Need a lift? Bidding for surplus crane starts at $25

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/07/need-lift-bidding-surplus-crane-starts-25



Fort Eustis is getting rid of a couple 50-ton "rough-terrain, hydraulic, 6-cylinder, diesel-powered" industrial cranes at auction

Need a lift? Bidding for surplus crane starts at $25
By Mike Hixenbaugh
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 5, 2014

NEWPORT NEWS

The defense contractor's news release opens with an enticing question: "Need to do some heavy lifting this summer and have $25?"

~snip~

Welcome to the bizarre world of military surplus liquidation, where regular Joes can bid on old night-vision goggles or used airplane propellers - and pretty much anything that the Department of Defense no longer needs.

The military unloads thousands of used items every week at www.govliquidation.com and several other online auction sites. On any given day, an Internet junk collector could bid on a five-ton combat vehicle, several million pounds of scrap metal, a treadmill, a generator or a deep fryer. Recent auctions have included a U.S. Army tugboat (sold for $203,000), a Navy landing craft (sold for $50,000), a Boeing 747 and 30,000 pounds of cooking grease (both sealed bids).

Hold off, though, before making plans for that industrial crane at Fort Eustis. The $25 starting price - and the witty news release - are meant to draw attention, said Melissa Gieringer, a spokeswoman for Government Liquidation, the contractor running the online auction.