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Friday July 03, 2009

Online Auctions - FAQ

Here are some examples of questions that we have received pertaining to our online auctions.
 
Why do all of your auctions start at 1¢ and listed AS IS?
All of the items that we list on eBay have been declared surplus and were used on a daily basis for up to 3 years (sometimes longer).  Most items are only checked to make sure that they power up.  PCs and laptops are powered up, and their hard drives formatted.  Please consult each item's auction description for the amount of testing done.
If I offer you X amount of money, will you end the auction early?
I'm sorry, but I cannot end any auction early, or sell outside of eBay.
Can I pay via money order?
You can pay via money order only if you plan on picking up the item.  For items requiring shipment, we only accept PayPal.  Local pickup items can be paid via Cash / Check / Money Order / Visa / MasterCard / PayPal.
When and where can I pickup an auction item?
Local pickup times are between the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday.  Please send an email with a pick up date and time.  Due to our limited amount of storage at the pick up location, we ask that you let us know ahead of time so we may only move down what is about to be picked up.  Pickups are made at 132 North Main Street, Salisbury, NC 28144.  There are no additional charges for local pickup.  You must tell me the first and last name of the person who will be picking up the item.  They will also be required to display a picture ID before the item will be released.
I won the auction, now what?
If you reside in the United States, and require shipment, please use the shipping calculator, located on the bottom of the auction page, to determine shipping charges.  Then send a PayPal payment, including both the final auction amount + the shipping charge.  You do not need to wait for an email from me.  The faster you send in payment, the faster I can get the item to you.
If you plan on picking up your item, please visit www.salisburync.gov/auctions/pickup.html for more information.
Remember, you only have 5 days to pay for an auction, so bear that in mind.  Failure to pay within the 5 day window (the window can be expanded for large items that require special handling) will result in you losing your winning bid status, and the item being re-listed.  A non-paying bidder claim will be filed against you with eBay.
How much to ship to (country name)?
Please use the shipping calculator on the auction page to determine shipping charges.  If the auction is for something that has to be dropped off for packing & shipping, use the "ask the seller a question" link and tell me the city / country you wish to get a quote for, and I'll contact the local shippers and get you a rough quote.
Who do you use for shipping?
Depending on the size and destination of the package, either UPS (large / heavy items) or Post Office Priority mail (small / light items).  International shipments are done via the Post Office.  Large items cannot be shipped internationally.  Please check each auction for individual shipping options.
What happens if an item is damaged or lost in shipping?
Uninsured items - nothing can be done.
Lost insured items - contact me for instructions
Visibly damaged items - All of our auctions are sold AS IS, meaning that minimal testing has been done, and therefore we cannot guarantee the item is in complete working condition. However, if you notice visible damage on an item (or the box it was shipped in) that isn't depicted in the auction image, DO NOT throw away the box or shipping material.  UPS requires that the original shipping box and material be available for inspection before an insurance claim can be accepted.  If you throw any of this away beforehand, they will decline your insurance claim.