I've bought several things from school auctions. The site I use is Public Surplus. They do government entities also. Never had any problems. I picked up a Jet 7X12 horizontal/vertical metal cutting bandsaw really cheap and there wasn't a thing wrong with it. They were purchasing new equipment. Was an 8 hour drive to pick it up. The other idem was a Jet 16/46 wood lathe. Was also an 8 drive to pick it up but I use the heck out of it. B.T. W I sold my old horizontal/vertical bandsaw for about the same price I paid for the new one. Same with my Jet 12/36 lathe. I thing when all was said and done it cost me about $200 for newer and better tools. Jim