why not use gsa? they're the source of most gov't surplus anyway, should save you that 5% buyers fee.
Pistone, i don't know if through gov't liquidations.com you still wind up at gsa, but i almost think you do, and they go by regions. Even though the rules from the top are the same, each region has different administrators who enforce them differently. Also each location you'll go, has yet another set, depending on who's in charge. Most of these, unless you're at a government site (such as fbi office or customs, commerce, etc) are merely private civilian contractors, who have no gov't employs, or even a real gov't connection, they follow gov't regs as to disposal, but also go by yet another (their own) set of rules (if they even have any) Probably the people you were dealing with was one of those private contractors, and if you had acquired (purchased) it through gsa, you would have the benefit of talking with the regional administration as to a breach of agreement, and possibly had the deal revoked