Surplus auction unknown

Electronics systems technology major Ruben Falcon asked, “Who would want ‘old school’ stuff?”

If students knew what was available, they would want it, according to Tom Sanders, a fixed asset inventory specialist.

Not all auctions are old desks and chairs. Items often include lost jewelry items turned over to the police department, laptops, iMac computers and printers.

Prospective bidders can go to www.actx.edu/auction to get started and have a look at the items up for grabs.

“I am always looking for a bargain,” said biology Assistant Professor Dr. Claudie Biggers. “I look at the site regularly for any type of item that can be used by myself, friends or organizations that I am involved with.”

Biggers recently bought a laptop through the service. “I have not gotten it yet, but I am sure it is ‘buyer beware’ because of the age of the equipment.”

Sanders said, “If items are trashed, we are not going to sell it. Sometimes we don’t know the condition of the items.

“The site does state we are not responsible for the condition the items are received. We do spend time testing what we can.” 

Janie Roach, an account clerk for surplus assets, manages the day-to-day operations of the auction for the college.  “It’s a good thing,” she said. “It helps departments have their needs met. Plus, it’s a service to the public.”

Despite having fliers and a Web page about the auction site, it has been difficult spreading the word.

“Some departments don’t know about the site,” Roach said. “We have lots of new employees that do not know about the service,” she said.  Because of state regulations, the college requires tracking of retired property.

“We tried several different ways of disposing of the property,” Sanders said.

“The only requirement, to dispose of the assets, it must be done through a third party. And the auction site acts as that third party. All we do is maintain accountability  for what is being sold.”

Sanders receives and classifies assets and prepares assets for auction and storage of items.

“We are getting rid of a whole lot of stuff a lot quicker than what we were before,” he said, because of the expansion of AC “and with the amount of items coming from the buildings renovated and computer turnover, we had to figure something out.

“Because of the ease of use of the online site, the business office has received a benefit from it of an increase of 300 percent from past asset disposal service profits.”

Auction proceeds go into the general fund. All awarded auction items must be paid for at the business service office to receive a bill of lading before pickup.

The auctioned items are not shipped to auction winners, and out-of-town winners are responsible for their own arranged shipping.

The use of PayPal or other electronic payments is not available.