Does GovDeals ship? Shipping and pickup explained
GovDeals has no single shipping policy. Each seller sets its own terms, and getting the item home is where more flips go wrong than anywhere else. Some lots ship, most are pickup-only, and heavy items need freight you arrange and pay for yourself. Get it wrong and an $80 bargain 900 miles away turns into a $400 mistake.
The three ways to get a lot home
1. Shipping, usually arranged by you
Smaller items can often be shipped, but on GovDeals shipping is usually arranged and paid for by the buyer. You or a third-party shipper handle it, and you pay the rate plus any extra charges. Check whether the seller ships at all or leaves it entirely to you.
2. Pickup-only
Pickup is the norm. About 7 in 10 live GovDeals lots say pickup-only or pickup by appointment in their terms, by our reading of the listings. You go to the seller's location within the removal window and take it away yourself, which limits how far away you can realistically buy.
3. Freight and transport
Heavy or oversized lots need LTL freight on a pallet. Vehicles and equipment need auto transport or a heavy hauler. Both need quotes and lead time, and liftgate, residential-delivery and limited-access fees add up quickly.
| Method | Typical use | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel | Small, light items | About $15 to $100 |
| LTL freight | Pallets, heavy single items | About $175 to $650 for a pallet, more with extra fees |
| Auto transport | Cars, SUVs, pickups | About $400 to $2,500, depending on distance |
| Heavy haul | Equipment, trucks, buses | About $300 to $3,500, and far more for big machines |
| Self-pickup | Anything within driving range | Fuel and your time, which aren't free |
These are the ranges GavelGap uses for its own shipping estimates. Get a real quote on anything large.
Don't miss the removal deadline
Every seller sets a removal deadline, the date by which you must collect the item or have it collected. It's often just a few business days after payment. Miss it and you can face storage fees, lose the item and what you paid, and get penalties on your account. For pickup-only and freight lots, make sure you can actually meet the deadline before you bid, especially if you're relying on a third-party shipper.
Build the cost of getting it home into your bid
Estimate the cost of getting the item home before you bid, and add it to your landed cost along with the buyer's premium and tax. Your maximum bid is whatever still leaves a margin after all of that.
How GavelGap helps
GavelGap estimates shipping by category and flags logistics problems such as pickup-only and likely freight, then adds the shipping estimate to landed cost. It won't book the truck, but it stops you from bidding as if shipping were free.
See shipping estimates and pickup or freight flags for every live GovDeals lot before you bid.
Try GavelGap free →Frequently asked questions
Does GovDeals ship to you, or is it pickup-only?
It depends on the listing, but pickup is the norm: about 7 in 10 live lots say pickup-only or pickup by appointment. Some sellers ship, usually with the buyer arranging it, and heavy lots need freight. Check each listing's terms.
What's a removal deadline?
The date by which you must collect a won item, set by the seller and often a few business days after payment. Missing it can mean storage fees, losing the item and your payment, and account penalties.
How much is freight on a heavy lot?
A pallet by LTL freight typically costs about $175 to $650, more with liftgate or residential fees. Vehicle transport runs about $400 to $2,500 by distance, and heavy equipment can cost much more. Get a quote first.
Why does pickup-only matter for flipping?
It limits how far away you can realistically buy. The fuel, time or freight to collect a distant lot can wipe out the margin, so price it into your bid.