What do you want changed about GL?

Well, my turn! Robyn, I see that Steelsoldiers question was not answered. The canned responses from the info email address sure make it seem that we are wasting our time trying to get INFO. Still no real answer as to why my closed watchlist is missing the B&Q items that I was watching. Have the previous successful bidders area been restored yet or is that info still being sequestered as to suppress a bidders knowledge? I'm sorry Robyn but I went on an email campaign with the hidden B&Q stuff and most of my emails were ignored and the few that were answered look just like the canned message that Steelsoldiers got. You ask us to send our ideas and requests there but they just spit in our faces (figuratively). Just recently I had to make numerous calls, emails and live chat contacts just to get an invoice that I should have already had. It was a B&Q item and was collected on 8-28. They had no problem sucking the money out of my account but it was a huge problem just getting the invoice. I will have to say that everyone gave me the runaround or typical answer " I've put in a request for it." The last person I spoke with, Aryannah (sp) took a can do attitude after I explained my plight and she made it happen. Within 30 minutes, I had an invoice. This was on 9-9. Too bad the rest of the folk couldn't be bothered to help. Sorry, done venting now!

Kenny, I'm with you brother!!!!!


Sick of the: "it's not my problem attitude"......

'canned' email responses make me feel like a real person never read what I sent. Honestly... it pisses me off. I think I even responded to one as such, and got a real person response the next time. Not that the answer was much better!

USMilitarySurplus said:

tie6044: From what I understand, the SF97s used to be issued at time of pickup. They were notoriously wrong and made for difficult visits to the DMV. Hence, the new system where GL creates them on our own.

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I dissagree, I NEVER got an incorrect SF-97 when I bought directly from the DRMO. Why? Because the person filling out the 97 was right there with me and the vehicle. If there was any question we could walk outside, inspect the vehicle and agree on the information required. It also used to be a rule in the DRMO's Surplus Buyers guide that if you could find a VIN you could not be denied a 97 if requested. I find it dissapointing that GL sems to be above the state laws that all other licesensed used car dealrs must follow.

papercu said:

Well, let’s see what I would want changed about G/L so more bidders will find it easier to buy Government surplus? Won’t more bidders mean a increase in bids so that the final price will be more?
Some how helping G/L increase their bottom line at the cost of my bottom line doesn’t thrill me too much.
I guess those of you that have plenty of money and less time will like it but it just don’t feel right to me.
I liked it in the first days when the L/L website was so hard to navigate only a true diehard surplus buyer would stick to the end. I hope G/L gives each of you a little gold star for be so.....helpfull. Wayne

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Well, you do have a point. GL is a pain in the butt to work with but their crappy business practices probably does scare some bidders away.

TWO WEEKS after I sent my EUC until someone FINALLY looked at it.

Why do we have to fill out an EUC EVERY TIME we purchase a vehicle?

Why do we have to fax it in?

Why can we not just fill out an online form and submit it where it then goes directly into a data base that is then routed to the correct account manager for that sale?

I would also like to see them lower the increases in bids.

How about not having the GL site calling me to remove my lot or lose it after 2 weeks when pickups are only allowed 1 day (and a half day at that) a week at the site. It goes something like this: When the moon is blue on the third Wednesay in the month, and the wind blows out of the East, then you can pick up your lot only if the GL rep decides to show up that day.

And the double taxing, no matter how you put it or say who's wrong, is down right criminal.

USMilitarySurplus said:

BKubu: Valid claims do result in some type of settlement. In your case, you were offered a complete refund. You chose not to the take that route, which is certainly your prerogative. The exact monetary amount could not be corroborated since there is no way to know for certain what parts were removed from the truck. Hence, the full refund, which you opted to turn down.

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Not True, I am the one who inspected Mr. Kubu's lot after winning the auction and took photos to show what was exactly missing which means you COULD put a monetary value on it because we knew what was missing.

Why do we have to fill out an EUC EVERY TIME we purchase a vehicle?

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Because we hobbyist are in the minority. The majority of sales are to dealers, many of which have already sold the item and know who the buyer is. This means that every EUC will be different for them.

Another reason is that the EUC is a legal document that will be used against you in a court of law if you violate the terms of the contract. GL or DRMO will have a better case if we fill out a new one each time and sign it. A faxed copy with your handwritten signature looks better in court than just clicking a box.

