# # 1. Introduction to Auctions Just as you have heard, there are incredible deals to find at auctions. It is not uncommon for experienced auction-goers to come home from auctions with thousands of dollars worth of items for a mere fraction of their normal cost. This chapter will introduce to the basics of the auction process and provide you with a valuable checklist for the most common of auction items and possibly the reason that you purchased this guide, the vehicle. Vehicle auctions are happening all over the country all the time! With this knowledge and a little time spent “figuring out” the auction process, you will be able to purchase a late-model truck or car for pennies on the dollar. Or maybe even a new stereo or computer for a fraction of the cost of what people who are “not in the know” are paying in retail stores. So sit back, relax and enjoy as you learn what can be a very cost saving and possibly even lucrative way to purchase valuable items WAY BELOW MARKET VALUE!!! Success at auctions depends on you. As in everything, the more information you have, the more likely you are to get the best deals and outperform the other auction goers. Before attending an auction, learn as much about auctions as you can. Study the brochures that are sent to you. It is also recommended that you call and find out about important facts like: What type of auction is being held? What forms of payment can be used at the auction? Is it being held indoors or outdoors? In fact, some auction-goers find that they get their best deals during foul weather because there is no competition! Another great thing to do is to ask as many questions as you can while you are at the auctions. There are a lot of people that make their living simply buying at auctions and selling those items at their own store or even at other auctions. These are auction professionals and they often have a wealth of information that there are willing to share just because someone is listening. So do not be afraid to ask questions. Even when the auction is over there is still more to learn. A good idea is to try to get a “high-bid list” which will tell you what prices were paid for what items so next time you will know. They may list prices such as these: • 1991 Ford Escort - $700 • 1993 Chevy Blazer - $950 • 1988 Toyota Corolla - $300 Or they may even list other items that you hadn't thought about but would love to own! Any hey, at the prices that you will be finding, you can afford such luxury items as possibly: • 15 ft. Boston Whaler - $180 • 1987 Snowmobile - $95 • 166 MHz Computer - $120 And don't be surprised when family members and neighbors start asking you how you can possibly afford these items while they can barely find the money to put food on the table at the ridiculous retail prices that they are paying for cars and trucks and computers and electronics. Extreme bargains such as these are not uncommon when you put forth the effort and time in learning to become an auction professional. All the valuable insight and handy tips start here in this auction catalog. Its a good idea to take notes in this book and even highlight those sections that you think will have value later on. Also, you might want to take this book with you to the auctions. Last, don't forget to have fun at the auctions. The challenge and the excitement is often enough to keep auction-goers going back again and again. AUCTION TERMINOLOGY To prosper at the auctions it is necessary to know some key terms that are used. Auctions generally fall under four different categories: Absolute Auctions - These are the famed auctions where you can buy items for close to nothing!!! There is absolutely no minimum bid. Dealer Auctions - These are auctions where only dealers are allowed. Unfortunately they are not open to the public. The prices are absolutely incredible, so it may be worth it to find out what it takes to become a dealer in your state in order to reap the tremendous benefits. Internet Auctions - If you are connected to the Internet or the World Wide Web (WWW) these may be a great way to purchase items. Often the bidding is done in “real-time” over the WWW on your computer. Although they have only been around for a little bit, they have seen tremendous growth as a way to buy all sorts of goods. The technology is new though and only time will tell whether they are a dependable way to attend auctions. Public Auctions - These are the auctions that you see in the movies. They are open auctions with auctioneers who lead the bidding. “$1, $2, $5, going once, going twice, sold.” At these auctions there is usually a minimum bid and the price keeps going up as long as someone is willing to raise their bidding paddle for it. The auctioneers goal is to sell the item at the highest price they can get. And it is your goal to get it at the lowest and to know when to stop bidding. When you register at the beginning of an auction you will usually be given a bidding paddle or card to hold up. You will be responsible for paying the price that you agreed to during the auction so don't get too caught up in the heat of the excitement and overbid. Sealed Bid Auctions - In these auctions, you don't even have to leave your house to purchase great items. After receiving a catalog or brochure on the items that are to be auctioned off, you simply fill out a form to place your bid. You mail your bid with a deposit on the item, depending on the rules of the auction, before the due date and if you are the winner you will be notified of your exciting purchase. Or if you were outbid then your deposit will be swiftly returned. Spot Bid Auctions - These are sort of a combination between a public auction and a sealed bid auction. When you go to the auction, you will register and receive a bidding form. After an inspection or a showing of the item you are interested, you then write your bid on the form and then turn it in. When the auction staff finish sorting through the submitted bids, the winner is announced. When you read announcements or receive brochures you may come across the following terms: “as-is, where-is” - Almost all auction property is sold without warrantees or guarantees whatsoever. Also, it is most likely the responsibility of the auction-goers to move their newly purchased items as soon as possible. Usually the same day. As an auction-goers it is your responsibility to fully inspect anything that you intend to buy and possibly even bring a professional, such as a mechanic or friend to help you. Lot - Often times you will find items sold off in lots. This means that there are most likely ten or more items, either of the same item or even ten or more different items. This can be the source for some incredible values. Especially if you have a means of selling the excess items that you don't want or need. Preview Period - This is an important time in any auction. In order to get the best possible deal for the best possible price, it is imperative that you attend the preview period, if there is one. And there usually is. It is here that you can inspect the vehicles or items that you are interested in. Sometimes it is in the morning just before the bidding is going to start. Other times it may even be a few days ahead. Usually the preview period is listed in the brochure. But please make sure you attend these, so that you don't come home disappointed. Seized Property - These items are seized for various reasons. Some are from drug dealers and the like, but most are from people or businesses that have failed to properly take care of their debts and the items are confiscated and stored to be sold at auctions. You can often find luxury items in perfect shape at seized property auctions. Surplus Property - This is where you will usually find a “lot” as discussed earlier. When an agency or institution, or even individual has extra property that they no longer want or need, it is often sold off as surplus property. Why