Going, going, gone! Action at the auction.

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Snowboards for sale

Jewelery for sale

Computers for sale

Need a tennis racquet? What about a used truck or artificial Christmas tree? If you can think of it, you might just find it through The City of Calgary’s surplus sales and public auctions.

Since the early 1990s, The City of Calgary has hosted sales and public auctions for surplus equipment and materials. The shelves are stocked weekly with tools, electronics, sporting equipment, clothing and other items.

In early 2019, The City launched an online auction at surplus.calgary.ca. For online auction items, Calgarians can now check the latest bids, make a bid and pay for their items online.

“This is a new offering for us and we’re excited that citizens will be able to bid on items from anywhere using the internet,” said Glen Jollimore, warehouse lead with The City. “To bid, all you need is a username, and password, which is easily set-up through myID.”

Jollimire and his team have seen some interesting items come through the store. “One of the most memorable sales was tartan regalia – jackets and kilts – that were deemed obsolete. They were sold to The City of Rome in Italy for their pipe band,” noted Jollimore. “We’ve sold everything from fire hydrants to the first HAWCS helicopter through regular selling methods, but we’ve learned quickly that it’s the iPads and electronics that are most popular on the online auction.”

A general rule of thumb for pricing is 35 per cent of retail. If an item is brand new, the pricing approach may be higher. Vehicles are priced using established methods like Kelly Blue Book and fair market value. While computers are not posted online, a pricing list is available and items can be viewed and purchased during regular store hours.

Bikes from police, jewelry from Court of Queen’s Bench, computers that are life-cycled through IT, lost and found items that were never claimed, and vehicles and equipment are some of the items sold through The City’s surplus sales and public auctions.

Citizens are invited to visit surplus.calgary.ca to view online auction items or go to the Surplus Store in person on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 3063 Dartmouth Road S.E. (600 block of 25th Ave. S.E.).