'Surplus' Equates to 'Bargain' at UC's Annual Clearance Event

"An event this big can only happen once a year!"

Well, that would be the way an advertiser might handle promoting UC’s Annual Surplus Equipment Clearance sale. Beyond the hype, though, this truly is a big event.

The University of Cincinnati is a massive operation, with more than 35,000 students and status as Greater Cincinnati’s largest employer with nearly 15,000 employees. When a department no longer requires a piece of equipment, it goes to Surplus Equipment Management, where other UC departments – and the general public, once a week each Thursday at 11 a.m. – can purchase from the department’s ever-growing inventory.

Over the course of a year, quite a supply of items can build up across the department’s 15,000-square feet of space, requiring – what else? – a clearance event! Think of it as UC holding its own garage sale.

This year’s sale is set for Saturday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Campus Services Building, located at 2900 Reading Rd.

All surplus items on hand will be available for purchase at 50 percent of normal price, leading to some impressive bargain-hunting possibilities.

Lee Leviton, the manager of Surplus Equipment Management, says a Top Five list of most popular items would include:

1. Computers
2. File Cabinets
3. Shelving
4. Stacking Chairs
5. Video Projectors

There will be plenty for shoppers to browse through, including a silent auction for unclaimed items from the university’s Lost & Found collection – a feature that usually includes unexpected items such as watches, jewelry, calculators, bicycles and more.

To make the most of the event and to do the most good for the community, UC annually hosts "Donation Days" on the Monday and Tuesday after the clearance sale. This event allows non-profit United Way and Community Shares agencies to come in and inspect the remaining inventory for items they can select at no charge that may benefit their work.

For additional information on the Surplus Equipment Clearance sale, visit the department’s Web site at http://www.uc.edu/surplus or call them at 513-556-5654.