not? Especially if the items are taking up space that could used for something else. As explained earlier, one of the most important aspects in a successful auction purchase is information. In today's information based society,y you should find it easy to locate valuable information that will help you. One source for valuable clues to an items worth are books like Kelley Blue Books for automobiles. Or Consumer Reports for practically all retail goods like electronics, etc... When you do attempt to calculate the value of your potential purchase, don't forget to account for wear and tear, look under automobiles for leaks, ask the others what they think about an item. Locating these resources may be as easy as going to the library or even using the internet to “research” your prospects. One thing that beginning auction-goers do, that auction pros NEVER do is overbid. The whole process is very exciting and can sometimes be a mad rush to get something you really want. You want to prevent from getting into a “bidding war” with the other auction-goers. A good idea is to set a price that you will not go over. This price should be calculated by taking into account what you can afford, the price of any repairs that may need to be done on an item, and the overall worth of the item that you want. Don't forget to watch what the auction pros are doing. If they are waiting to buy then keep that in mind. Often times the best deals come near the end of an auction, when everyone else has gone home. CAR/TRUCK CHECKLIST Vehicle's Blue Book Value Actual Value Price Paid (High Bid) OUTSIDE Overall appearance: ____________ ____________ Tires (even) ____________ ____________ Fenders ____________ ____________ Chrome trim ____________ ____________ Paint and rust ____________ ____________ Windows (cracks) ____________ ____________ Muffler ____________ ____________ Leaks under car ____________ ____________ INSIDE Overall appearance: ____________ ____________ Upholstery ____________ ____________ Seats ____________ ____________ Seat belts ____________ ____________ Sound system ____________ ____________ Lights and signals ____________ ____________ Door locks ____________ ____________ ENGINE Overall appearance: ____________ ____________ Oil and water ____________ ____________ Battery ____________ ____________ Air filter ____________ ____________ TRUNK Closes and locks ____________ ____________ Spare intact ____________ ____________ 2. U. S. Marshals Service These are great auctions where you are likely to find a wealth of fine luxury items as well as everyday necessities, and practically any late model vehicles. The U.S. Marshals Service auctions off items that are seized in raids and results of criminal prosecutions, among other items. They liquidate the property that is confiscated by the DEA or the FBI or other government agencies. So the results of criminal tax evasion, organized crime, money laundering, drug busts and other illegal activities are items that are auctioned off at amazing prices. You can usually find a wealth of interesting and very valuable items at these auctions and they are well worth going to. Some items you may find are: Luxury Cars Computers Boats Motorcycles Yachts Real Estate Business Equipment Electronics Stereo Systems Fitness Equipment Fine Jewelry Fine Art Commercial Real Estate Sports Cars Speed Boats Livestock Furniture Antiques Aircraft Televisions When Are the US Marshals Auctions The best way to learn when the auctions happen is to call the district office nearest you. You will find a complete list below. Ask to be put on a mailing list for the auctions if they have one. Always try to get on mailing lists. This is the easiest way to always be aware of the next auctions. Some U.S. Marshals offices use an outside agency or company to take care of their auctions. Call up your local U.S. Marshals department and ask for the name and phone number of the outside auction company. Another way the USMS may advertise their auctions is through the local papers. Be sure to check out your paper to get the latest in auction announcements for the USMS and any other auctions in the area. You can also get the National List of Authorized Sellers of Forfeited Property, which is a directory of the USMS auction companies. This can be obtained from the Federal Information Center on the World Wide Web at fic.info.gov or by calling (800) 688-9889. Or by mail at: U.S. Marshals Service National Sellers List 600 Army Navy Dr. Ste. 1090 Arlington, VA 22202-4210 STATE OFFICES ALABAMA U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building Rm. 224 Box Drawer 4249-36104 Montgomery, AL 36104 (205) 223-7726 U.S. Marshals Service 1729 5th Ave. North Rm. 240 Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 731-1712 U.S. Marshals Service US Courthouse 113 St. Joseph St, Rm. 413 Mobile, AL 36601 (205) 690-2900 ALASKA U.S. Marshals Service 222 West 7th Ave. #28 Rm. 189 Anchorage, AK 99513 (907) 271-3505 ARIZONA U.S. Marshals Service 97 E Congress Ste 200 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 620-7026 ARKANSAS U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 6th St. & Rogers Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 (501) 783-5215 CALIFORNIA U.S. Marshals Service U. S. Courthouse 940 Front St. Rm. LLB-71 San Diego, CA 92189 (619) 661-5533 U.S. Marshals Service U. S. Courthouse 312 N Spring St. Rm. G-23 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 894-2485 U.S. Marshals Service U. S. Courthouse 450 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 556-3930 COLORADO U.S. Marshals Service 1929 Strout St. Rm. C-324 Denver, CO 80294 (303) 844-2801 CONNECTICUT U.S. Marshals Service 141 Church St. New Haven, CT 06510 (203) 773-2107 WASHINGTON DC U.S. Marshals Service 600 Army Navy Dr Arlington, VA 22202 (202) 307-9100 DELAWARE U.S. Marshals Service 844 King St. Rm. 4311 Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 573-6176 FLORIDA U.S. Marshals Service Federal Courthouse Sq. 301 N Miami Ave Rm. 205 Miami, FL 33128 (305) 536-5346 GEORGIA U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 75 Spring SW Rm. 1669 Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 730-9252 U.S. Marshals Service 125 Bull St Rm. 333 Savannah, GA 31412 (912) 652-4212 U.S. Marshals Service 3rd & Mulberry Rm. 101 Macon, GA 31202 (912) 752-8280 GUAM U.S. Marshals Service 507 Pacific News Building Box 3396 Agana, Guam 96910 011-671-472-7351 HAWAII U.S. Marshals Service 300 Ala Moana Blvd Box 50184 Rm. C103 Honolulu, HI 96850 (808) 541-3610 IDAHO U.S. Marshals Service 550 W Fort St. Rm. 777 Boise, ID 83724 (208) 334-1298 ILLINOIS U.S. Marshals Service 219 S Dearborn St. Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 353-0101 U.S. Marshals Service 750 Missouri Ave. Rm. 27 East St. Louis, IL 62201 (618) 482-9137 U.S. Marshals Service 6th & Monroe Rm. 333 Box 156-6271 Springfield, IL 62701 (217) 492-4226 INDIANA U.S. Marshals Service 204 S Main St Rm. 233 South Bend, IN 46601 (219) 236-8291 U.S. Marshals Service U. S, Courthouse 46 E Ohio St Rm. 227 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 226-5496 IOWA U.S. Marshals Service 101 1st St SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 (319) 362-4411 U.S. Marshals Service E 1st & Walnut Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 284-6240 KANSAS U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 444 SE Quincy Rm. 456 Topeka, KS 66683 (913) 295-2775 KENTUCKY U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building Rm. 162 Barr & Limestone Box 30-40501 Lexington, KY 40507 (606) 233-2513 U.S. Marshals Service 601 Broadway Rm. 114 Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 582-5141 LOUISIANA U.S. Marshals Service U. S. Courthouse 500 Camp St Rm. C 60 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 589-3605 U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 300 Fanning St Suite 1202 Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 676-4200 MAINE U.S. Marshals Service 1 City Center 1st Fl Portland, ME 04101 (207) 780-3355 MARYLAND U.S. Marshals Service 101 W Lombard St Rm. 683 Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 962-2220 MASSACHUSETTS U.S. Marshals Service Congress & Water Boston, MA 02109 (617) 223-9721 MICHIGAN U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 231 W Lafayette St Detroit, MI 48226 (313) 226-2801 U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 110 Michigan Ave. