by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Edward Strader was eyeballing a used Harley Davidson.
“I can’t afford a new one,” said Strader, who is retired from the Navy.
Wade Skipper and his crew from PC Buyers, Inc. out of Cottondale, Fla. milled around the old ambulances, opening doors and talking about the possibilities.
“There are a number of things we can use these for,” said Skipper.
Strader and Skipper were two of hundreds who showed up on a dreary, rainy Tuesday at the City’s surplus yard just off McDuff Avenue for the City auction. In addition to ambulances and Harleys, bidders were after everything from a skylight that sold for $5 to a pile of used tires and rims to countless copiers, desk chairs, computer monitors, stripped down computer hard drives, used mowers, police cars and even fire trucks.
In all, Jim Boyle, purchasing manager for the City, estimated 600-700 people registered to officially bid on an auction item.
The auction, operated by Weeks Auction Co., Inc. and conducted by auctioneer Bill Catsulis, has been taking place for decades. Over the course of each year, various City departments declare some of their inventory as surplus. That inventory is stored across from the McDuff Avenue dog track until there’s enough to constitute a sale.
“If everything goes, we will push $600,000 or somewhere around that,” said Boyle, adding that proceeds from the auction go into the City’s general revenue fund and not into any specific department.
Many of those attending, such as Skipper, had pre-registered and knew exactly what they were looking to buy. Skipper and his staff may bid on some of the ambulances, but he would prefer that the vehicles go untouched, allowing him to purchase them at a bare minimum. Skipper said he takes old ambulances and cuts the tops off and uses the vehicles as tow trucks or to haul supplies and equipment.
“There are many applications,” he said, adding he attends similar auctions across the state. Skipper also said he prefers to stay in the periphery of the bidding process. “There’s a threshold. You just have to get a feel for the people and not get caught up in the bid process.”
Strader sees the auction as a way to get a motorcycle he otherwise wouldn’t buy. The first-timer also said his final bid price was flexible.
“This is also a good way to recycle this stuff, too,” he said.
Boyle and Mike Clapsaddle, chief of the City’s Procurement Department, said many of the buyers will have cash in hand for the smaller items — especially for things like desks, chairs, filing cabinets and other basic office equipment. The vehicles are sold as-is without any kind of warranty. Some will start, some won’t.
“They must put down a $300 cash deposit and they have 24 hours to pay the balance and pick up their vehicles,” said Boyle, adding the lot should be nearly empty by Thursday afternoon.
Clapsaddle said it’s interesting to look around see so many familiar faces.
“The public loves this and we have our regulars,” he said.
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