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All Surplus Review

Monday, February 10th

2025 Government Auction Site Reviews

All Surplus Review 4.5 Star Rating

All Surplus

4.5 Star Rating
  • Cost: free to browse
  • Auctions and buy now options
  • Easy to browse and search
  • Around 12.5% in buyer's premiums
  • "A+” rating from the BBB for parent company

All Surplus, the world's leading marketplace for business surplus, is powered by Liquidity Services LLC, a trusted and experienced company in the surplus industry with over $10 billion in completed sales and more than 15,000 sellers.

Almost 5 million buyers

This platform directly connects sellers with a vast network of 4.8 million registered buyers, offering attractive rates without additional costs like transportation, inspections, or hidden fees. Through its multi-channel sales approach, All Surplus ensures higher net returns by accurately reflecting market values and reducing unnecessary fees, providing sellers with a streamlined and profitable selling experience backed by a reputable and thriving marketplace.

Auction or buy now

One of the benefits of All Surplus is the shopping style. Unlike some options in this review that ask you to find an auction that is currently in process in your area, All Surplus allows you to browse all items on the site for free. Functioning like a more traditional shopping site, just with items recovered by the government, you can find a wide variety of items that are easy to shop and search for. Additionally, instead of just bidding on auctions, you can shop three different ways. You can either bid like a traditional auction, make offers that the seller can accept, or there are a variety of listings on All Surprise that you can choose to "buy now” at the listed price. The flexibility is great for more casual shoppers.

Best Government Auctions

Free to join

Going along with the shopping style, the main bonus for All Surplus is that it's open access. You don't have to pay for a membership to search through the items on sale at this site. Using All Surplus is completely free of charge. Some of the tiers of purchase do require you to create an account in order to make offers or bid at auctions, but there is no cost associated with making an account at All Surplus.

Great filters for easy searching

The search features at All Surplus make it super easy to shop. You can search for anything you want or use their categories. Each page allows you to use their filters to narrow down your search. The available filters include:

  • Category
  • Region and radius
  • Currency
  • Price
  • Sale type
  • Event type
  • Seller
  • Tier

As a bonus, when you look at the shopping categories, you can easily see how many different items are available in each category. For example, there were 3,963 items available in the "industrial, commercial equipment” category at the time of our review.

Buy autos or boats

One of the largest categories at All Surplus is motor vehicles. If you're looking for a cheaper-than-average car (or a dream boat), it's easy to browse their 2,000+ individual items which include a variety of work trucks, used police interceptors, daily driving vehicles, and novelty motor vehicles like dump trucks, jet skis, and racing boats.

Best Government Auctions

Detailed descriptions and transparent fees

The descriptions on listings are particularly helpful to customers. Before even clicking on the item, you can see some basic information including what kind of purchase is available (auction, offer, or buy now), and the price. When you get into the listing, the information is clearly organized in the same places on each listing, making it easy to understand what you're looking at, at a glance. Some of these details include:

  • Make/brand of the item
  • Condition of the item
  • Year the item was manufactured
  • Lot number for the item

This is also where you will see any notes about taxes or percentages for buyer's premiums, which can change the final price of your purchase, and are important to take into account when you bid. For example, in one listing we checked for a like-new refrigerator, the buyer's premium was 12.5% of the cost of the item and taxes would be added after purchase. However, we appreciate the transparency of having the premium displayed on the listing in a very visible spot.

Parent company scores high

When it comes to reviews, All Surplus doesn't have a lot of buzz. There aren't a lot of reviews for this website. For example, one third-party review site had just over 80 reviews at the time that we checked. This is much lower than we'd expect from a site that boasts a network of millions of buyers. The average star rating for All Surplus wasn't so impressive, but its parent company does a little better. All Surplus is owned by Liquidity Services LLC, which does have an impressive "A+” rating from the BBB.

Close second to our top option

Overall, All Surplus is best for customers who like to browse without getting into an auction right away. It's free to use this site, though you do need to make an account in order to begin buying or bidding. They also have great filters and item descriptions with transparency regarding fees. Despite a few low ratings from customers, the site has top marks from the BBB, and it has some of the highest numbers for total listings for government auction sites. So, if you want a place with flexible purchase options, a lot of items to buy, and a great user experience, All Surplus is the place to go.

Where Can You Find the Best Government Auctions?

Government auctions provide a unique opportunity for individuals to acquire a wide range of items at affordable prices. Whether you're looking for vehicles, real estate, electronics, or even jewelry, government auctions offer a treasure trove of options.

The appeal of these auctions lies in the potential for finding high-quality items at significantly reduced prices. With the convenience of online platforms, participating in government auctions has never been easier. From the comfort of your own home, you can browse through a vast selection of items and place bids with just a few clicks.

The Best Government Auction Sites Compare Government Auction Sites Compare Government Auction Site Reviews What are the best Government Auction Sites Best Government Auction Site Reviews

