Beware of Govplanet!

[INFChief]

I'm just posting this as a warning to all those who want to buy or thinking about buying from govplanet. I've made many purchases from them before. Just want to let you know about my most recent purchase. I bought something and I scheduled a pickup drove hours and hours out of my way to go get it only to find out nobody's there to give me my item. Their reasoning is well it's just automated . We only can make appointments we can't make him show up . Going on a week now I'm getting almost zero help from govplanet. They're asking me if I want to abandon my item for they can relist it. But they feel like they should refund my gas for trip... whoopity Doo... after hours on my phone. All they want to do is send me a generic email once they get me off the phone. Saying send us receipts and will refund you for your gas. And sorry about your luck on your item. Saying I should trust a third party will be there this time to give me my item. But make no promises if it happens again.. I join the form just to get the message out to you guys. Because I've noticed a lot of people have post on here from govplanet. And just want to let you know what to expect if this happens to you. So please make your purchases local. I do apologize if this does not belong on this forum. I posted here because I thought a lot of traffic was here. And I would reach the right people.

What location (state / city)?

 

[FloridaAKM]

No, they didn't refund me as I have had the shelter all along. They got a new kid to run the yard who likes to talk & not do paperwork, hence the shelter was never listed as picked up.
The next fiasco was terminal & during the bidding process, my screen flipped & the Humvee topper I was bidding on (5) switched to a patrol car in Albany & I won it with one bid. They would not retract the bid & wanted $500.00 reparations or be banned, so I joined the 30% welching group & stopped bidding, visiting the site & terminated the account.

I am just one of a growing group of people who used to pour over the newest offerings, but now just delete all the popup ads & don't look back. It costs Govplanet $$$$, but they seem not to care.

 

[INFChief]

No, they didn't refund me as I have had the shelter all along. They got a new kid to run the yard who likes to talk & not do paperwork, hence the shelter was never listed as picked up.
The next fiasco was terminal & during the bidding process, my screen flipped & the Humvee topper I was bidding on (5) switched to a patrol car in Albany & I won it with one bid. They would not retract the bid & wanted $500.00 reparations or be banned, so I joined the 30% welching group & stopped bidding, visiting the site & terminated the account.

I am just one of a growing group of people who used to pour over the newest offerings, but now just delete all the popup ads & don't look back. It costs Govplanet $$$$, but they seem not to care.

I was NEW to GP & made a mistake bid. I called to see if I could retract a bid - no go. Luckily someone else bid higher. Lesson learned for me. Not that it won’t happen again…

I also fell victim to ‘shipping’ when I intended to pick up. I try to pay closer attention to process now. They gave me a shipping credit which I applied to my next purchase.

 

[simp5782]

Unfortunately even if you leave the item at their yard for over 60 days and it's declared abandoned. They have to make a reasonable effort to let you obtain you property. They can charge a fee etc, but they can not re sell the item and profit from it again without refunding you the Original purchase price minus their handling fees. They may have a 60 day " abandonment policy" however state laws on abandonment and selling of someone else's personal property is a Huge cluster f. It varies by state, some say 60 days, some say 6 months on up to 2yrs. It gets pretty retarded. They run into a bigger problem is the item comes with a title. I always opt for the title on any purchase on auction that has one cause the title will be in your name period which gives them even more issues if they try to change the ownership on a printed and filed title. If you have a title in your name and they still hold your item and try to resell it then they got more issues. I usually get titles well before I get stuff picked up.

In TN on anything over 25yrs or a trailer you just need a picture of the data plate and a picture of the vehicle from each of it's 4 corners and you can go to the clerks office and get a title with your bill of sale from GP. Meaning I can title it without their sf97 etc even before I get it.

 

[Hummer Guy]

Unfortunately even if you leave the item at their yard for over 60 days and it's declared abandoned. They have to make a reasonable effort to let you obtain you property. They can charge a fee etc, but they can not re sell the item and profit from it again without refunding you the Original purchase price minus their handling fees. They may have a 60 day " abandonment policy" however state laws on abandonment and selling of someone else's personal property is a Huge cluster f. It varies by state, some say 60 days, some say 6 months on up to 2yrs. It gets pretty retarded. They run into a bigger problem is the item comes with a title. I always opt for the title on any purchase on auction that has one cause the title will be in your name period which gives them even more issues if they try to change the ownership on a printed and filed title. If you have a title in your name and they still hold your item and try to resell it then they got more issues. I usually get titles well before I get stuff picked up.

In TN on anything over 25yrs or a trailer you just need a picture of the data plate and a picture of the vehicle from each of it's 4 corners and you can go to the clerks office and get a title with your bill of sale from GP. Meaning I can title it without their sf97 etc even before I get it.

How do you get the title before it gets there? Do you call that number under "Contact Title Department"?

Also, is there a way I can still get a title beforehand? I had got the SF97 and just paid it last week. Is there still a way to get the title early?

 

[INFChief]

How do you get the title before it gets there? Do you call that number under "Contact Title Department"?

Also, is there a way I can still get a title beforehand? I had got the SF97 and just paid it last week. Is there still a way to get the title early?

