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 in 2026: Bidding, Fees, Pickup
What actually happens at a government auction. Bidding formats by platform, real fees on GSA, GovDeals, and PublicSurplus, payment timelines, and the pickup rules that trip up first-time buyers.
10 Best Government Auction Sites Compared (2026)
Ten government auction sites compared head to head. Actual buyer's premium on each, the categories every site sells most, and which one to pick for vehicles, electronics, or surplus equipment.
Government Vehicle Auctions: Where to Buy in 2026
Where federal, state, and city fleets sell off their cars and trucks. Real price ranges for sedans, pickups, vans, and police cruisers, plus the agencies that move the most volume each month.
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.
Government Auction Shipping: Costs & Pickup Rules
Shipping a vehicle from a federal lot runs $400 to $3,500. Equipment freight costs, removal deadlines on every major auction site, and how to avoid forfeiting your win to a missed pickup window.
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.