Government Auction Site FAQ

That depends! Sometimes items come when an office closes or gets downsized. Other auctions feature seized or abandoned property. And, some merchandise is simply surplus: more was bought than what was needed in the end, so the agency tries to recoup some of the taxpayers' money by auctioning off the extra items.
More accurately, is there anything you can't buy? While vehicles and furniture tend to be the most commonly-found products listed in government auctions, you might spot anything from a topaz ring to a military tank!
Yes. That's the point of buying items through an auction, after all. But, like any other kind of option, it's up to you to do the research first. Otherwise, you might wind up with a not-so-good deal if you fail to read the fine print on the item's condition or actual value.
Sometimes. Many sites will allow you to browse for free, but to place a bid you'll need to become a paying subscriber to the service. But, there are a few sites that let you browse and bid at no cost; they usually make their money through buyer fees once the auction has been completed.
Definitely not! Government auctions now are almost exclusively online.
Read the details on each auction before entering a bid. Smaller items might be available for shipping, and even bigger ones like cars and boats may be delivered for a (sizeable) fee. On the other hand, you may have to pick up your auction wins - so keep an eye on the location of anything you're bidding on.
That's one of the most common complaints you'll find with some government auctions. Again, read the fine print to determine if there's been an inspection of your item, and/or if the auction site warranties the condition of the item (especially if you take delivery and it doesn't match what was stated in the inspection).
Most government auction services have been around for many years, just taking what used to happen at the courthouse and city hall over to the internet for convenience. However, there are some sites that offer little more than cheap jewelry and a handful of government auctions on the site. Check the reputation of a service before creating an account or entering your payment information!
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Government auctions occur when federal, state, or local government agencies need to sell surplus items, seized property, or assets obtained through various means. These auctions can feature a diverse array of goods, including cars, trucks, boats, furniture, electronics, jewelry, and even real estate. The items up for auction are often in good condition and can be acquired at prices well below their market value. Government auctions are especially attractive to bargain hunters, collectors, and entrepreneurs looking for investment opportunities.

One of the advantages of government auctions is the transparency and legitimacy they offer. Since these auctions are conducted by government agencies, you can have confidence in the authenticity and legal status of the items being sold. Additionally, government auctions follow strict guidelines and procedures, ensuring a fair and regulated environment for both buyers and sellers. This level of oversight provides peace of mind and minimizes the risks associated with purchasing items from unknown or unreliable sources.

Online platforms have revolutionized the way government auctions are conducted. With a few simple clicks, you can access comprehensive catalogs of available items, view detailed descriptions, and browse accompanying photographs. This digital convenience allows you to participate in auctions from anywhere, at any time, expanding your access to a wider range of auctions and items. Furthermore, online auctions typically provide robust bidding systems and notifications to keep you informed about the progress of your bids and competing offers.

Overall, government auctions present a unique opportunity to find valuable items at affordable prices. The convenience of online platforms, coupled with the transparency and regulated nature of these auctions, makes them an appealing option for savvy shoppers and investors. Whether you're looking for personal items or seeking business opportunities, exploring government auctions can be a rewarding experience that opens the door to exciting deals and unexpected treasures.

When checking out government auctions online, it may be hard to decide where to trust and find the best deals. If you're not sure where to start bidding, we've put together this list of criteria to help you find the government auction for your needs:

  • Price. One of the most important factors for many people is the price. Some online auction sites require you to pay a membership fee in order to even shop there. Keep that in mind as you browse the different options and decide what services are worth paying for or if you can get a better service for free.
  • Number of listings. Some auction sites offer more items than others. While the nature of auctions means that the number of listings will change almost daily, you want to make sure you're shopping at a place with a wide variety to help you have a higher chance of getting what you need.
  • Types of items. Not all auction sites focus on the same merchandise. Some in this review focus on real estate, some focus on military vehicles, while others offer a unique collection of luxury items. Keep in mind what types of merchandise you're looking to buy at your next auction and let that guide where you shop.
  • Customer satisfaction. With auction sites there can already be some worry about getting scammed. We totally understand. That's why checking out customer feedback for different sites can be a big help in deciding where you want to spend your money. Auction lovers just like you are out there, and they're rating companies so you can know who to trust and who to stay away from.

To simplify the process of finding the best government auction for you, Top Consumer Reviews has checked out and evaluated the best options online today. Hopefully, this helps you enjoy browsing the vast array of items and get some dream deals on your next government auction bid!

Compare Government Auction Sites

Select any 2 Government Auction Sites to compare them head to head

best-government-auctions
  • Police Auctions
  • All Surplus
  • Government Auction
  • US Auction Online
  • Property Room
  • Gov Deals
  • Gov Planet
  • GSA Auctions
  • Public Surplus
  • Government Auctions
Police Auctions vs All Surplus Police Auctions vs Government Auction Police Auctions vs US Auction Online Police Auctions vs Property Room Police Auctions vs Gov Deals Police Auctions vs Gov Planet Police Auctions vs GSA Auctions Police Auctions vs Public Surplus Police Auctions vs Government Auctions All Surplus vs Government Auction All Surplus vs US Auction Online All Surplus vs Property Room All Surplus vs Gov Deals All Surplus vs Gov Planet All Surplus vs GSA Auctions All Surplus vs Public Surplus All Surplus vs Government Auctions Government Auction vs US Auction Online Government Auction vs Property Room Government Auction vs Gov Deals Government Auction vs Gov Planet Government Auction vs GSA Auctions Government Auction vs Public Surplus Government Auction vs Government Auctions US Auction Online vs Property Room US Auction Online vs Gov Deals US Auction Online vs Gov Planet US Auction Online vs GSA Auctions US Auction Online vs Public Surplus US Auction Online vs Government Auctions Property Room vs Gov Deals Property Room vs Gov Planet Property Room vs GSA Auctions Property Room vs Public Surplus Property Room vs Government Auctions Gov Deals vs Gov Planet Gov Deals vs GSA Auctions Gov Deals vs Public Surplus Gov Deals vs Government Auctions Gov Planet vs GSA Auctions Gov Planet vs Public Surplus Gov Planet vs Government Auctions GSA Auctions vs Public Surplus GSA Auctions vs Government Auctions Public Surplus vs Government Auctions
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