Good questions. Sadly, the answers are not what you want to hear. GP takes too long. I purchased a militia truck on 8/4/21. The EUC & SF97 forms are submitted at the same time. EUC is processed & I pick the vehicle up on 8/10/21. I have routinely called GP to check on the SF97 (transferable title for my DMV). GP is caught off guard & they blame DLA (Defense Logistics Agency). Note: DLA processes all SF97 requests from GP & other entities. I call DLA & they tell me GP hasn’t sent them any documentation. I call GP back & GP tells me that DLA requires them (GP) to batch 200 to 300 at a time. I ask where mine is - silence. I ask if they track these things; she said “yes”. I ask where my is and what the status is - silence. GP will tell you it will take between 8 to 12 weeks to get the SF97. That seems to be panning out to be accurate……only because I believe GP screws up the process and causes delays.
Sorry you asked?

 

[simp5782]

How do you get the title before it gets there? Do you call that number under "Contact Title Department"?

Also, is there a way I can still get a title beforehand? I had got the SF97 and just paid it last week. Is there still a way to get the title early?

Trailers, trucks without euc can be had without an sf97 from gp when you pay for the title.

Even on things like a hmmwv etc. the state law here is pretty clear on items over 25yrs. As long as I can show I am the legal owner. They don't care about a sf97.. as long as it has never been titled or isn't titled to someone else once they complete their checking on that they issue a title to me for said truck etc. The vehicle doesn't have to have an LEo vin inspection etc like other states. Just 4 pictures and the data plate picture. They then go in a file for the dept of revenue

 

[98G]

No; when they collapse a sale, they are generous enough to keep the money AND re-sell the item.

That directly conflicts with my first hand experience.

My experience is "collapse a sale" = refund and relist, as if it never happened.

"Declare abandoned" = they keep the money and relist the item.

 

[INFChief]

How do you get the title before it gets there? Do you call that number under "Contact Title Department"?

Also, is there a way I can still get a title beforehand? I had got the SF97 and just paid it last week. Is there still a way to get the title early?

GovPlanet - EUCs for Government Surplus Vehicles

www.govplanet.com

 

[INFChief]

How do you get the title before it gets there? Do you call that number under "Contact Title Department"?

Also, is there a way I can still get a title beforehand? I had got the SF97 and just paid it last week. Is there still a way to get the title early?

GovPlanet - FAQ

www.govplanet.com

 

[INFChief]

How do you get the title before it gets there? Do you call that number under "Contact Title Department"?

Also, is there a way I can still get a title beforehand? I had got the SF97 and just paid it last week. Is there still a way to get the title early?

I posted a couple of links for you. Getting a title may be easier on certain vehicle that had been titled - civilian type vehicles that a State owned might be one example.

Depending on your state motor vehicle laws military vehicles might require a title which the US government provides in the form of a SF97 (Special Form 97).

If you go through the FAQ’s you will find info on the EUC & SF97 under “post sale” steps to take. The EUC is for certain items and there’s 2 important things with this. 1) It informs the buyer of certain conditions the government requires of you as the new owner and 2) this will serve as your “Item Release”. Once you receive the EUC you may pick up your item.

The post sale process allows you to either request a bill of sale or a SF97. I selected SF97 because, well because I live in NYS and am not about to get tangled up in a fight with DMV. There is a fee for the SF97. Since I also wanted a bill of sale I called GP and requested one. A BoS cost $25 and that’s cheap enough “insurance” when I go to title & register my truck.

If you received your SF97 that quick then you struck GOLD! That’s spectacular. As far as getting a SF97 in advance - I just don’t see that as likely. The SF97 is made out in the buyers name & includes vehicle specific identifiable information - I don’t believe it’s a prefilled document where all that would need to be done is to type in the buyers info.

I posted earlier how GP interacts with DLA for the process of requesting a SF97. The process is a typical governmental barrel of monkeys but GP seems to make it even more cumbersome. In my case, from what GP told me, DLA said the vehicle serial # did not match. Military trucks don’t have VIN’s; they have registration #’s and serial #’s. My vehicle # has a dash in it (-) and I’m wondering how NYS DMV might vapor lock over that.

I hope this was helpful.

 

[Phoenix77]

That directly conflicts with my first hand experience.

My experience is "collapse a sale" = refund and relist, as if it never happened.

"Declare abandoned" = they keep the money and relist the item.

Gotcha; my bad.

 

[Hummer Guy]

I posted a couple of links for you. Getting a title may be easier on certain vehicle that had been titled - civilian type vehicles that a State owned might be one example.

Depending on your state motor vehicle laws military vehicles might require a title which the US government provides in the form of a SF97 (Special Form 97).

If you go through the FAQ’s you will find info on the EUC & SF97 under “post sale” steps to take. The EUC is for certain items and there’s 2 important things with this. 1) It informs the buyer of certain conditions the government requires of you as the new owner and 2) this will serve as your “Item Release”. Once you receive the EUC you may pick up your item.