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 456-2455 MINNESOTA U.S. Marshals Service 110 S 4th St Rm. 574 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 348-1955 MISSISSIPPI U.S. Marshals Service 245 E Capitol St Rm. 308 Jackson, MS 39205 (601) 965-4444 MISSOURI U.S. Marshals Service 1114 Market St Rm. 108 St. Louis, MO 63101 (314) 539-2212 U.S. Marshals Service 811 Grand Ave. Rm. 509 Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 426-3521 MONTANA U.S. Marshals Service 316 N 26th St Box 1436 Billings, MT 59103 (406) 247-7030 NEBRASKA U.S. Marshals Service 215 N 17th Rm. 8121 Omaha, NE 68102 (402) 221-4781 NEVADA U.S. Marshals Service 300 Las Vegas Blvd S Rm. 4240 Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 388-6952 NEW HAMPSHIRE U.S. Marshals Service 55 Pleasant St Rm. 409 Concord, NH 03301 (603) 225-1632 NEW JERSEY U.S. Marshals Service 500 US Courthouse Newark, NJ 07101 (201) 645-2197 NEW MEXICO U.S. Marshals Service Albuquerque, NM 87103 (505) 766-2933 NEW YORK U.S. Marshals Service 500 Pearl St Ste. 400 New York, NY 10007 (212) 791-1100 U.S. Marshals Service 225 Cadman Plaza E Rm. 172 Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 330-7493 U.S. Marshals Service 68 Court St Rm. 129 Buffalo, NY 14202 (716) 846-4851 U.S. Marshals Service 10 Broad St Rm. 213 Utica, NY 13501 (315) 732-2123 NORTH CAROLINA U.S. Marshals Service 310 New Bern Ave. Rm. 550 Raleigh, NC 27611 (919) 856-4154 U.S. Marshals Service 324 W Market St Rm. 234 Greensboro, NC 27401 (910) 333-5262 U.S. Marshals Service U. S. P. O. Box 710 Asheville, NC 28802 (704) 271-4651 NORTH DAKOTA U.S. Marshals Service 655 1st Ave N Rm. 115 Fargo, ND 58102 (513) 684-3594 OHIO U.S. Marshals Service U.S.P.O & Courthouse 100 E 5th St Rm. 815 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 684-3594 U.S. Marshals ServiceMS 201 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 522-2150 OKLAHOMA U.S. Marshals Service New Federal Building 200 NW 4th St Rm. 2418 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 231-4206 U.S. Marshals Service 333 W 4th St Rm. 4557 Tulsa, OK 74102 (918) 581-7738 U.S. Marshals Service P.O. Box 738 Muskogee, OK 74402 (918) 687-2523 OREGON U.S. Marshals Service 620 SW Main St Rm. 433 Portland, OR 97205 (503) 326-7813 PENNSYLVANIA U.S. Marshals Service 7th & Grant Rm. 539 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 644-3351 U.S. Marshals Service Washington & Linden St Box #10 Rm. 231 Scranton, PA 18503 (717) 346-7277 U.S. Marshals Service U. S. Courthouse 601 Market St Rm. 2110 Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 597-7272 PUERTO RICO U.S. Marshals Service U. S. Courthouse Box 3748 San Juan, PR 00902 (809) 766-6000 RHODE ISLAND U.S. Marshals Service Kennedy Plaza Box 1524 Providence, RI 02901 (401) 528-5300 SOUTH CAROLINA U.S. Marshals Service 1845 Assembly St Rm. B 31 Box 1524 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765-5821 SOUTH DAKOTA U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building Rm. 216 400 S Phillips Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57102 (605) 330-4351 TENNESSEE U.S. Marshals Service Main & Walnut Rm. 201 Knoxville, TN 37902 (615) 736-5417 TEXAS U.S. Marshals Service 515 Rusk Ave. Rm. 10103 Houston, TX 77208 (713) 229-2806 U.S. Marshals Service 655 E Durango Blvd Rm. 235 San Antonio, TX 78206 (210) 229-2806 U.S. Marshals Service 211 W Ferguson St Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 592-8216 U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building 1100 Commerce St Dallas, TX 77208 (713) 229-2806 UTAH U.S. Marshals Service 350 S Main St Rm. B-20 Salt Lake City, UT 84110 (801) 524-5693 VERMONT U.S. Marshals Service Elmwood & Pearl Rm. 621 Burlington, VT 05402 (802) 951-6271 VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. Marshals Service Veterans Dr Rm. 371 Box 9018-00901 St. Thomas, VI 00801 (809) 774-2743 VIRGINIA U.S. Marshals Service Roanoke Federal Building Rm. 247 210 Franklin Rd SW Roanoke, VA 24009 (703) 857-2230 WASHINGTON U.S. Marshals Service 1010 5th Ave Rm. 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 553-6821 U.S. Marshals Service West 920 Riverside Ave. Spokane, WA 99210 (509) 353-2781 WISCONSIN U.S. Marshals Service Federal Building Ste. 38 517 E Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 297-3707 U.S. Marshals Service Federal Courthouse 120 Henry St Rm. 440 Madison, WI 53703 (608) 264-5198 WEST VIRGINIA U.S. Marshals Service 500 Quarrier St Rm. 4302 Charleston, WV 25301 (304) 347-5136 WYOMING Joseph C O'Mahoney Federal Center 2120 Capitol Ave. Rm. 2124 Cheyenne, WY 82001 (307) 772-2196 3. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) We all know about the IRS when tax time comes, but what we don't often realize are the consequences of cheating on our taxes. When the IRS performs a tax audit on a person or a company and they find infringements of the law, they have the right to seize all the assets of the tax violators. If the proper payments are not met or the person or company is unable to come up with the money that they owe, then the IRS will sell off the merchandise that was seized. While we all try to pay our taxes correctly and on time, there are those out there that are not always willing to pay their due. These people come from all walks of life, resulting in what is probably the widest variety of items sold at auctions, at a mere fraction of the item's worth! These auctions come highly recommended from the auction pros that we deal with. Some of the wide variety of items found at these great auctions: Luxury Cars Computers Boats Motorcycles Yachts Real Estate Business Equipment Electronics Stereo Systems Fitness Equipment Fine Jewelry Fine Art Commercial Real Estate Sports Cars Speed Boats Livestock Furniture Antiques Aircraft Televisions There are a couple avenues to finding out when and where these important auctions are. The best way to start is to call the Hotline number for the IRS in D.C. This number is 1-800-892-1040. This will then direct you to the hotline number that deals with your area of the country. If your region has one, they should also be able to send you a Bidder's List which will tell you all the important information to lead you to a successful auction purchase. They will tell you the time, place, location, local number and often even the items that will be for sale at the auctions. You may even be able to get a list of all the items through the local hotline numbers. If you own or have access to a fax machine you can even use the fax-on-demand services if available in your region. IRS Information For Your Region: CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, UPSTATE NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Andover, MA 05501 Augusta, ME (207) 626-9140 Boston, MA (617) 536- 1040 Portsmouth, NH (603) 433-0571 Providence, RI (401) 528-4152 SOUTHERN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Holtsville, NY Brooklyn, NY (718) 488-2717 DELAWARE, WASHINGTON DC, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AMERICAN SAMOA,PUERTO RICO Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Philadelphia, PA 19255 Baltimore, MD (410) 962-2590 Philadelphia, PA (215) 597-4030 or (215) 597-4036 ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Memphis, TN 37501 Little Rock, AR (501) 324-5967 FLORIDA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Atlanta, GA 39901 Jacksonville, FL (904) 354-1760 Atlanta, GA (800) 829-9348 INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Cincinnati, OH 45999 Indianapolis, IN (317) 226-5946 Cincinnati, OH (513) 684-2514 Cleveland, OH (216) 522-7902 ILLINOIS, IOWA, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Kansas City, MO 64999 Chicago, IL (312) 435-1040 Des Moines, IA (515) 284-4434 St. Paul, MN (612) 290-4042 Milwaukee, WI (414) 297-1292 KANSAS, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Austin, TX 73301 Dallas, TX (214) 767-1386 Houston, TX (713) 541-0440 ALASKA, ARIZONA, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, IDAHO, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NORTH DAKOTA,OREGON, UTAH, WASHINGTON, WYOMING Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Ogden, UT 84201 Anchorage, AK (907) 271-6392 Sacramento, CA (916) 974-5923 San Francisco, CA (415) 556-5021 San Jose, CA (408) 494-8500 Boise, ID (208) 334-1360 Las Vegas, NV (702) 455-1034 Portland, OR (503) 326-7840 Seattle, WA (206) 220-5461 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, HAWAII Attention: Collections Internal Revenue Service Center Fresno, CA 93888 Los Angeles, CA (213) 894-5777 Honolulu, HI (808) 541-1104 GUAM Attention: Collections Department of Revenue and Taxation Government of Guam Mariner Ave Tiyjan Barrigada, GU 96913 VIRGIN ISLANDS Attention: Collections Virgin Islands Bureau of IRS 9601 Estate Thomas St. Thomas, VI 00802 The IRS auction times do not occur regularly because they wait until they have too many items to fill their vast storerooms. Then they schedule auctions to liquidate the merchandise and gain space for the next round of seizures. So keep a sharp lookout in your local papers, call the hotline regularly and check your mail for bidding lists, because you don't want to miss out on the tremendous deals available at these auctions. When you do find out the time and the place, the revenue officer or one of their representatives should inform you which items will be auctioned off live and which will be sold by sealed bid. If there is real estate, a great way to purchase fantastic homes, it will usually be sold off by sealed bid. You may be required to fill out form 2222 for the IRS, so don't forget to ask when you call about the auctions. And when calling about the live auctions, you may need to register in order to receive your bidding number and place your bids. A good idea is to ask as many questions as you can about any of the real estate that you may be planning to buy. Ask especially if there are liens on the property or housing. You don't want any complications down the road when you purchase residential or commercial real estate. Also, as with any auction, don't forget to ask what forms of payment they accept. Most IRS auctions accept cash and money order. 4. State Surplus If you are trying to furnish a new office or are interested in the well maintained government “fleet” vehicles, then the State Surplus Agency auctions may be the ones for you. The State Surplus auctions liquidate the state government property that is in excess or that has overlapsed its use period. For instance, state government “fleet” vehicles are usually retired after five years. This does not mean that they are over-used. In fact, sometimes the vehicles that get liquidated are practically unused and others are extremely well maintained. A bulk of the items at these auctions are just what you would expect. Anything that you would imagine being in a government office. You could find computers, desks, filing cabinets, supplies, typewriters, copiers, printers, servers, parts, office buildings, trailers, projectors, monitors. These are among the wide variety of great items available. Often times this is where used office supply stores buy some of their merchandise and resell it to the public at huge profits. You might even find that you too can make a handsome profit if you choose to resell items such as these to your work. Finding Information on State Surplus Auctions These auctions are run separately by each state, so you must find out the schedules for your state. Or if they are close, even the states next to yours. Don't forget, the more auctions you go to, the closer you become to joining the legions of the auction pros. Obviously, the best way to find out about the auctions is to call the numbers listed later in this chapter in order to find out how and when the auctions are held in your state. Never underestimate the power of the telephone. If you make friends with the auction representatives you may just find out some real insider's tips. These are the secrets of the true auction pros. Use them! But never, never abuse them!!! Your state may have the convenient feature of sending out mailing lists that they can put you on. That way you can just sit at home and the flyers will be delivered straight to your mail box. Sit down and check these things out carefully. They may even send a catalog detailing all of the items that are planned to be auctioned off. Not all states hold their own auctions. your state may use the services of an experienced auction company to liquidate their wares. Contact these people and get the full details. You will be glad you did. As always, its also a good idea to check your local newspaper for up and coming auction sales. Get in the habit of looking in the auction sections daily, or at the least every Sunday. You will not be disappointed. State Surplus Auction Format There is no consistent basis at which State Surplus auctions are held. So be sure to check with your local branch as listed later in this chapter. Some may be every few weeks while others may be twice or three times a year. Go regularly if you can and get to know the format. Experience and perseverance go a long way towards winning the major scores at these auctions. Be sure to ask if there are stores that sell the items that don't get auctioned off. But it is questionable whether or not you will get as good a price as you would at the actual live or sealed bid auctions. Be prepared for either a live bid or a sealed bid auction. At the public open-bidding auctions, be sure to bring a state ID in order to obtain the bidding number that you will need to make bids. And always find out when the preview periods for the auctions are held. Auction pros never miss the preview period. Being unprepared for the bidding a sure sign of an auction novice (known as a “greenhorn” among the auction elite.) ALABAMA PO Box 210487 Montgomery, AL 36121 (205) 277-5866 ALASKA 2400 Viking Dr Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 465-2172 ARIZONA 1537 W Jackson St Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 542-5701 ARKANSAS Marketing and Redistribution 6620 Young Rd Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 565-8645 CALIFORNIA 1416 10th St (916) 421-0285 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 657-1218 COLORADO State Fleet Management 1001 E 62nd Ave Denver, CO 80216 (303) 657-1218 CONNECTICUT P.O. Box 29017 Wethersfield, CT 06129 (203) 566-7018 DELAWARE Division of Purchasing P.O. Box 299 Delaware City, DE 19706 (302) 834-7081 WASHINGTON DC 2000 Adams Place NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 767-7586 FLORIDA Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Watercraft 2737 Centerview Dr Ste 110 Tallahassee, FL 32304 (904) 488-5178 GEORGIA 1050 Murphy Ave. Atlanta, GA 30310 (404) 756-4800 HAWAII Hotline (808) 527-6789 Office (808) 523-4874 IDAHO Bureau of Supplies 801 Reserve St Boise, ID 83712 (208) 377-6633 ILLINOIS Division of Property Control 3550 Great Northern Ave. Springfield, IL 62707 (217) 785-6903 INDIANA 1401 Millburn St Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-0134 IOWA State Vehicle Dispatcher 301 E 7th Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-5121 KANSAS P.O. Box 19226 Topeka, KS 66619 (913) 296-2334 KENTUCKY 514 Barrett Ave. Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-4836 LOUISIANA Property Assistance Agency 1059 Brickyard Ln Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (504) 342-6849 MAINE Station 95 Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 287-5750 MARYLAND P.O. Box 1039 Jessup, MD 20794 (410) 799-0440 MASSACHUSETTS 1 Ashburton Pl Boston, MA 02108 (617) 727-7500 MICHIGAN 3353 Martin Luther King Blvd Lansing, MI 48913 (517) 335-8444 MINNESOTA 5420 Highway 8 (612) 639-4024 Arden Hills, MN 55112 (800) 296-1056 MISSISSIPPI P.O. Box 5778 (601) 987-1453 Jackson, MS 39288 (601) 939-2050 MISSOURI 117 N Riverside Dr Jefferson City, MO 65102 (314) 751-3415 MONTANA Property Supply Bureau 930 Lyndale Ave Helena, MT 59620 (406) 444-4514 NEBRASKA P.O. Box 94901 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 479-4890 NEVADA Purchasing Division 209 E Musser Rm. 304 Carson City, NV 89710 (702) 687-4070 NEW HAMPSHIRE 78 Regional Dr Building 3 Concord, NH 03301 (603) 271-2126 NEW JERSEY Property Division Center 1620 Stuyvesant Ave Trenton, NJ 08628 (609) 530-3300 NEW MEXICO Transportation Department P.O. Box 1149 Santa Fe, NM 87504 (505) 827-5587 NEW YORK State Office Campus Building 18 Albany, NY 12226 (518) 457-6335 NORTH CAROLINA P.O. Box 33900 Raleigh, NC 27636 (919) 733-3889 NORTH DAKOTA P.O. Box 7293 (701) 328-2543 Bismarck, ND 58507 (701) 224-2273 OHIO State and Federal Supplies 4200 Surface Rd Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 466-5052 OKLAHOMA Central Purchasing (405)521-2126 State Capitol (405) 521-3835 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 521-2129 OREGON 1655 Salem Industrial Dr NE Salem, OR 97310 (503) 378-4714 PENNSYLVANIA Bureau of Vehicle Management 2221 Foster St (717) 787-4083 Harrisburg, PA 17105 (717) 783-3132 RHODE ISLAND Division of Purchasing 1 Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 (401) 277-2375 SOUTH CAROLINA 1411 Boston Ave. West Columbia, SC 29169 (803) 739-5490 SOUTH DAKOTA State Property Management 701 E Sioux Ave. Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 773-4935 TENNESSEE 6500 Centennial Blvd Nashville, TN 37209 (615) 741-1711 TEXAS P.O. Box 13047 Capitol Station Austin, TX 78711 (512) 463-3445 UTAH 522 S 700 W Salt Lake City, UT 84014 (801) 533-5885 VERMONT Central Surplus RD 2 Box 520 Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 828-3393 VIRGINIA P.O. Box 1199 Richmond, VA 23209 (804) 236-3666 WASHINGTON 2805 C St SW Building 5 Door 49 Auburn, WA 98001 (206) 931-3931 WEST VIRGINIA 2700 Charles Ave Dunbar, WV 25064 (304) 348-3456 WISCONSIN P.O. Box 7880 (608) 266-3965 Madison, WI 53708 (608) 266-8024 WYOMING State Motor Pool 723 W 19th St Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7247 5. Local Police Auctions We've all heard of the famed local police auctions. That's where the famous “Blues Brothers” in the movie of the same name scored the high-powered “Bluesmobile” which was an auctioned off Mount Prospect Police car. Your local police may have a large amount of items to auction off, or not, depending on their policy. They gain these items for innumerable reasons. Sometimes from lost items that were never reclaimed, others are items they seized from criminals. Depending on their policies, when items are not claimed after a certain amount of time, they will liquidate them at ridiculously low costs in order to free up storage space for new items. And as a wise and persistent auction goer, you will be the one to benefit from the often ludicrously low prices. As you may guess, since a lot of these items are just lost items, they could practically consist of almost anything you could imagine. Even a lost elephant has been rumored to show at one of these auctions. Unconfirmed of course. But you never know, which often results in auction pros calling these the most exciting and wild of the auction circuit. If you are looking for bicycles, these are a great place to go. Especially the auctions at the local college or university police stations. Finding Out When and Where Since there are practically an infinite amount of police stations, sometimes even several per city, the best way is to simply call your local police stations and ask if they have a property division. They will usually inform you as to the policies that they follow regarding lost and seized goods. Ask if they have a mailing list that they can put you on or a hotline number that you can call. They may even use a local auction company to do their auctioning for them. Find out and be prepared for fantastic deals! Police auctions are open to the public and the size of the local population and the size of the territory will usually dictate how often the auctions are held. Sometimes these auctions will be a little unorganized, but the auction pro will assess the situation and always come out ahead. If your local police auction is not well run, learn to use this to your advantage. One thing that surprises some auction goers is that often the vehicles that they are auctioning off do not have keys. This makes starting the cars very difficult and may become a problem because when you purchase at auctions, you are responsible for removing the items off the lot often the same day that you bought the merchandise. So be prepared. Auction pros always have a handy tool kit in their car and always have the numbers to a few local tow truck companies that they can trust for quick action!!! Auction pros always prevail, ALWAYS!!! Due to the immeasurable number of police entities in the United States it would not be within the scope of this book to list every single one. So the best way to get in contact with your local station would be the phone book or information from your phone company. Don't forget to ask if they have a property section that deals with the auctions. 6. County Sheriff Office County Sheriffs' jurisdictions are usually larger than the local City Police's but the items at the Sheriff's auctions are generally similar to those at the police auctions due to the similar circumstances which result in the seizures, etc... Lost property is also a large part of the County Sheriff auction's bounty. So be prepared for great deals on a large variety of items. They are just like the City Police auctions but most of the time they are bigger. County Sheriffs' auctions may be some of the hardest to find out about so it is best to keep well aware and updated or else you may miss the tremendous values presented. They tend not to advertise like public auction companies because their budgets are not as vast. They simply want to get rid of the items. As with the City Police auctions you are likely to find almost anything. Some of the items that you may see include: Luxury Cars Computers Boats Motorcycles Yachts Real Estate Business Equipment Electronics Stereo Systems Fitness Equipment Fine Jewelry Fine Art Commercial Real Estate Sports Cars Speed Boats Livestock Furniture Antiques Aircraft Televisions Finding Out About The County Sheriff Auctions Of course the most expedient way to find out where these amazing auctions will be held is by calling the Sheriff Office directly. Just make sure you are friendly and patient. Remember auctions aren't their only job. They are out there protecting the citizens and keeping the county safe for their important auction customers like yourself. Find out if they have a properties division or supervisor that deals directly with the liquidation of the merchandise. A little known tactic used by auction pros is to check with your local county courthouse, if the Sheriff Department is producing no leads. And on the day of the auction, always be prepared. Go to the preview period, find out about accepted forms of payment, and pre-arrange any transportation needs ahead of time. 7. U. S. Postal Service As our nations premier mail service, the U. S. Postal Service deals with an incredible amount of packages every day. Although they try their hardest, there are still plenty