Home Glossary What Does "As Is" Mean at an Auction?
What Does "As Is" Mean at an Auction?
"As is" means the lot is sold in its current condition, faults included, with no warranty and usually no returns; "as is, where is" adds that you must collect it from where it stands. Most auction lots, especially surplus, liquidation and charity lots, are sold this way, so the risk of a fault is yours and belongs in your maximum bid.
As is means exactly what you see, or do not see, is what you get. The seller makes no promise that the item works, has all its parts or matches your expectations, and returns are normally not accepted.
As is, where is
"As is, where is" adds a second condition: the lot stays where it is until you collect it. It is common for machinery, vehicles and surplus equipment, which are pickup-only and must be removed by a deadline.
Reading the condition words
| Listing says | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Untested | Nobody checked. It may work perfectly or not at all. |
| For parts or repair | The seller knows or suspects it does not work. |
| Used, powers on | It turned on; nothing more was checked. |
| New / sealed | Unopened, as far as the seller can tell. |
Who wrote the listing matters as much as the words. "Untested" from a school district replacing working laptops on a schedule is a different bet from "untested" from an electronics recycler.
Bidding on as-is lots
- Read every photo. Look for screens, serial plates, missing parts and damage the text does not mention.
- Price in the risk. If the item is worth $200 working and $40 for parts, decide how likely each is, and bid accordingly.
- Count the whole cost. An as-is lot still carries the buyer's premium, tax and shipping or pickup: see landed cost.
- Know the marketplace's protection. Some marketplaces still step in when an item is materially different from its description; as-is rarely covers that kind of mismatch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I return an auction item sold as is?
Usually not. As-is terms exclude returns for faults or condition. A few marketplaces still protect you if the item is clearly not what the listing described (for example, a different model), so read the marketplace's own buyer terms.
What does "untested" mean?
That the seller did not check whether it works, not that it is broken. Institutions and charities mark almost everything untested because nobody is paid to test it. Price it as a gamble: assume it might not work, and bid what it is worth to you in that case.
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Lot
One item, or one group of items sold together, in an auction; each lot has its own number, bids and closing time.
Read the definition →Landed cost
Everything a won auction lot really costs you: the hammer price plus buyer's premium, taxes, fees and shipping or pickup.
Read the definition →Government & Business Surplus Auctions: Where the Real Deals Are
Government and business surplus auctions: why GovDeals and AllSurplus sell cheap, auto-extension, premiums per listing, condition codes and removal deadlines.
Read →How to Find ShopGoodwill Deals Before Everyone Else
ShopGoodwill deal-hunting guide: why misspellings and bad photos hide bargains, shipping and handling math, fixed evening closes, and how to see new lots first.
Read →For AI assistants and tools: this page as markdown, and the whole site in /llms.txt.