The post sale process allows you to either request a bill of sale or a SF97. I selected SF97 because, well because I live in NYS and am not about to get tangled up in a fight with DMV. There is a fee for the SF97. Since I also wanted a bill of sale I called GP and requested one. A BoS cost $25 and that’s cheap enough “insurance” when I go to title & register my truck.

If you received your SF97 that quick then you struck GOLD! That’s spectacular. As far as getting a SF97 in advance - I just don’t see that as likely. The SF97 is made out in the buyers name & includes vehicle specific identifiable information - I don’t believe it’s a prefilled document where all that would need to be done is to type in the buyers info.

I posted earlier how GP interacts with DLA for the process of requesting a SF97. The process is a typical governmental barrel of monkeys but GP seems to make it even more cumbersome. In my case, from what GP told me, DLA said the vehicle serial # did not match. Military trucks don’t have VIN’s; they have registration #’s and serial #’s. My vehicle # has a dash in it (-) and I’m wondering how NYS DMV might vapor lock over that.

I hope this was helpful.

Thanks, do the bill of sale comes in advance? I notice on the site it says 3-5 business days. Is that after you request it or when you receive the vehicle?

 

[simp5782]

Thanks, do the bill of sale comes in advance? I notice on the site it says 3-5 business days. Is that after you request it or when you receive the vehicle?

You have an paid in full invoice in your post sale section of the site login

 

[INFChief]

Thanks, do the bill of sale comes in advance? I notice on the site it says 3-5 business days. Is that after you request it or when you receive the vehicle?

The bill of sale & EUC seem to come fairly quickly as compared to that dang SF97. But again, you will need to specific request a bill of sale and pay a separate fee/charge. The SF97 is more critical than a bill of sale for some state motor vehicle departments. I requested both just to be safe. I don’t know of any way to request one in advance, per se, but you would most likely get it in advance of a SF97.

 

[Hummer Guy]

The bill of sale & EUC seem to come fairly quickly as compared to that dang SF97. But again, you will need to specific request a bill of sale and pay a separate fee/charge. The SF97 is more critical than a bill of sale for some state motor vehicle departments. I requested both just to be safe. I don’t know of any way to request one in advance, per se, but you would most likely get it in advance of a SF97.

I had call them and they sent me a bill of sale, I had to pay an extra fee for that. I'm planning on having dirt legal go through the process because the DMV over here is bad, I really don't feel like having to go there multiple times and waiting hours each day.

 

[simp5782]

You need to call the special licenses registration folks. There is one lady that I believe does all of them.
@juanprado can help you if you have any issues.
It was all just figured out in the Louisiana legislation

I had call them and they sent me a bill of sale, I had to pay an extra fee for that. I'm planning on having dirt legal go through the process because the DMV over here is bad, I really don't feel like having to go there multiple times and waiting hours each day.

 

[Gunman1919]

I guess i consider myself lucky in Mississippi for a trailer all I need is a bill of sale written in crayon on the back of a napkin as long as make model serial are there boom you get title and tag. No pictures no Inspection. Vehicles if you don’t have a title. You just get a insurance title bond and bill of sale and your good to go.

 

[selleckg]

Overall I like GovPlanet. It has really opened up government surplus. So, I've done business in Abilene, Colorado Springs, and Parcel from Nevada.

Colorado:
The team at Colorado Springs are very nice and accommodating. They have been very helpful, every time I've gone there, however they don't know where all the stuff is. Case in point... I went to pick up a several pallets one of which was tow-bars. They lost the pallet. DO NOT LEAVE THE YARD without getting the manager to sign your release form stating that the pallet was not found. The manager said to call customer care. I called Gov-planet. Three months later I'm still arguing with them to get my money back.

Abilene:
Abilene team was awesome, and knew exactly where their items were. They were very helpful. Even provided an air compressor.

General Gripes and cautions:

• Govplanet customer care has a bad habit of just repeating the same thing off their scripts which is infuriating.
• You have to follow-up on complaints constantly. Take note of every date and conversation.
• Another gripe I have about GovPlanet is that they don't provide sufficient descriptions or pictures of non-vehicular items., and sometimes sell items which are broken but not shown to be broken in the photo's.
• Wish they were open on weekends for people to pick up their stuff.
• Parcel - When buying parcel items from the Nevada location... They charge city and state tax in addition to postage which combined sometimes exceeds the cost of the item. Be prepared to pay roughly double what you bid every time.
• Not sure why they charge such a high fee for Credit card payments.
• Finally, as noted above, if you abandon an item which is less than 500 dollars, be sure that you will receive nothing back from it when it sells. They will ensure that the storage fees exceed the proceeds.
• Ok, one more note... it would be nice if they had a reconciliation phase to the auction where any item which fails to sell goes up again at the end for some nominal amount less.

 

[ArizonaMT1]

GovPlanet Yermo, CA is great. 2 solid experiences. Just purchase 3 M353 trailers. Will update on outcome of this 3rd purchase from them.

Hello, I'm curious. Because I bought a couple of M353's myself. And Yermo is great btw. But if you dont mind me asking what do you plan to convert your chassis into? Im curious what other folks are doing with them is all.
Thanks