Ford Explorer Police Interceptor SUV — $9,600
- Starting bid: $5,000
- Winning bid: $9,600
- Sold by: City of North Royalton, Ohio
- Delivery available: No
Given the steep cost of used cars these days, don’t feel bad if you bid on this black Ford Explorer with a V6. It spent the first four years as a patrol unit and the next four as a staff vehicle.
A/C, power locks and a CD player? Not bad. The SUV has just under 100,000 miles and the listing includes a comprehensive maintenance history showing it’s been reasonably cared for.
Browse hundreds more cars on GovDeals.
9. Six Office Chairs — $14
- Starting bid: $10
- Winning bid: $14
- Sold by: University of Alabama
- Delivery available: No
It’s wild that these six office chairs went for under $15. You’d struggle to find a single rolling office chair at a big-box store for less than $60. Then again, the exact condition of these chairs is unknown.
There are plenty of furniture bargains on GovDeals.
10. Upright Fitness Bike — $16
- Starting bid: $1
- Winning bid: $16
- Sold by: City of Dover, New Hampshire
- Delivery available: No
Planning to train for a cycling event? Maybe not. But at $16 for this upright bike, you could finally assemble that home gym.
Best news: it reportedly works and the seat is included.
There’s a wide range of exercise gear on the site, from treadmills to weight racks.
11. Eight Cafeteria Tables — $365
- Starting bid: $1
- Winning bid: $365
- Sold by: Bowling Green Independent School District in Kentucky
- Delivery available: No
Need extra seating for an event? You can get all eight of these cafeteria tables in overall good shape (one has a broken corner) for under $400.
12. Snow Bunny Framed Art — $1
- Starting bid: $1
- Winning bid: $1
- Sold by: City of Hendersonville, Tennessee
- Delivery available: No
Looking for cheap wall art? Consider this snow bunny painting. It’s charming and could fit nicely in a den or mountain cabin.
It sold for about $1.22 after fees. The wooden frame alone would likely retail for $30 or more.
The fine art listings are always interesting — you probably won’t uncover a Van Gogh, but you can find affordable artwork.
13. Crossbow — $260
- Starting bid: $1
- Current bid: $260
- Sold by: Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
- Delivery available: No
This CenterPoint Patriot 415 crossbow with optic is among the more unusual finds. New models start around $350, so after fees it’s not a steal, but you’ll have a neat purchase to talk about.
14. Laguna Pacifica Pottery Wheel — $600
- Starting bid: $25
- Current bid: $600
- Sold by: Portland Community College in Oregon
- Delivery available: No
New pottery wheels can cost well over $1,200, making this pottery wheel from Portland Community College a worthwhile bargain. It’s in good condition and includes a two-piece splash pan and pedal.
The arts and crafts section also lists stickers, bowling pins, baskets and framed pieces.
15. Water Tower, 120 Feet Tall — $1
- Starting bid: $1
- Current bid: $1
- Sold by: Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority in Georgia
- Delivery available: No
Curious what happens to retired water towers? They sometimes appear on GovDeals. If you can handle dismantling and hauling away a 120-foot, 200,000-gallon water tower down to its foundation, it could be yours for a dollar.
You’ll be required to maintain at least $1 million in liability coverage and supply four references to the municipality to demonstrate your capability for the project.
The final price may climb — and a reserve could apply — before the auction ends. But with a $1 starting bid, the chance of acquiring this tower for under $1,000 isn’t out of the question.
Other Government Surplus Marketplaces
GovDeals isn’t the only option for government auctions — nor the only oddball place to find deals.
Here are several other government auction sites where bargains can be found:
Happy bargain hunting!
Alex Morgan is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for Savinly. She writes about retirement, investing and taxes.
