GavelGap
GovDeals Red Flag Checklist
36 things to look for before you bid · v1 · 2026
Use this when you're reading a listing at 2am and the deal looks too good. Tick every box that applies — each one is real cost the listing doesn't show you. If three or more land, walk away.
① Shipping & Removal
No combined shipping
Each unit ships separately. Multi-unit lots blow up to $60+ per item.
LTL freight likely
Anything heavy ships on a pallet. $200+ minimum plus liftgate fees.
Buyer arranges shipping
You hire the carrier. You eat the quoted rate plus surprise accessorials.
No delivery / pickup only
You drive there. Factor mileage, your time, and a truck rental for big items.
Scheduled pickup only
Narrow windows. Miss the slot, lose the deposit and the lot.
Appointment only
Adds a phone-tag step before you can even inspect or remove.
Tight removal deadline
5–10 day windows mean rebooking work, drivers, or rentals fast.
Daily storage fee after deadline
Common: $10/day per pallet/lot if you miss removal. Adds up fast on delays.
No loading assistance
Bring your own forklift, pallet jack, or strong friends. Plan for half a day.
Third-party removal company
Adds a fee on top of the hammer price. Read the linked rate sheet.
Warehouse partner / consolidator
Listing isn't with the original agency. Tighter rules, more fees.
Shipping cost not stated
"Contact for quote" usually means more than you'd expect. Get the quote first.
② Lot & Quantity Ambiguity
Mixed lot
Different models or specs in one batch. Resale value drops to the lowest spec.
Assorted / pallet lot
Whatever fit on the pallet. Treat as scrap weight, not unit count.
Quantity unknown
"Approximately 12" means 8. Bid as if it's the lowest plausible count.
Vague contents
"May include accessories" means it won't. Discount accordingly.
WYSIWYG / photos = description
No written manifest. Zoom every photo before you bid.
No manifest
No itemized list. Treat counts and configs as upper bounds.
No photos / few photos
If they couldn't be bothered to photograph it, that's the condition.
Photos as the description
Same as above — what you can't see in the pic isn't included.
③ Condition & Quality Risk
As-is, no returns
Whatever's wrong is yours. No recourse, no refunds, no warranty.
Untested
Nobody plugged it in. Discount by your typical DOA rate (15–30%).
Powered on only
Confirmed it turns on. Not confirmed anything else works.
For parts / not working
Confirmed broken. Resale value is component-level, not unit-level.
BIOS locked
Enterprise lockouts. Bricked for resale unless you can wipe TPM/IT pwd.
Missing components
Power supplies, drives, RAM. Quote replacements before bidding.
No HDD / storage removed
Drives wiped or pulled for compliance. $30–80 per unit to replace.
No battery / battery removed
Laptops and UPS. Add $40–150 per unit for OEM batteries.
Cosmetic damage
"Heavy use" listings sell at a 30–50% discount on eBay. Plan for it.
Condition unknown
Same as "untested" — discount as if it's at the bottom of the range.
No returns / final sale
If you're not sure, don't buy. Government auctions never accept returns.
④ Seller, Fees & Auction Mechanics
Private liquidator (not agency)
Looks like a government sale; isn't. Different rules, often worse.
Consignment listing
Title transfer may be slow or murky. Confirm before paying.
Contractor-managed sale
A third party runs the sale on the agency's behalf. Read their fee sheet.
High buyer's premium
Standard is 7.5–12%. Anything above 15% eats your margin alive.
Extra fees in fine print
Documentation, payment processing, on-site, environmental. Sum them.