Below are common questions and answers about buying US Customs GO Merchandise.
GO merchandise are items that are unclaimed and abandoned at U.S. Port Sites, and are that are being offered by the U.S. Customs Service.
Yes, all auctions are free and open to the public.
Online Auctions
- If you are a new bidder, please create an account
- Visit auctions.cwsmarketing.com and click on “Register to Bid” next to auction you are interested.
- To complete your registration, you must submit a bid deposit form and the appropriate sale deposit prior to the sale date in order to be allowed access to the auction.
Bidders will need to accept the Terms & Conditions in order to establish an account.
Live Auctions
For live auctions, you must fill out a bidder registration form and present it with a Government issued photo ID. You will then receive a bidder number and sale catalog and be able to participate in the auction.
Yes, public previews are scheduled on specific dates and times prior to the sale date to allow prospective buyers to preview/inspect the merchandise being offered in a given sale. Absolutely no access to merchandise is allowed without prior CWS approval. Bidders are urged to view or inspect merchandise prior to bidding. Failure to view or inspect merchandise shall not constitute cause for cancellation of sale. Buyers should also inspect merchandise prior to receiving items after purchase. Buyers are responsible to ascertain the accuracy of what they are acknowledging receipt of prior to removal.
These previews are for the buyers’ benefit. CWS provides brief descriptions of the merchandise offered for sale. This description is to inform buyers of items available for sale and to give bidders enough information to determine if they are interested in inspecting the merchandise. Bidders are cautioned that all weights, measurements, descriptions and export status listed must be considered approximations and do not create any warranty that the merchandise actually conforms to such descriptions. Again, failure to view or inspect merchandise shall not constitute cause for cancellation of sale. CWS may, at its discretion, provide photographs or slides as a courtesy to bidders. Bidders are cautioned against bidding on items based solely on a photograph.
The merchandise offered for sale varies from new to salvage. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and CWS make no warranties or guarantees, written, expressed, or implied as to quality, quantity, condition, usability, salability, weight, measure, year, make, model, mechanical condition, performance, or their specifications.
Export Only property is merchandise that is deemed by the U.S. Government to not be sellable for use within the United States, and is therefore sold for “export only”. Merchandise sold for “export only” cannot be entered into the commerce of the United States. Without exception, “export only” merchandise must exit the country and cannot be registered, used, or sold again in the United States. Buyers unfamiliar with the export process are cautioned against bidding on “export only” merchandise until they have familiarized themselves with the export process.
Buyers are strongly encouraged to investigate export options prior to purchasing “export only” merchandise. It is recommended that purchasers engage the services of a broker or Customs bonded carrier if they are unfamiliar with export requirements. CWS cannot and does not provide any assistance whatsoever. All purchasers are responsible for complying with all applicable Federal licensing and permit regulations prior to exportation. CWS does not warrant the availability of such licensor permits, nor provide a list of the requirements that must be met. The failure of the purchaser to obtain necessary licensing will not result in the return of any monies tendered for the goods.
Detailed export information can be found on the CBP website at: http://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export Broker information may also be found at: https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports Click on the state and the appropriate Port. After the Port location and contact information, you may find a link for “Broker List” if one is available for that port. All forms required for exportation may be obtained at a nominal cost from the local CBP office.
Auction purchases of $5,000 or less require payment in full on the day of sale. For online auctions, once purchases reach $5,000, an immediate deposit of $5,000 is required. Purchases of more than $5,000 require a $5,000 deposit on day of sale with final payment due within 2 business days If purchases are less than $5,000, only your purchase amount is applied and any change returned via method of deposit payment. For live auctions, once purchases reach $5,000, an immediate deposit of $5,000 is required. Purchases of more than $5,000 require a $5,000 deposit on day of sale with final payment due within 2 business days. There are no extensions for final payment.
There is no buyer’s premium charged on auction purchases. What you bid is what you pay. Storage vendors may charge for removal services beyond moving your purchases to the loading dock. Buyers are encouraged to contact the storage vendor to inquire as to these fees prior to removing their purchases.
For online auctions, we accept cashier’s checks (payable to CWS Marketing Group Inc) money orders (payable to CWS Marketing Group Inc.) and the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Debit cards are not accepted. Personal or business checks, certified checks, bank letters, ACH payments or letters of credit are not accepted. Bank wire may be used for final payment and online auction deposits only.
For live auctions, we accept cash, cashier’s checks (payable to CWS Marketing Group Inc), money orders (payable to CWS Marketing Group Inc.) and the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Debit cards are not accepted. Personal or business checks, certified checks, bank letters, ACH payments or letters of credit are not accepted.
Domestic General Order (GO) merchandise must be removed within 15 calendar days of the sale. Export Only General Order (GO) merchandise (other than vehicles) must be removed within 30 calendar days of the sale. Export only General Order (GO) vehicles must be removed within 45 calendar days of sale.
Yes, you can. If you opt to send a third party to pick up your purchases, you must prepare and sign a notarized authorization letter identifying the agent on your behalf. The letter must also include a copy of your driver’s license or passport. The agent must present photo identification to validate your option to initiation of any action. In addition, they must present an original or copy of your fully paid invoice and merchandise release documents in order for the warehouse to release your purchases.
Bid results are typically posted online two weeks after the sale. Go here to view bid results.
Most questions can be answered by reading the Sale of Government General Order Merchandise General Sale Terms and Conditions. It is highly recommended that prospective buyers familiarize themselves with these Terms and Conditions of Sale prior to bidding on any merchandise.