May 27, 2008 10:09 am US/Pacific
Bay Area Shoppers Find Bargains At Local Auctions
(CBS 5)
Some of the best deals in the Bay Area may be just a bid away.
On some Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. people line up to bid on used cars at Auction City in Redwood City.
"You'll see that you'll save thirty forty percent sometimes on a car," said Jay Schettler who frequents Auction City.
Auction City gets their cars from charitable organizations, county and city surplus, private parties, lease returns and one of the best ways to get a deal, through dealer trade-ins.
"Someone would turn in a later model BMW to a Toyota dealer for a new Toyota let's say...that Toyota dealership would rather us sell that BMW for them then have it on their lot competing against the Japanese makes that they are selling," explained Ed Lauber, who is with Auction City.
Up in Benicia, folks at
Nationwide also place their bids on vehicles.
"Today we are having what we call our heavy equipment auction, which is mostly larger trucks and heavy duty equipment for construction," said Bob Casnic with Nationwide.
Heavy equipment is just what Walter Azevedo was looking for. Azevedo usually buys for his business, but if there is a really good deal for himself he can't resist.
"I bought a year old motor home for probably a really good deal," said Azevedo.
Nationwide auctions everything from jewelry and jeeps to what has been lost and never found.
"One of our biggest sellers is BART. We have a lot of lost and found items that are not claimed...also local police departments that sell their lost and found and also seized items that are not claimed...watches, rings, coins," explained Casnic.
Nearly every county sells their excess in office supplies and furniture in a live or online auction. At a surplus sale in San Mateo County you can put together your own office for $146. An office chair and desk both go for $20. A computer will cost $50. Adding a monitor and keyboard would be an extra $45. Speakers are also a low $2 each, with desk accessories like card holders and paper organizers at $1 each. Be sure to check with the county surplus that you go to. If you have non-profit status you may get it all for free.
At surplus sales you can also find file cabinets for $5 a drawer, fax machines for $20, cameras with the case included for $15, and lap top briefcases for a low $15.
There are also the traditional auctions. "Sometimes you can find the good deals in the auction house," said Laura Hugg who frequents auctions.
These deals can be found at places like at Clar's Auction House in Oakland.
"Oh I love the variety of the different things that I find, some things I've found for my home, some things I've sold to other people," said Marily Hoffman who bids at Clar's Auction House.
Most auctions have what they call a preview before the items go on auction. It is then that you can check out the quality of the merchandise before you buy it. Auctions take place twice a month. You'll find paintings and fine china to billiards and collectables.
Keep in mind, though, that auction items are as-is and no returns, so be sure to take advantage of the preview and check them out before you buy.
Auctions By County:
Santa Cruz
Real estate (only every other year)
http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ttc/auction.htm
San Francisco
Estate auction
http://www.sfgov.org/site/treasurer_page.asp?id=16318
San Mateo
http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/hr/surplus/Flyer.htm
Sonoma County
Estate auction
http://www.sonoma-county.org/tax/auction_2008.htm
State Auctions:
Unclaimed Property
www.sco.ca.gov/col/ucp/auction/index.shtml
Stanford University
http://ora.stanford.edu/ora/pmo/surplus_sales/default.asp
San Francisco State University
www.publicsurplus.com/sms/sfsu,ca/browse/home?tm=m
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