of times when a package is sent to the wrong address and returned to the Post Office. Or other times, when no one claims the packages, or is no longer interested in the contents. The U. S. Postal Service holds on to these goods and when they eventually fill up the storage space, the USPS has to make way for the new delinquent packages. When they decide to liquidate the merchandise, they sell them through Regional Mail Recovery Centers. It is these packages, often times brand new merchandise worth thousands, that get sold off at ridiculous prices. And that is where you can make off like a bandit with deals that would make even the most determined, penny-pinching sticklers green with envy. An incredible way to buy brand new items at an amazingly low price! Usually there is so much merchandise at these things that you must purchase them in large groups (lots). This is a great way to get items that you can easily resell at other auctions, swap meets, pawn shops, or even at your own retail store, should you be so savvy! The only problem lies in the lack of a thorough preview period for most of these auctions. But the sheer volume of savage deals usually makes up for this!!! You might find: Computers Business Equipment Electronics Cannonballs Choad Skinners Fitness Equipment Pud Rakes Fine Art Furniture Antiques Televisions Petrified Feces Merkins Kiegel Stations The only people that don't benefit from these enchanting auctions are the U. S. Postal workers themselves. They are not allowed at these auctions. These auctions tent to be free of charge. Be prepared for some heated bidding. When you see an item you like, watch and listen carefully. Make a reasonable bid on the item and hope that no one else wants it. Raise your paddle and be prepared to pay that amount if you win the bidding. A common slogan among the auction elite is “Don't get bit by auction fever!” As you will find out, its easy to get carried away and bid above your budget. Its always wise to set a limit and to not go above it. Find out who is organizing the auctions and get all the details. Often, if it is really organized, you might be able to get a catalog sent to you or on the morning of the auction. They usually cost a small fee, but it can be worth it because you can take notes. A good idea is to mark off what the items end up going for. Make your own high-bid list. That way you will have some idea of how little items are going for and you can watch and learn from the pros. Also, during the USPS preview period you should be able to examine the merchandise closely. While you are there don't forget to network with other auction goers. They will probably know about all the other great auctions in your area and are always eager to chat about auction lore. (See the auction legends chapter later in the book.) Also, make sure you are put on the mailing list for the upcoming USPS auctions. Get on all the USPS mailing lists and check out ALL the great deals. The Mail Recovery Centers around the nation are: Atlanta Mail Recovery Center 5345 Fulton Industrial Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30336-2400 (404) 344-1625 San Francisco Mail Recovery Center 228 Harrison St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-1826 Philadelphia Mail Recovery Center 2970 Market St. Room 531A Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 895-8140 St. Paul Mail Recovery Center 443 E Harrison St. St. Paul, MN 55107 (612) 293-3082 Some auction goers only go the USPS auctions because the merchandise is usually brand new. Its like going to a department store and paying a mere fraction of the price. Once you attend them, you too may be hooked! There may also be auctions for your local Post Office. Ask your mail person, or call the post office and check. Some do and some don't. You can also inquire about where to purchase those wonderful mail trucks after they have been retired. They are absolutely perfect for towing behind a motorhome for those great family vacations. Ask the phone number for the Postal Service Vehicle Maintenance Facility and give them a call. These vehicles are usually very well maintained. 8. The GSA (General Services Administration) General Services Administration auctions are usually filled with used and excess goods from all the government agencies. Along with all this merchandise you can sometimes find seized and confiscated items from the DEA, CIA, FBI, IRS and other arms of the government. You will have to call to find out which agencies they come from. They are also known for their foreclosed and excess real estate deals. A fantastic place to get homes. The General Services Administration has regional offices all over the United States. The auctions are usually advertised in the big newspapers but as always, call your local branch and ask if there is a mailing list. Also check out the web site at www.gsa.gov The amount of items that appear at these auctions varies greatly. It is very common to find a huge load of government vehicles for sale. Due to strict regulations these vehicles are very well taken care of and also must be retired after about 5 years of usage or 60,000 miles. You will most likely be able to get in the vehicles, examine the engines, and start them up. But you will not be able to drive them around. That's where it may be handy to bring a mechanic friend or someone who has a knack for vehicular analysis. But usually you can be sure that these are great vehicles. If you are lucky they have been repainted before being sold off. They can include Suburbans, Caprice Classics, K-Cars and other fantastic models. If you are looking to supply an office, you should find a ton of used office supplies. Or possibly a healthy load of computer products. Make sure to find out ahead of time, if there is something specific that you are looking for. But rest assured that even if you don't have something particular you need, you are going to find a great many exciting purchases at ridiculous prices. Check out the GSA in your region. Get on that mailing list! GSA mailing lists are available for all the regions. Call the hotline or your local office. The offices listed later in this chapter represent the Regional Offices. Do not assume that that is where the auctions are held. They represent a strategic grouping of the local states. Most likely there will be auctions at least in your state or even in your city!!! After you call the hotlines, you will hear a recording. You can leave your name and address if they have a message machine. Once you are on the mailing lists they will send you fliers in the mail detailing the whens and wheres. On most, there is a number that you can call and get the catalog for that particular auction in order to find out the items that they are offering. REGION ONE Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 2 FBP-1 10 Causeway Boston, MA 02222-1076 Hotline (617) 565-7326 Mailing List (617) 565-7319 REGION TWO New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 20-112 New York, NY 10278 (212) 264-2626 Hotline (800) 565-7319 REGION THREE Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions The Wanamaker Building PO Box 40657 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3396 (215) 656-3933 REGION FOUR Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 401 W. Peach Tree St. Suite 2602 Atlanta, GA 30365-2550 (404) 331-5177 Florida (305) 594-5768 REGION FIVE Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions MS 34-5, Rm. 3430-A 230 South Dearborn St. Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 353-0246 REGION SIX Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 4400 College Blvd 6FPB, Suite 175 Overland Park, KS 66211 (816) 823-3700 Hotline (816) 823-3714 REGION SEVEN Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 819 Taylor St. Rm. 6A-12 Fort Worth, TX 76102-6105 (817) 978-2321 REGION EIGHT Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions Denver Federal Center, Building 41 PO Box 25506 Denver, CO 80225-0506 (303) 236-7702 REGION NINE America Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions Property Management Division 450 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 522-2891 REGION TEN Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 400 15th St. SW, Rm. 1478 Auburn, WA 98001 (206) 931-7566 or (206) 351-0330 CAPITOL REGION DC and vicinity GSA Surplus Sales and Auctions 6808 Loisdale Rd Springfield, VA 22150 (703) 557-7785 or (703) 557-7796 9. DRMO Offices The Defense Reutilization Marketing Office (DRMO) specializes in liquidating surplus products, mostly from the military. This is where you will find the same items that are sold at all the Army Navy surplus stores all over the country. They also have other defense related items like vehicles and office supplies. The army needs standard civilian items too. Don't expect though to find guns and grenades and other deadlier items. Often times these auctions are held on military bases and you can find fantastic deals on electronics, tools, desks, uniforms, lumber, auto parts, trucks, even heavy machinery like tractors or dump trucks or cranes. All the surplus property from the numerous department of defense agencies is handled by the DRMO. They use three different methods to liquidate the merchandise. It is not uncommon for military bases to have a retail store on the base itself in order to sell excess to the public. Call the DRMO office nearest you, or even look in the phone book and call any military bases in your area. They should be able to direct you. The prices are decent but they are not as good as if you were to use smart bidding techniques at the auctions. The second type of sales are the auctions. These are known as zone sales. This is where the real deals are. You will need some form of identification to get into these. Usually a driver's license or a state ID. Some of the auctions give you as much as five days to remove the items you have won the bidding on. A handy feature if you are not quite sure how you are going to remove your superb purchase. You will not be allowed into these auctions though if you are not over the age of 18 or if you are government employee. Most likely they will be the standard open bid auctions but they may also be sealed bid auctions. As the item goes on the auction block you will be required to fill out a bidding form and if you gave the highest bid then the item(s) is(are) yours!!! Since they often have such a huge quantity of items, clothes and tools and supplies are most likely going to be sold off in lots. Meaning at least ten of the same item. So be careful or you may find yourself with a trunk full of army-green toilet seats. If you just want one of the items it might be better to check out the retail stores but you may be paying a higher price. To get on the mailing list, call or write to: National Sales Office PO Box 5275 DDRC 2163 Airways Blvd. Memphis, TN 38114-5210 1-800-468-8289 www.drms.com 10. The U.S. Customs These are some of the best auctions for the exotic items that you may be wanting to purchase. U.S. Customs officers supervise and control what is imported and exported from and into this country. For certain items or merchandise over a fixed amount, people must pay a duty (import tax) in order to bring the item into the United States. A lot of people are not aware of this and are not prepared to pay it. Or other times, the items are not worth the amount that it costs to import them and they just leave them with the customs agents. When the U.S. Customs' store rooms get so full that they can no longer add to them, then they must sell off what they have to make room for new merchandise. And this is exactly how you can make a killing on fine items that you may have thought you could never afford. Other items you find here can be confiscated goods that have been seized by the IRS, DEA, Secret Service, BATF and other agencies that are involved in this area. Items that have been found: Furs Rubies Exotic Animals Cigarettes Electronics Booze Vehicles Time Pieces Jewelry Diamonds Since some of the items that have been seized are illegal for import into the United States, you may be required to take them out of the country within a certain time period. Be aware of this though it should say so in the brochures that they give you before the auctions. EG&G Dynatrend U.S. Customs uses a private company to organize and run their auctions. This company is EG&G Dynatrend. You need to get a hold of them in order to receive the brochures that give you the low down on the next auctions. Call their Public Auction Line today to find out about the soonest auction in your area. It may be this weekend!!! That automated menu number is (703) 273-7373. Call it now! The only downfall of these great auctions is that the subscription to the mailing list costs around $50 per year. Get together with a couple of friends and split this cost. It can be a good thing though, because it weeds out all the auction goers that are less serious about purchasing these incredible items. Less competition is always good for auctions. It also may be a good idea to ask about a half nation subscription for about $25. You can subscribe over the phone or send them a check. For information call or write: EG&G Dynatrend U.S. Customs Service 2702 Tender Dr. Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 273-7373 As usual go prepared with an ID, cash, and make sure to attend the preview period. Sometimes you don't even have to go to the auctions and can bid by sealed bid through the mail. The U.S. Customs auctions are held in the following places: Every 9 weeks Nogales, AZ Los Angeles, CA Miami, FL Edison, NJ Edinburg, TX El Paso, TX Laredo, TX Every 4 weeks Yuma, AZ Chula Vista, CA 3 times/year San Juan, Puerto Rico 11. The SBA The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the wing of the government that is responsible for assisting in the growth of the small business sector of the United States. Small Businesses are one of the most important parts of the economic health of America. The SBA assists American businesses in several ways. From providing advice and tax help, to giving low interest loans to boost the businesses to success. Unfortunately as business goes, some businesses fail for any number of reasons. When they default on their loans, the SBA must confiscate the office items, commercial property, vehicles and anything else that was put up as collateral in case of an inability to pay back the loan. This is where the SBA gets its items that it needs to liquidate to provide more money for other new businesses. And this is exactly how you can make out like a bandit on the tremendous deals. Check out some of the items that could be available: Copy Machines Laser Printers Pentium II Computers Expensive Desks Telephone Systems Leather Executive Chairs Muscle Cars Motorcycles Sunglasses Pagers Cell Phones Car Stereos Other items... Finding These Auctions It may be difficult to find out about these auctions. But like all auction pros know, this means more goods for less people which results in better prices. The SBA has offices all over the country. Get a hold of the sector nearest you and ask for the Liquidation Chief. They should know exactly all the details that you need to know. Or else they can lead you to the outside company that may be putting on the auction. Ask a lot of questions. And don't forget to ask about a mailing list. You may get lucky! If you know what items you are looking for directly, say you want to start your own meat packing business, you can call the SBA and ask for specific items. They will be happy to get rid of them or they can call you when that type of merchandise becomes available. The prices that you can score in this manner can be stupendous! The SBA is a great resource for those attempting to start their own business. Call the National