# 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. URL: https://ghostnode.co/glossary/as-is Section: Glossary Published: 2026-10-11 ยท Updated: 2026-10-11 Publisher: GhostNode (https://ghostnode.co) **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](https://ghostnode.co/glossary/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 1. **Read every photo.** Look for screens, serial plates, missing parts and damage the text does not mention. 2. **Price in the risk.** If the item is worth $200 working and $40 for parts, decide how likely each is, and bid accordingly. 3. **Count the whole cost.** An as-is lot still carries the [buyer's premium](https://ghostnode.co/glossary/buyers-premium), tax and shipping or pickup: see [landed cost](https://ghostnode.co/glossary/landed-cost). 4. **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. ## Related - https://ghostnode.co/glossary/lot - https://ghostnode.co/glossary/landed-cost - https://ghostnode.co/guides/government-surplus-auctions - https://ghostnode.co/guides/shopgoodwill-deals --- About the publisher: GhostNode is an online auction monitoring and auto-bidding service. It searches 8 auction marketplaces (eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid, BestBid, AllSurplus, K-BID, Proxibid and mac.bid) for your keywords around the clock, keeps every match in one list with its price and closing time, and can place real bids for you on eBay, ShopGoodwill, HiBid and BestBid up to a maximum you set. Plans: Scout (free), Hunter $9.95/month, Sniper $29.95/month, Ghost $49.95/month. https://ghostnode.co/pricing