Even though the United States Government is a body of laws and restrictions, it also offers many little known opportunities for its citizens. The federal government, being the largest employer in the United States (state governments being second) is also a treasure trove of information and goods, much of which are at little cost or free for the asking. Because the government deals in public safety and statistics, there are specific agencies directed toward providing information on all aspects of living and doing business. There are teams of fact finding people gathering information on subjects ranging from the life span of a bug to space travel and everything in between. Each agency maintains a data base of facts on their particular charge. Most of these facts are public information and can be used for study, research or publicizing, without having to acquire special permission.



Try Out A Government Auction

Federal and State governments hold scheduled auctions for public benefit. The Federal government also holds an on going surplus auction which is open to the public. Also, many new items the government purchases are offered to the general public at a reduced price. From bedding to commercial kitchen equipment you can buy new, from the government. Non profit organizations fair even better because they can buy many surplus items 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 have seen every thing from dental equipment to Jet engines sold at ridiculously low prices. How about a building or, what the heck, a C-131 airplane? You can find them at government auctions. True, for some items you have to sign an affidavit as to what you are going to do with the product which is easy for law abiding citizens but not so easy for felons. Most items are sold in lots, meaning there could be ten to one hundred items in a lot. You should be careful however, the pictures they show can be deceiving. I once paid forty five dollars for what looked like twenty or so new uniform pants and shirts. When I picked them up there were three huge boxes full, adding up to over a ton. Luckily I was driving a heavy duty 4X4 pickup that could handle the load. Another thing, you will probably have to travel a few hundred miles to pick up your product. Take into consideration the cost of retrieving your purchase or having it shipped to you. This cost will outweigh the purchase price itself by a huge margin.

Use Caution

Another time I bought some shelving. I drove all night from Tennessee to reach Maryland and to my surprise found there were over 45 hundred pounds of shelves. My pickup wasn't big enough and I couldn't justify the cost in renting a truck so I had to abandon the purchase. When you do that 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 they had oddball government receptacles that had to be converted. Oh, and there are thousands of cars for sale, of every make and model, for very little cost. The same rule applies, be careful, you could end up with a pile of junk. Call the sale administrator and ask some questions. They are always happy to assist with a thorough description of the item. I called once on what looked like a dozen or so tires. It's a good thing I did, it would have taken a eighteen wheeler to pick them up.

It's a little intimating

Go on-line to gsauctions.com or gogov.com just to name a couple where continuous auctions are in progress. Register, the same as you would with ebay, and sort through or search for an item to bid on. Place a bid, using a credit card as your collateral. If you are outbid and at bids close you will be notified by the email address you provided to them. If you win, you have a set number of days to pickup the item. Caution: Find out which days they are open for pick up. Be sure to be there within their operating hours, and have all your paperwork ready. It wouldn't hurt to tip the loader if you will be coming back another time. The people who run the auctions are contractors and have their rules while they are on a military base which has its rules. It's just a matter of following instructions and working with both entities for a smooth experience.

Like anything else, Government auctions can be a good or bad experience. Just be cautious and your experience will be good. Be prepared for anything from having difficulty getting onto a military base to a crabby loader but the transaction will go smooth nine times out of ten. It's that one 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 will have to put up with condescending people. Not to say they are all that way, they are not. Most people are very nice and willing to bend over backward to make your experience a good one.

In Concussion

The Government is a valuable resource for information and will provide assistance in obtaining grants or government backed loans. State and Federal Government has auctions and sales open to the public. They have how to publications on saving money on heating cost as well as driving tips. Use your Government they get paid to be there for you.