How it works
The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros will be selling surplus personal property (SMP) through a web-based electronic auction.
Bidders must create an account. Checking the box to receive notifications is important to receive emails when the auction goes live and to receive a reminder just prior to the close of the auction.
Each auction will be activated for a period of time clearly indicating the start and end date. This information is available in the information panel of the web application. Generally, it will be active Monday through Friday for two weeks. During this period, you can actively participate and submit your bid for the surplus property. The maximum number of bids on an item is indicated on each item. Increasing your bids is only possible in the name of the local currency. During the auction, you must monitor your bids so that you can react on the price development of all bids.
All winning bidders will receive an email with a link to the auction application where they can review their items, after logging in. The email will also include specific instructions on payment and when to pick up the purchased items. This will normally occur during Consulate General business hours: Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Winning bidders must pick up, transport and hire any labor necessary to retrieve the winning items from the Consulate General.
Payment
Payment for your items is only possible by bank transfer to the Embassy's bank account at BANAMEX:
In the "Numeric Reference" element, fill in your Unique Identification Number (UID) which can be found in the section of the auction website "Information for Winners".
In the "Payment Concept" item, fill in the word "LOT" and the lot numbers you are paying for.
In the "Amount" item, enter the total amount in local currency of your bid(s).
In the event that you have bid and won more than one item, you may pay the total amount due for all items in one payment, but all lot items must be identified as described in item 2 above "LOT1LOT2.........etc.". Items can be reclaimed only when a successful payment has been received. Receipt of payment is considered complete when the money arrives in the U.S. Embassy bank account.
All receipts must reflect that the amount deposited in Mexican pesos matches the winning bid price, regardless of the currency deposited or the exchange rate used by the bank. All winning bidders must bring their deposit slips to the Consulate General and exchange them for a payment receipt and the winning lot(s).
Note: It may take more than one day to transfer money from your bank to the U.S. Embassy bank. It will not be possible to pick up your items if your payment is not indicated on the U.S. Embassy bank account.
Pickup
To retrieve your items, you must present the original bank money transfer receipt with all the required details included in the payment paragraph above or a printed version of the money transfer from internet banking.
Once you submit proof of deposit, you will receive a sales invoice allowing you to pick up your items.
All items must be picked up during business hours:
Wednesday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please bring your own straps and assistants if needed to carry your earned items.
If items are not picked up during the scheduled time period, they will be considered abandoned and the Consulate General reserves the right to dispose of the items as it sees fit. In special circumstances, you may arrange a different date and time to pick up the items by contacting the auction manager.
Upon successful confirmation of payment for your items, our staff will move them to the front of the storage building. From that point on you are the owner of your merchandise. You will have full responsibility for subsequent handling procedures and removal of Embassy property in a timely manner. If items are not picked up of in a timely manner, they may be considered abandoned and are subject of disposal.
Note: Loading and disposition of items is the responsibility of the buyer.
