Cheektowaga plans to sell surplus on Web

[WNYresident]

Cheektowaga plans to sell surplus on Web

By Thomas J. Dolan NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Updated: 04/03/08 6:33 AM

The last time Cheektowaga sold its surplus plows, packer trucks and pickups, town workers spent hours preparing them and towing them to an out-of-town auction.

And since it doesn’t own a large tow truck, the town had to rent one. What’s more, if the vehicles didn’t sell, workers had to tow them back to Cheektowaga’s central garage.

But now town officials are getting cyber savvy, and they plan to sell nine vehicles through an online site called Auctions International.

Supervisor Mary F. Holtz says Cheektowaga can’t lose, because the vehicles stay put on town property until they are sold. And when they do, the buyer is required to pay for the costs of the auction and transporting the vehicles.

“The way I look at it, this is online. Let’s see what happens. It may work, or we may not sell anything. But you know, it’s worth a shot,” Holtz said.
That’s not all. Holtz also wants to use another online auction service to sell some “previously loved” computer hardware and accessories — including scanners, printers and other equipment — that it no longer needs, she told Town Board members at a work session meeting.
She credited Robert J. Ciesielski, a general crew chief in the central garage, with suggesting the vehicle auction service to the town.
In all, officials hope to sell three packer (garbage) trucks, a pickup mounted with a snowplow, a police SUV, a van, a sedan and several parks vehicles. But in the past, the town had to pay up front for the truck rentals and a couple of days’ pay for two workers before it could enter the sale.

In the past, Cheektowaga also was limited to auction dates that were set by others. But with the new service, the town is able to auction its wares whenever it wants.

Under the rules, the town must furnish up to six pictures of each vehicle, the serial number and a complete description, including any known problems. All of this is posted on the Web site, and buyers have a chance to offer their bids.

Once it is sold, rules also call for the buyer to remove the item from the seller’s premises within 10 days.

The online auction also exposes the town’s vehicles to a potential audience much larger than the old sales methods, Holtz said.
“As long as it’s not costing anything, I’ll give it a shot,” she said.

Email tdolan@buffnews.com if you have any questions.

Read the Full Story in the Buffalo News

[WNYresident]

Lets check this out

http://www.auctionsinternational.com/index.jsp

Auctions International, Inc.
808 Borden Road, Buffalo, NY 14227


Not to knock this local autioneer but hasn't our town heard about Ebay?


Are they going to have a set minimum on these items or will the last bid be the selling price?

I just would think you would want the largest audience possible to auction your items off. Any money collected means less money they have to charge us sales tax.

[WNYresident]

Go check out what our towns are trying to sell. Seems like a very small audience to sell to versus having a local public auction or Ebay.

http://www.auctionsinternational.com...tem=0000024896

Why isn't the Town of Hannibal just having the employees take this to the scrap yard sold on weight?

http://www.auctionsinternational.com...tem=0000024912

Check this out. IT's only a 2003 Quad Cab 4X4 it's only up to 10250.00

Looks like the plow is included etc..

What do you guys think blue book value is on this.

I could see groups in the know putting items up on this site marketed to a very small market buying the equipment and reselling it.

Wouldn't you think they would get much more just out right selling it or putting it up on ebay?

[WNYresident]

Could this be quite a bit of copper?

http://www.auctionsinternational.com...tem=0000025040

It's only 26 bucks

[WNYresident]

Now this looks like a good deal if you need them

http://www.auctionsinternational.com...tem=0000025054

(5) Pallets Cinder Blocks

up to $27 bucks