Sam Ojling
Founder, BidProwl
Founder of BidProwl. Writes about how government surplus actually moves: who sells it, what it costs, and where the bidding traps are.
About Sam Ojling
Sam started BidProwl after spending too many weekends combing GovDeals, GSA Auctions, and a dozen other sites to find a single decent deal. The thesis is simple: every federal, state, and county surplus listing should be searchable from one place. The guides on this site are written from real buyer notes, conversations with auctioneers, and the patterns we see in the data BidProwl pulls every 12 hours from 28 government auction sources.
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Guides by Sam Ojling
How Government Auctions Work (2026): Step by Step
How surplus auctions work step by step: register, inspect, bid, win, pay in 3-5 days, pick up in 5-15. Not Treasury bonds: cars, electronics, seized goods.
10 Best Government Auction Sites, Ranked (2026)
10 government auction sites compared by buyer's premium, categories, and bid format. See which charge 0% and which hit 16.5% before you bid.
Government Vehicle Auctions: $2k-$20k (2026)
Real price bands by type: fleet sedans $2k-8k, SUVs $5k-18k, pickups $4k-20k, police cruisers $3k-12k. Plus the federal and local fleets that sell most.
How to Inspect Before You Bid at Auction: What to Check (2026)
What to check on vehicles (rust, mileage, brakes), heavy equipment (hours, leaks), and electronics before bidding. Plus when third-party inspectors pay off.
$400-$3,500 Auction Shipping Costs (2026)
Vehicles ship $400 to $3,500 from federal lots. Per-platform removal deadlines (GSA 15 days), storage fees, and the 20% no-pickup penalty.
GovDeals vs PublicSurplus: Which Should You Use?
Honest side-by-side comparison of GovDeals and PublicSurplus. Inventory, fees, payment, removal, and which platform fits your buying style.
GovDeals FAQ: Does GovDeals Ship, Fees, Payment, Pickup (2026)
Straight answers to the questions buyers ask before their first GovDeals bid. Whether GovDeals ships, the 12.5% buyer's premium, accepted payment methods, removal deadlines, and whether the site is legit.
GSA Auctions FAQ: Shipping, Fees, Payment, and Pickup (2026)
What first-time buyers need to know before bidding on GSA Auctions. Whether GSA ships, why there is no buyer's premium, accepted payment methods, the strict 15-day removal rule, and how to register.