Best Practices for Auctioning Equipment

By Carey Welsch, Manager-South Central Region
GovDeals

GovDeals helped a Mississippi air operations department implement best practices in auctioning a 1978 Cessna T210N.
When a Mississippi air operations department decided to sell a 1978 Cessna T210N aircraft, it turned to online auction platform GovDeals and implemented several best practices to ensure a successful outcome. That department’s outcome highlights the valuable insights for any airport managing high-value surplus equipment.

By leveraging an online auction marketplace, the department ensured all relevant details – maintenance history, recent inspections and included upgrades – were clearly disclosed. The listing emphasized the aircraft’s fully operational condition, updated avionics suite and current airworthiness certificate. The transparency and detail attracted significant attention; the auction attracted more than 6,000 visitors and 195 watchers, ultimately drawing 47 bids and culminating in a final sale price of $293,164.92.

To maintain auction integrity, each participant was required to place a $5,025 bid deposit. This best practice discouraged frivolous bids, ensuring only serious buyers entered the process and streamlining post-auction logistics. The deposit was structured as a refundable amount for unsuccessful bidders, minus a $25 processing fee, which balanced risk mitigation for the seller with fairness to participants.

Best Practice Takeaways

  • Clear asset descriptions along with disclosure of included and excluded equipment build credibility and attract informed bidders.
  • Requiring a bid deposit effectively filters out unserious participants and protects the seller’s interests.
  • Providing extensive asset history, certifications and recent inspections gives bidders confidence in the value and condition of the asset.
  • Utilizing a user-friendly online platform with robust tracking (visitors, watchers, bid history) maximizes exposure and competition.

The auction of the 1978 Cessna T210N exemplifies how transparency and strategic bid deposit requirements can boost engagement, protect sellers and achieve strong sale results in online government surplus auctions.

If you have surplus equipment to sell, GovDeals can help. Learn more HERE.