[time-nuts] Government Liquidation

Tue Mar 20 06:23:59 EDT 2007

Thanks for the info. I won't be bothering - my time is precious!!

:-))

Rob (in the UK) 

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of Robert Atkinson
Sent: 20 March 2007 09:02
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Government Liquidation

Hi,
Just for any UK lurkers, GL also sell in the UK and I've bought from them.
There are a few issues,
1 Very poor descriptions a photo of a cardboard box doesn't tell yell you
much!
2 Tender only, not an auction, so you really need to know how much you want
to pay. There is no way of knowing what the lot finally sold for unless you
win it. They do have minimums, sometimes listed, sometimes your bid is just
rejected.
3 Viewing is a pain
4 payment and collection deadlines are a pain, all biased to their
convenience.
5 Items "disappear" from lots, if you argue they sometimes reappear,
sometimes not. If you use a collection agent it's a lucky dip.
6 Items get pulled after you spent time and money viewing them.
7 Lot sizes vary from one worthless metal bracket with a £50 minimum to 10
tons of scrap metal with a couple of nice bits of T&M thrown in. Lot
descriptions on size and weight can be inaccurate.

Generally it's hardly worth the bother, I think a few dealers, scrap
merchants and people with time on their hands who are local to the Sale site
do OK but otherwise I think they need to improve the service.

Robert.  

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of Brooke Clarke
Sent: 19 March 2007 17:57
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Government Liquidation

Hi Jason:

I don't recommend GL as a source unless:
1) you understand the exact meaning of the Condition Codes, and
2) you physically go to the location and preview the lot, and
3) you know the product you are looking at, and
4) you have the self control to not get into a bidding war (no sniping, they
just extend the closing time), and
5) you personally pick up the items, and
6) you're willing to gamble that you won't have to return any or all of what
you purchased.

If you fail at any step then there's a chance you'll end up with junk,
something else or nothing.  Maybe they get some of this stuff from a
dumpster.

With diligence it's possible to overcome the first 5 provisos, but the last
one can be a problem.  On more than one occasion GL has mistakenly sold an
item that was not supposed to be sold.  In that case the government (not GL)
comes and get the items.  If they required an End User Certificate then you
are on the hook to account for all items including the contact information
of any buyers.  If  you sold an item your buyer will expect a refund from
you.  You may expect a refund from GL, but how long you wait for it is not
specified.

The same problem exists with eBay.  In my case after purchasing and
receiving a GPS receiver I was contacted by the DOD and they sent a couple
of people to my house to collect the GPS receiver and gave me a receipt.  I
got to sign a chain of evidence form to be used at the trial of the eBay
seller on his way to jail.  I'm out what I paid.  After the trial I'm free
to sue the seller.

Although I'm signed up and have the EUC, I no longer even look at the
auctions with the intent of buying anything.  I do use GL to see what's
being sold.

Have Fun,

Brooke Clarke

w/Java http://www.PRC68.com
w/o Java http://www.pacificsites.com/~brooke/PRC68COM.shtml
http://www.precisionclock.com

Jason Rabel wrote:

>This is kind of on the same topic as the government surplus chit-chat...
>
>Just curious but has anyone bought stuff from the website:
>
>www.govliquidation.com
>
>????
>
>I just started looking at it last night, they have a ton of stuff and 
>right now everything has zero bids. I don't know if people all snipe at 
>the last second or what.
>
>Thoughts / Opinions?
>
>
>Jason
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>time-nuts mailing list
>time-nuts at febo.com
>https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>
>  
>

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