nothing is more frustrating than when a package sent through the postal service is lost and the agency does everything possible to return it to the sender or recipient, but cannot access the information necessary to do so.
At that point, the package goes to the USPS Mail Recovery Center and, after a certain period, can be auctioned off. what are usps auctions keep reading if you want to find out!
what are usps auctions in 2022?
auctions conducted by the united states postal service consist of lost and unclaimed mail that has been held in the agency’s mail recovery center for at least 90 days. Once a value of at least $25 has been confirmed, with no active missing mail searches, items can be auctioned on govdeals.com starting in 2022.
To learn more about how USPS auctions work, where they’re held and how to receive your proceeds, who can bid at auctions, and more, keep reading to learn more!
does the usps auction lose mail?
The United States Postal Service auctions lost mail, but only after it has been in the Mail Recovery Center (MRC) for at least 90 days.
In addition, items must have an estimated value of $25 or more to be eligible for USPS auctions.
The MRC is in Atlanta, Georgia, in a nondescript building with considerable security and limited access, so not much is known about the inner workings of the USPS auction process.
how do usps auctions work?
usps auctions would not be possible without the mishaps of lost packages in the usps system.
However, it is important to note that the postal service does its best to deliver mail to its intended recipient (or return it to the original sender).
how packages arrive at the auction site:
for example, if you bought an echo dot from amazon and are going to send it to your family for christmas, and the label falls off in a truck or sorting machine without a barcode, the package cannot continue.
This means that there is no address written on the package. therefore, a postal employee is given the go-ahead to open it and look for clues, such as a card addressed to the recipient.
However, if the employee cannot find out where the package was going or where it originated, it is sent to the USPS Mail Recovery Center (or MRC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
once the package arrives, mrc staff check again for clues within the package that indicate a destination or origin.
Unfortunately, if there is no indication of who the package belongs to and the item is worth approximately $40, it is eligible for auction.
At this point, you have a few months to file a missing mail claim (people unfamiliar with the process may not realize this is an option).
However, if your description is not specific enough and they are unable to locate your item, USPS has the right to auction the item after 90 days.
usps is less likely to auction a package individually and more likely to add it to a lot list. could be listed on an electronic platform, where the starting bid is $2,500.
how you can bid:
Now, if you’re interested in bidding and buying from usps, you can go to govdeals.com.
govdeals is the government-contracted site that conducts auctions for any or all government agencies that may have eligible items. everything is categorized by item type as well as location.
You can list USPS MRC items by location: Atlanta Surplus Center, GA.
To bid, you must register for an account and you can pay for your winning bid with paypal, any major credit card, or if the total is over $5,000, you must make a wire transfer. payment must be made in a timely manner, usually within five days.
If you win, you must schedule a pickup appointment and arrange for all transportation of the winnings.
This is particularly important, because USPS auctions tend to come in large lots, sometimes with full trailers, and you’ll need a large truck (and heavy trucks) to transport it.
govdeals emphasizes that there are no returns or refunds, which means you agree to purchase the items “as is” and any loss incurred through the sale is yours.
where are usps auctions held?
usps auctions are conducted online, through the govdeals.com website. this site actually handles auctions for any/all government agencies that have items to move, and if you browse a bit you can see everything sorted by type.
You can also search by location, since you have to pick up the items, so you’ll want to make sure they’re located somewhere accessible to you.
how much does usps make from auctions?
the postal service is silent on the kind of profit they make from lost mail auctions.
a news station tried to pierce the veil of secrecy and came away empty-handed, with a firm statement: “information requested is withheld in its entirety.”
The station then went on to say that in the previous year (2018) USPS made about $11 million from sales (and in 2013 it was $8 million).
It probably goes up and down every year, but it’s not unreasonable to assume that the USPS makes millions in profit every year (although it’s a drop in the ocean, in budget terms).
can anyone bid on usps auctions?
anyone in the us. uu. If you are over the age of 18 and have the necessary funds, you can bid at a USPS auction.
You must create an account to bid, and then you will pay by credit card (which you cannot have unless you are 18) or by bank transfer.
The only exceptions to the 18+ rule are USPS employees and their immediate families.
To learn more about USPS, you can also see our posts on how long USPS holds packages, whether USPS packages are insured, and the USPS rating facility.
conclusion
The United States Postal Service auctions lost packages online after making sure they are undeliverable through the govdeals website.
While the independent agency profits from these sales, it also prevents the items from ending up in landfills.