Is Public Surplus legit? An honest review for resellers
Short answer: yes. PublicSurplus.com is a legitimate government surplus auction marketplace run by The Public Group, LLC, an independent, privately held company that's been online since 1999. It is not a scam, and it's a separate company from GovDeals. The reseller's angle: fewer bidders and a lower buyer's premium — with the same as-is rules.
What is Public Surplus?
Public Surplus is an online auction platform where U.S. state and local government agencies — school districts, counties, cities, universities, transit authorities, utilities — sell surplus property to the public. Inventory spans vehicles, heavy and light equipment, IT, office and school furniture, and miscellaneous lots. Only approved public institutions can list, so you always know the seller is a government agency.
How does Public Surplus work?
- Register a free buyer account. Browsing is open; bidding requires an account.
- Search listings by category, agency, or region. Each lot shows photos, terms, closing time, and the seller.
- Place a bid in the timed auction; you can set a maximum and let it proxy-bid.
- Win and pay your bid plus any buyer's premium and applicable tax.
- Pick up or arrange shipping before the removal deadline. Many lots are pickup-only.
Who owns Public Surplus?
Public Surplus is operated by The Public Group, LLC, an independent, privately held company based in Utah. It has run surplus auctions since 1999. Importantly, it is not affiliated with GovDeals — GovDeals is owned by Liquidity Services, a different company. If you're comparing them, they're genuine competitors, not two brands of the same owner.
Does Public Surplus charge a buyer's premium?
Usually little or none. Public Surplus's buyer's premium is set by the seller and tends to be low — commonly in the 0%–10% range, and sometimes zero. It's disclosed on the listing and shown before you confirm a bid. Because GovDeals routinely adds ~7.5%–12.5%, Public Surplus's lower fee is a real part of its appeal — though you have to weigh it against a smaller selection.
Is Public Surplus safe to buy from?
Yes — safe on trust, risky only on your own math. Every seller is a vetted public agency, you receive the listed item, and payment runs through the platform. As with any surplus site, lots are as-is with no returns, so the way to lose money is to overpay or misjudge condition. Inspect the photos, read the terms, and compute landed cost before bidding.
Public Surplus review: the honest pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Independent, established platform (online since 1999) | Smaller listing volume than GovDeals |
| Low or no buyer's premium on many lots | Dated interface and search |
| Fewer bidders — less competition on some lots | As-is, where-is; no returns |
| Every seller is a vetted public agency | Many lots are pickup-only |
Verdict: Public Surplus is a legitimate, underrated sourcing channel — lower fees and thinner competition can mean better margins, if you're willing to hunt through a smaller catalog.
Where resellers actually lose money
- Overpaying vs. real resale — the fundamental risk on any platform.
- Shipping / pickup logistics — pickup-only lots across the state add real cost.
- Condition surprises — as-is means as-is; treat anything not pictured as missing.
- Sales tax — applied based on the lot location and your status.
Comparing surplus platforms? GavelGap automates the landed-cost-vs-resale math on GovDeals — the largest of these marketplaces — scoring every listing in your browser sidebar so you know if it flips before you bid.
See how GavelGap works →Frequently asked questions
Is Public Surplus a legitimate website?
Yes. PublicSurplus.com is run by The Public Group, LLC, an independent, privately held company, and has operated since 1999. Public agencies use it to sell surplus to the public. It's a real marketplace, not a scam.
What is Public Surplus?
An online auction platform where U.S. state and local government agencies sell surplus vehicles, equipment, IT, furniture, and miscellaneous items. Only approved public institutions can list.
Who owns Public Surplus?
The Public Group, LLC — an independent, privately held company based in Utah. It is not affiliated with GovDeals (owned by Liquidity Services).
Does Public Surplus charge a buyer's premium?
Usually little or none — commonly 0%–10%, set by the seller and disclosed on the listing. That's generally lower than GovDeals.
Is it safe to buy from Public Surplus?
Yes on trust and payment; every seller is a vetted public agency. The financial risk is the same as any surplus site: as-is, no returns, so inspect and compute landed cost before bidding.
Related: GovDeals vs Public Surplus vs GSA Auctions · Is GovDeals legit? · Is GovPlanet legit? →