Why Buy Unclaimed Property Auctions? A Dive into the Atlanta Surplus Center

If you’re looking for a fun way to score valuable and resalable items at a fraction of the price, consider unclaimed property auctions.

The Atlanta Surplus Center(ASC) holds hundreds of auctions on GovDeals each month. By lotting up like items into bins, buyers can easily find the types of items they're interested in. Here are some examples of the large lots of discount merchandise that can be found on GovDeals.com

Types of Items Sold

Apparel

• Clothing
• Boxed Shoes
• Jewelry
  
• Eyewear
• Jackets
• Wedding Dresses

Books

• Soft Back
• Hard Back
• Magazines
• Puzzles
• Games
• Text Books

Collectibles

• Coins
• Trading Cards
• Figurines
• Stones
• Gold & Silver Bars
• Comics
• Toys & Games
• Musical Instruments

Electronics

• Computers
• Tv’s
• Gaming Monitors
• Monitors
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Video Games
• Cellphones

General Merchandise

• Gift Cards
• Household Products
• Home Goods
• Optics
• Bulk Load
• Automotive
• Hardware
• Tools
• Tires
• Furniture
• Sporting Goods

Why Should You Bid on Unclaimed Property Auctions?

The Atlanta Surplus Center is the Southeast's go to store to find unclaimed property auctions. Buyers are participating in these auctions to restock their bin stores, resell items online, and find valuable items at discounted prices. Why should you bid?

Buying lost or unclaimed property is like opening a treasure chest—you never know what you’ll find. From high-end electronics to designer handbags, rare collectibles, and even money, the excitement of discovering hidden gems keeps bidders coming back for more.

One of the biggest reasons people get into lost or unclaimed auctions is the opportunity to flip items for a profit. Most packages contain brand-new products that can be resold on platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace. If you have an eye for valuable items, you can turn a small investment into a steady stream of income.

Unclaimed property lots are often sold in bulk at a fraction of retail prices. Whether you're looking for personal use or resale, you can score valuable items—like electronics, jewelry, or even rare collectibles—at an unbeatable price.

Buying used items helps reduce waste. Instead of these items being discarded or forgotten, they get a second life. It’s an excellent way to practice sustainability while also making a profit or finding useful products for yourself.

From vintage items and discontinued products to one-of-a-kind pieces, unclaimed property auctions often contain things you won’t find anywhere else. If you love collectibles or antiques, these auctions can be a goldmine.

You don’t need a huge budget to get started. Some auctions let you bid on small lots for as little as $50. This makes it an accessible and low-risk way to test the waters before investing more.

Let’s be honest—there’s something exciting about bidding on a mystery box and revealing what’s inside. Whether you’re in it for profit or just for the thrill, lost mail auctions offer a unique and entertaining shopping experience.

Breakdown of the Atlanta Surplus Center

• Auctions are listed continuously, with hundreds added every week. To get the best deals check govdeals.com/asc daily for new auctions and you'll be one step ahead of other potential buyers.
• You must register as a bidder on GovDeals to participate in the auctions. Registering and bidding are both free.
• Auctions end every Tuesday
• It is important to read the Terms & Conditions ASC provides to make sure you can follow any rules and requirements of the center.
• Property may be removed by appointment only and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. All requests & inquiries need to be emailed to asc@govdeals.com. Removal Appointments are from 7:30am-11:30am Eastern Time.
• All buyer's must provide their own containers for transport. Boxes, Gaylord Boxes, Totes, Containers, and Pallets must remain at the center. Pallets and Gaylord boxes may be purchased for $25 each.

Breakdown of an Auction Page

1. Category and Lot Number – The lot number will help you find the auction
2. Images and Videos – Inspect items here
3. Starting or Current Bid – If bidding has begun you will see a number beside the current bid with a link to the bid history
4. Bid Increment – The minimum amount by which a bid must be raised for the next bid
5. Auto Extension – Bid extension will automatically extend the auction for 3 minutes, if a bid is placed during the final 3 minutes of the auction. This will continue until no bids are placed during the last 3 minutes
6. Watchers & Visitors – Watchers are how many people chose to ‘watch’ the auction by clicking watch under the place a bid box - Visitors measures the number of unique users that have visited that auction page
7. Terms & Conditions – Make sure to click here and read through the Atlanta Surplus Center’s Terms and Conditions to make sure you can meet the requirements of a winning buyer
8. Link to all Seller’s Items at Auction – View all Atlanta Surplus Center auctions by clicking here
9. Ask Seller Questions – Submit any questions here
10. Pickup Location – Confirming pick up location will make pickup run smoothly
11. Payment Instructions – Sellers will have different requirements for payment. Always read the instructions to insure you are following their rules of payment
12. Removal Instructions – The same goes for removal. Sellers will usually request the winning buyer to schedule a date and time for asset removal/pickup. You can do so with a quick email to the point of contact once you have won
13. Bid History - A live list of bidders participating in the auction including the date, time and amount of the bid

TSA Auctions

Many buyers interested in the unclaimed property auctions also show interest in the TSA auctions regularly held online. The TSA offers confiscated and lost item auctions on GovDeals as well, including common items left at security check points due to carry on restrictions. 

Don't Miss Out

The ASC has held over 100,000 auctions on GovDeals.com and there is no slowing down now. Remember to bookmark the Atlanta Surplus Center's storefront on GovDeals and check in regularly to see the hundreds on new auctions added every other week.

You can also save your search and get notifications when new auctions have been listed or when auctions are closing soon. To learn more, see our saved search blog here.

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