Mobile uses two online auction sites, with most of the business done with GovDeals and some trading done with René Bates Auctioneers Inc. (www.renebates.com).
From November 2004 through November 2005, Mobile had sales of $192,688.70 with GovDeals and $39,923 with René Bates, according to information released by the city. GovDeals charges the city 7.5 percent of its sales; René Bates charges the city 4.5 percent.
Past sales have included city buses, garbage trucks, vehicles confiscated by the police department, a steel barge, computers, fax machines, personal watercraft and the light bars that go on top of police cars.
The city sold its old fire boat, the Ramona Doyle, online to a Mississippi auction company for about $10,000, said Emmett Farnell, the city’s purchasing agent.

Posted: 01|1|06 at 1:32 pm. Filed under: US News.