What do Tools & Machinery surplus lots recover?
Surplus and returned tools & machinery clears at a median of 16.4% of retail value at liquidation — versus an all-category median of about 9%. Where a specific lot lands depends mostly on condition grade, whether it's manifested, and lot size. The numbers below come from the same valuation model our free appraiser runs, built on published liquidation-auction data.
Typical recovery by lot size (Tools & Machinery, manifested, grade B)
A manifested grade-B lot is the common case. Bands are honest ranges, not point quotes.
| Retail value of the lot | Estimated recovery | % of retail |
|---|---|---|
| $2.0k | $331 – $764 | 25.5% |
| $5.0k | $827 – $1.9k | 25.5% |
| $10.0k | $1.7k – $3.8k | 25.5% |
| $25.0k | $2.3k – $5.3k | 14.0% |
Note the drop above $10k retail — recovery medians collapse on large single lots, so splitting a truckload into pallets often nets more in total.
How condition grade moves it (on a $10.0k tools & machinery lot)
| Grade | Estimated recovery | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A | $2.3k – $5.3k | New / like-new with original packaging commands a large premium over returns. |
| B | $1.7k – $3.8k | Functional with cosmetic wear sits above the blended category median. |
| C | $1.2k – $2.8k | Untested customer returns carry buyer risk and clear below the median. |
| D | $720 – $1.7k | Known defects — priced near parts value. |
| salvage | $360 – $830 | Material recovery only. |
The three levers that move any tools & machinery lot
- Competition. Competitive, transparent formats recover 30–80% more than a single-broker deal. One buyer with no rival bids the minimum you'll accept.
- A manifest. Blind lots clear at roughly 10–20¢ on the retail dollar — buyers price the unknown into every bid. A typed manifest is the cheapest money you'll make on tools & machinery.
- Lot size. Above ~$10k retail, recovery medians fall; pallet-sized lots consistently recover a higher share than truckloads.
What's your tools & machinery lot actually worth?
Photograph it — our AI returns a typed manifest and a recovery estimate for your specific lot in about a minute, free and no signup. List it on the yard when you're ready; founding sellers pay 0% commission.
Other categories
Appliances (19.2%)Home & Garden (12%)Consumer Electronics (10.1%)Business & Industrial (8.7%)Sporting Goods (7.2%)Computers & Networking (2.9%)Health & Beauty (2%)Cell Phones & Accessories (1.7%)Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (1.4%)Jewelry & Watches (1.3%)
Figures are medians from published liquidation-auction data, adjusted by our valuation model for condition, manifest quality, and lot size. Medians hide a wide spread — treat these as orientation, not a quote. See the full method & sources.