| e search for cost effective suppliers for your eBiz, you | | | | look at the demand and competition, and find out what |
| may never have considered the U. S. government as | | | | kind of retail price you can realistically expect to |
| a possible product source. But government auctions | | | | charge. |
| offer online sellers and small business owners a wide | | | | • Study all the information the site provides about |
| range of goods to enhance their regular product lines. | | | | the lot. Most will show the condition, original acquisition |
| Locating REAL Government Liquidators | | | | price, and basic technical information, and post photos |
| While a Google search for “government | | | | as well. |
| surplus” will bring back hundreds of thousands | | | | • For more detailed information on a specific |
| of results, you need to be careful from what sites you | | | | product, you might also check out the product |
| choose to purchase. Many of these surplus sellers are | | | | manufacturer’s web site. |
| merely buying goods from real government liquidators, | | | | • Find out what the shipping costs will be. Most |
| or from military surplus stores or outlets, and presenting | | | | sites won’t arrange shipping for you, but |
| themselves as “wholesalers” of | | | | they’ll often provide you with several options for |
| government merchandise. | | | | transporters they’ve worked with in the past. |
| Look for sites with established reputations. Some sites, | | | | You need to contact each one to see who can give |
| like are run directly by federal agencies. “Other | | | | you the best deal, and with whom you feel most |
| sites have contracts with different government | | | | comfortable. (When you contact them, you need to |
| departments, granting them exclusive rights to resell | | | | give them the weight and cubic dimensions of the lot, |
| the goods that department no longer needs,” | | | | so make sure to note those from the web site.) |
| explains Tom Burton, COO of “For instance, we | | | | Any reputable site will allow you to inspect the |
| are the sole liquidation outlet for the Department of | | | | property when it’s posted, and during the time |
| Defense.” | | | | it’s up for auction. Particularly for big-ticket items, |
| …Everything but the Kitchen Sink | | | | you might consider having a screener preview the lot |
| The goods you can find on a government auction site | | | | on your behalf. Often the auction company can |
| are as diverse as the functions of government: textiles, | | | | recommend local companies that offer this service. |
| clothing, electronics, and the list goes on. Whether you | | | | The Price of Progress |
| have your own web site or sell on a platform like | | | | Lots are generally sold for a small fraction of their |
| eBay, you can most likely find products that | | | | original acquisition price – anywhere from six to |
| complement your usual wares and appeal to your | | | | ten percent, on average. That means you’re |
| target audience. For example, if you sell camping gear, | | | | getting, in some cases, a ninety percent discount when |
| you can find a wealth of merchandise that you can | | | | you’re buying – and as every retailer and |
| use to create special promotions and bonuses, or | | | | e-tailer knows, that’s when you make your |
| package with your regular products to create unique, | | | | money. Government auctions can’t provide a |
| value-added bundles. | | | | steady, consistent stream of like products to resell. But, |
| Most auction sites will post items several days before | | | | as Burton points out, “They make an excellent |
| the bidding begins, and allow several additional days of | | | | source for loss leaders, cross-sellers, up-sellers, and |
| bidding. You need to use this time to do your | | | | promotional items that any online seller can use in their |
| homework: | | | | eBiz. |
| • Research the market for any items of interest, | | | | |