Where these IT lots come from
The PCs and servers on offer come mainly from three sources. German administrations decommission their equipment via Zoll-Auktion: customs, federal government, federal states and municipalities sell office machines there, often in lots of several devices. Justiz-Auktion sells goods seized by bailiffs and courts, with varied configurations. Add to this insolvency and liquidation stocks, put up for sale by specialised platforms or licensed auctioneers. This equipment is frequently sold without a hard drive, to protect data. German terms such as "ohne Festplatte", "ungeprüft" or "defekt" describe the actual condition. Bidorado brings together these scattered sales and displays the all-inclusive price.
Checkpoints before bidding
Read the German listing word by word. "Ohne Festplatte" means the hard drive has been removed: budget for buying and installing a drive, plus an operating system. "BIOS-Passwort" indicates locked firmware, which can be difficult to unlock on some models. "Ungeprüft" means untested: expect a risk of failure. "Defekt" signals a faulty device, to repair or cannibalise. Check the exact configuration, whether power supplies, rails and mounts are included, and the keyboard layout, often QWERTZ. For servers, check the form factor, drive compatibility and noise level. At private auction houses, buyer's premiums apply, often between 15 and 33%, plus German VAT of 19% depending on the scheme.
Collection, delivery and VAT
Many IT lots can be shipped, at least within Germany, which makes remote buying easier. Others are "nur Abholung", to be collected on site: arrange a carrier or a relay address in Germany. For shipments, ask the seller about packaging and insurance, as servers are heavy and fragile. On tax, an EU business with a valid VAT number can often buy without German VAT by providing proof of transport, the Gelangensbestätigung, depending on the seller. At private auction houses, VAT may be added, included or subject to the margin scheme. Bidorado shows the all-in price for easy comparison.