I would like to see the "fee" for the SF-97 go away.

I would like to see a standard for descriptions of the vehicles

Most of all, I would like to see GL make some sort of accommodation with each base/location to use the loading ramps or fork trucks to assist in loading of vehicles (ESPECIALLY BARSTOW!!!!!)

I would like to see GL go out of business and be replaced with a company that cares about their customers and gives good customer service.

AHHH, I love this post I can't really complain about anything I have purchased being robbed of parts as of yet, I have just started this madness but I am expecting it to happen. Either way I commented on who I thought was responsible in a previous post. The way I have been hearing everyone commenting lately seems things are getting worse on the purchasers part or winning bidders part. Money being directly taken out of the account after the sale. I for one started bidding on items when the opening bid were only 50.00 and now that has changed... which I cant fault them, it could possibly just be a way of recouping a lot of lost money from people going elsewhere because of the great service. I usually dont let alot get to me and I'm pretty easy going but when I finally am able to enter one of your lots to remove the deuce I purchased over 2 months ago and I'm told by a personel that they get to decide who they let in the yard and out because THEY get to operate the gate just because THEY want to make a point.... you really think I'm going to stand in front of you and argue ?? NOOOooo, I'm going to give you 30 sec. by the time I get back to my deuce, get in it and put it in gear to give you a brand new inoperable gate.... but you grace me with your presence and ability to have me banned in the future from your site.... What I should do is haul your butt to court, sepenoa the other receptionists, and guy standing behind the counter, not to mention the other 2 individuals I brought along as witnesses... ohhhh and lets not forget the others I have met on here having the same issuse at the same site and then sue you for the emotional scaring you have caused but its okay because I will give it all back to you when I purchase a couple more deuces from you and put a minimum 150.00 bid on the 2 pallets of used straw hats I just found coming up for sale.... I'm still not demeening anyone, but common sense that most of us work hard for our money, we get alot of crap from work and alot put our lives on the line everyday Military, law enforcement, firefighters, ect. so we really dont want to hasstled, belittled, ect. When it comes to a hobby we love... sure if I dont like it I can leave but just dont expect to piss on me and not get pissed on in return... I for one would like to run and put a bid in to the government when the next contract comes open.... I know plenty of people thoughout the US " SS " that I'm sure would love to get paid for thier time, could frequent a lot close to thier home for a escort and pickup. Would spend the time teaching the new individual about the truck "they already do " I would also only open the auction to the public after all the "SS" personel has the oportunity to bid on what items they like first. Its only right ... I know it could be dangerous !! I also know that many have wives, G/F's, friends , ect. that would love to have a great job staying at home doing paperwork, Faxing paper work, recieving paper work and at the same time be courteous doing so.... ahhhh, Guess I'm just dreaming, or maybe I'll start contacting all my family members in politics to call on some favors and then start calling capitol hill... or maybe I'll just wait until after the election... either way... Customer service should always be number 1 !! No-ones perfect but when your told of numerous problems happening from numerous people, it should be investigated, and corrected, especially when your starting to loose customers over it... When you think your exempt from going out of business or loosing a new contract.... well pride always comes before the fall Now that I'm done ranting guess I wont have to post anything for a couple of weeks but maybe after all this posting some good will come of this...

I may be an exception. I think the customer service w/GL has been outstanding. Two different guys returned my calls as promised. One guy even called me on my cell phone to let me know that my paid in full invoice was sent to my email. Another guy called me to let me know exactly my credit card would be billed. So far so good.

The biggest thing I would change is to leave the won auction details w/photos for at least a month. As far as parts dissappearing, one cannot really blame GL. Plain and simple it's guys like us who are out there and letting their greed set in. Unfortunately, thats how it is. Everyone's out for themselves and many wouldn't even think twice about stealing something from someone else. Sure GL could keep a guy out in the yard 24/7 but then that would bump up the price of our truck probably w/higher buyer's premiums. GL at FT Lewis was telling me they were having a problem w/folks jumping the fences at night to steal stuff off the trucks. Now that alone tells me, if someone wants something bad enough they're going to get it.

Robyn,

Thanks for being our conduit into GL. I've had both good and bad experiences. When delayed in picking something up, every site manager has been helpful to the extreme. Lately that has happened a lot with me.