Electronic Bulletin Board to contact the SBA. If you have a computer or your friend does, use a modem to dial up 1-800-697-4636. If you have any trouble call the SBA office in Washington DC 1-202-205-6400. Or call the SBA Answer Desk during business hours at 1-800-827-5722. You can even try the web page at www.sbaonline.sba.gov SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICES *Denotes regional offices ALABAMA 2121 8th Ave. N Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35203-2398 (205) 731-1344 ALASKA 222 West 8th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99513 (907) 271-4022 ARIZONA 2828 North Central Ave Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 640-2316 ARKANSAS 2120 Riverfront Dr. Little Rock, AR 72202 (501) 324-5278 CALIFORNIA 71 Stevenson St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 975-4859* 211 Main St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 744-6820 2719 North Air Fresno Dr. Fresno, CA 93727 (209) 487-5189 330 North Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91203 (818) 552-3210 660 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 551-1426 880 Front St San Diego, CA 92188 (619) 557-7252 200 W Santa Ana Blvd. #700 Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 550-7420 COLORADO 633 17TH St Denver, CO 80202 (303) 294-7186* 721 19th St Denver, CO 80202 (303) 844-3984 CONNECTICUT 330 Main St. Hartford, CT 06106 (203) 240-4700 DELAWARE 821 N Market St Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 606-6295 WASHINGTON D.C. 1110 Vermont Ave. NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 606-4000 FLORIDA 1320 S Dixie Hwy Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 536-5521 7825 Baymeadows Way Jacksonville, FL 32256 (904) 443-1900 GEORGIA 1375 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30367 (404) 347-2797* 1720 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 347-4749 HAWAII 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96850 (808) 541-2990 IDAHO 1020 Main St. Boise, ID 83702 (208) 334-1696 ILLINOIS 300 S Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 353-5000* 500 W Madison St. Chicago, IL 60661 (312) 353-4528 511 W Capitol Ave Springfield, IL 62704 (217) 492-4416 INDIANA 429 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis, IN 46204-1873 (317) 226-7272 IOWA 215 4th Avenue Rd. SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 (319) 362-6405 210 Walnut St Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 284-4422 KANSAS 100 East English St Wichita, KS 67202 (316) 269-6616 KENTUCKY 600 Dr. Martin Luther King Pl. Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 582-5971 LOUISIANA 365 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 589-6685 MAINE 40 Western Ave. Augusta, ME 04330 (207) 622-0307 MARYLAND 10 S Howard St Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 962-4392 MASSACHUSETTS 10 Causeway St Boston, MA 02222 (617) 565-8415* 1550 Main St. Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 785-0268 MICHIGAN 477 Michigan Ave Detroit, MI 48226 (313) 266-7272 228 W Washington Marquette, MI 49885 (906) 225-1108 MINNESOTA 100 North 6th St Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 370-2324 MISSISSIPPI 101 W. Capitol St. Jackson, MS 39201 (601) 965-4378 1 Hancock Plaza Gulfport, MS 39501 (601) 863-4449 MISSOURI 911 Walnut St Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 426-3608* 323 W 8th St Kansas City, MO 64105 (816) 374-6708 MONTANA 301 S Park Helena, MT 59626 (406) 441-1081 NEBRASKA 11145 Mill Valley Rd Omaha, NE 68154 (402) 221-4691 NEVADA 301 E Stewart St. Las Vegas, NV 89125 (702) 388-6611 NEW HAMPSHIRE 143 N. Main St. Concord, NH 03301 (603) 225-1400 NEW JERSEY 2 Gateway Center, 4th floor Newark, NJ 07102 (201) 645-2454 NEW MEXICO 625 Silver Ave. SW Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 766-1870 NEW YORK 26 Federal Plaza New York, NY 10278 (212) 264-1450* 333 E Water St Elmira, NY 14901 (607) 734-8130 111 W Huron St Buffalo, NY 14202 (716) 846-4301 35 Pinelawn Rd. Melville, NY 14901 (516) 454-0750 100 S Clinton, St Syracuse, NY 13260 (315) 448-0423 100 State St. Rochester, NY 14614 (716) 263-6700 NORTH CAROLINA 200 N College St. Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 344-6563 NORTH DAKOTA 657 2nd Ave N Fargo, ND 58108 (701) 239-5131 OHIO 2 Nation Wide Plaza Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 469-6860 1111 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44144 (216) 522-4180 525 Vine St Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 684-2814 OKLAHOMA 210 Park Ave. Suite 1300 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 231-5521 OREGON 222 SW Columbia St Portland, OR 97201 (503) 326-2682 PENNSYLVANIA 20 N Pennsylvania Ave. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 (717) 826-6497 960 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 644-2780 100 Chestnut St Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 782-3840 RHODE ISLAND 380 Westminster Mall Providence, RI 02903 (410) 528-4561 SOUTH CAROLINA 1835 Assembly St. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765-5377 SOUTH DAKOTA 110 S Phillips Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57102 (605) 330-4231 TENNESSEE 50 Vantage Way Nashville, TN 37228 (615) 736-5881 TEXAS 8625 King George Dr. Dallas, TX 75235 (214) 767-7633* 4300 Amon Carter Blvd Dallas, TX 76155 (817) 885-6500 727 E Durango San Antonio, TX 78206 (210) 299-5900 1611 10th St Lubbock, TX 79401 (806) 743-7462 606 N Carancahua Corpus Christi, TX 78476 (512) 888-3331 222 E Van Buren St Harlingen, TX 78550 (210) 427-8533 10737 Gateway West El Paso, TX 79935 (915) 540-5676 UTAH 125 S State St Salt Lake City, UT 84138 (801) 524-5804 VERMONT 87 State St Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 828-4422 VIRGINIA 400 N 8th St. Richmond, VA 23240 (804) 771-2400 WASHINGTON 1200 6th Ave Suite 1805 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-2872* 1200 6th Ave Suite 1700 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-7310 W 601 1st Ave. Spokane, WA 99204 (509) 353-2800 WEST VIRGINIA 168 W. Main St. Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 623-5631 550 Eagan St Charleston, WV 25301 (304) 347-5220 WISCONSIN 310 W Wisconsin Ave Milwaukee, WI 53203 (414) 297-3941 212 E Washington Ave Madison, WI 53703 (608) 264-5261 WYOMING 100 E B St. Casper, WY 82602 (307) 261-6500 12. Conclusion You should now be very excited to purchase all the fine items you have always wanted, but never thought you could afford. It is possible to live like the rich at a fraction of the cost. Check out the U.S. Customs auctions for fine items. Go to the U.S. Marshals auctions if you want to drive a fancy car that will make all your neighbors jealous. And don't be surprised if everyone starts asking you your money making secrets. Of course, all these goods aren't going to appear at your feet just because you read this auction book. Be prepared to call the phone numbers in this book. Check out the listings that come with this catalog. Put in a little work. That's how you are going to see the biggest returns on your money. And always strive to become an auction pro. Constantly be learning about auctions. Or if you choose, just dabble in them on weekends. Which ever way you go, you are going to be surprised at the amazing deals that appear at these auctions. You may be asking yourself, why doesn't everyone else just buy everything at auctions. The answer is obvious. Information! People just do not know. Sure, auctions are becoming more popular because of the Internet and infomercials. But people still don't know. Get in there and score some great items!!! Keep informed. Call the agencies you are interested in. Take notes. Ask questions. Peruse the auction flyers that arrive in the mail. Talk to your auction friends. Learn. Have fun. And most of all, enjoy the fine purchases that you have made. Be proud of your savvy!!!