The biggest gripes I have is with the horribly poor customer service on my SF97 and title last year. My title was wrong, I returned it by FEDEX (at my cost for their mistake) and then they claimed I never returned it although I had a signature from FEDEX. A month later I get an excuse it was delivered to the wrong office and still got a long delay. I finally had to write my Congressman to make the system work and within a week, I got my title. So this whole process needs Lean Six Sigma'd big time.

The simple action of keeping the photos of past auctions available for 30 or 60 days is not unreasonable. I recently bought some tool boxes that I recalled were two per lot and when I went to pickup, they were one per lot. Since I didn't have a copy of the auction in hand, I didn't have a case. The availability of that auction notice on line at that time would have probably saved me some heartburn.

I agree with others here, there needs to be changes to the way GL operates. Some of these actions are very simple and others will take significant efforts at the highest levels to change it. Your employees in the trenches that I've dealt with at FIG, M-burg, L-kenny, Richmond, and Norfolk have been great. It is the echelons above them that need to be fixed.

Pickups on Sat. Mornings, I hate using vacation time to pick stuff up, I can live with the rest!
James G.

I have had good and bad with GL.The good was Little Rock,Ark.That man needs a raise!He really went out of his way for us including FINDING US!Yea,we got lost on a military installation.Totally wrong side of the base too.He even ran down to the local Heartattack in a sack joint and got us some burgers(with our money of course!).Now,some places you can throw the guy a fifty and walk out with an abrams if you wanted.....The worst though was my last purchase in Redstone on a trailer.Pics showed a trailer with cover installed,brand new shiny glad hand,and pig tail.Well when my cohort Offy went and got it the cover was removed and laying on the ground in a pile,the pig tail and Glad hand were totally removed(they spend enough time to unbolt it all).GL really needs to up their security.They are liable if you get the right lawyer.Just like if you took your car to a mechanic or a body shop and it was distroyed or stolen.Just cause the sign says not responable doesn't mean it is legal if there was negligence of the shop owner.Same with GL.They know this happens constantly but won't do ANYTHING about it.Heck,they could put a sign on the stuff that says Property of GL or do not canibalize.Almost all of the time there will be a GL truck between 2 or 3 Free for all US property trucks that can be canibalized.Only thing that tells it is a GL truck is that little bitty white paper sticker somewhere on it.Maybe rope or fence off an area for GL stuff or just move the GL stuff away from the fair game stuff.As for the someone will steal it no matter what doesn't fly either.Not like this stuff is in South Central LA.It is on a military installation.Sure there will be the occasional crack head that tries to jump the fence of a unmanned sight but the only other people you could be talking about are our service men and women.There are bad apples but I really don't think our brave solders are gonna go on a late night pilfer run for some truck parts.

Since the auction listings go away after 24 hrs, I have made it my practice to save each listing along with the bid information packet on my computer after I win. That way, I have a copy forever and can always go back and print it off later. Go to the auction listing, click file, then save page as, and stick it in a folder on your hard-drive. It would be very nice not to have to do that. I will continue to do it until GL changes their policy.

steelsoldiers said:

Since the auction listings go away after 24 hrs, I have made it my practice to save each listing along with the bid information packet on my computer after I win. That way, I have a copy forever and can always go back and print it off later. Go to the auction listing, click file, then save page as, and stick it in a folder on your hard-drive. It would be very nice not to have to do that. I will continue to do it until GL changes their policy.

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I try to do it also, but seems like something alway falls through a crack. Like the hard drive I saved it on dies before I back it up or I buy it on Thur (my day off) and I forget to back it up until 4:05 central which is 24 hours and 5 min after it closes and it is gone.

Or they want it back and I bought it 5 years ago and the computer I downloaded it on has died and I have to go through my back ups to dredge it up.

Sure there will be the occasional crack head that tries to jump the fence of a unmanned sight but the only other people you could be talking about are our service men and women.There are bad apples but I really don't think our brave solders are gonna go on a late night pilfer run for some truck parts.

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Sorry to burst your bubble, but when the LTC says to "fix the truck or your not going home" all sorts of things happen, both in accordance with Army Regs and not.... Been there, done that. Had to post guards at my motorpool to prevent it.

Ask anyone thats deployed what happens to simple stuff like shackles prior to rail load..... You'd be amazed...

I WANT TO SEE THE FINAL RESULTS ON B&Q ITEMS WITHOUT HAVING TO PLACE A BID ON THE ITEM.