Hear About a Sale
We invite bids directly from buyers likely to want the equipment. Tell us what you are looking for, and ask us about any private treaty sale you have heard about.
Request the equipment you needPrivate treaty sales
Private Treaty Equipment Sales by Negotiated or Sealed Bid
In a private treaty sale, buyers submit negotiated or sealed bids within a set period, and the seller chooses which bid to accept. Bids are not published, and the winning bid does not have to be the highest. Federal Equipment Company uses private treaty sales for complete process lines that are worth more intact, and for large groups of lower-value surplus that sell better to one buyer than as dozens of separate lots.
Current Used Manufacturing Equipment Private Treaty Sales
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Real Estate Available – 2025 Remodel – 31,200 SF aseptic fill-finish and lab facility on 2.5 acres available for sale!
For sellers
How a Private Treaty Sale Works
Five steps, from deciding what to offer to choosing a buyer.
- 01
Decide What to Offer
We review the equipment with you and agree on what goes into the sale. The winning buyer takes everything in the sale, so a line stays together and a large group of surplus clears in one transaction.
- 02
Set the Bid Deadline
We set a firm deadline for bids, with your agreement. The bid period gives buyers time to inspect and plan removal before they commit.
- 03
Invite Bids
We invite bids directly from buyers likely to want the equipment, send them photos, nameplate data, and specifications, and arrange inspections by appointment.
- 04
Collect the Bids
Buyers submit negotiated or sealed bids by the deadline. Bids are not published.
- 05
Choose and Close
When the bid period closes, you review the bids with us and decide which to accept. Price matters, and so do each buyer's payment and removal terms.
When it fits
When a Private Treaty Sale Makes Sense
A private treaty sale suits a complete process line that is worth more intact. It also suits a large group of lower-value surplus that has not sold one machine at a time, where setting up and running dozens of separate lots would cost more than the items bring.
It also leaves the decision with the seller. You compare the bids side by side, with their payment and removal terms, before you accept one.
When a site has to be clear by a fixed date and holds many separate items, an online auction usually suits it better. A liquidation suits a site's equipment that can sell to different buyers over time. Methods can be combined on the same site.
For buyers
Bidding in a Private Treaty Sale
Bidding takes more preparation than an auction, because each bid covers everything in the sale, along with its terms.
Inspect and Ask Questions
Inspections are by appointment. When a visit is not practical, ask for a live video tour.
Submit Your Bid
Send your bid to us by the deadline. Include when you can pay and when you can remove the equipment, since the seller weighs those terms as well as price.
Ask About Financing
We have partnered with APPROVE, whose network of lenders makes equipment financing offers. Ask us about it early, before the bid deadline.
Equipment financingWhat is a private treaty sale?
A private treaty sale, also called a negotiated, sealed-bid, or tender sale, is one in which buyers submit unpublished bids within a set period. When the bidding period closes, the seller decides which bid to accept, and the winning bid need not be the highest.
How is a private treaty sale different from an auction?
In an auction, bidding is open and a lot usually goes to the high bidder when it closes. In a private treaty sale, bids are not published, the winning buyer takes everything in the sale, and the seller chooses the bid that best fits its goals.
Does the highest bid always win a private treaty sale?
No. The seller can accept the bid that best fits its goals. A lower bid can win if its payment, removal, or other terms suit the seller better.
What equipment is sold by private treaty?
Usually a complete process line that is worth more intact, or a large group of lower-value surplus that one buyer takes in a single transaction, because selling it as separate lots would cost more than the items bring. Single machines usually sell another way, through an outright purchase, consignment, an auction, or a liquidation.
How do I submit a bid in a private treaty sale?
Ask Federal Equipment Company for the sale's deadline and terms by calling 800-652-2466 or emailing sales@fedequip.com. Then submit your bid by the deadline.
Can I finance a private treaty purchase?
Ask Federal Equipment Company about financing through its partner, APPROVE, before you bid. APPROVE's network of lenders makes equipment financing offers, and asking early leaves time to plan around the bid deadline.
How do I sell equipment through a private treaty sale?
Send a list of the equipment to sales@fedequip.com or call 800-652-2466. Federal Equipment Company reviews it and recommends whether a private treaty sale, an auction, a liquidation, consignment, or an outright purchase fits. There is no upfront cost; selling expenses come out of the sale proceeds.
Selling a complete line or plant? Ask about a private treaty sale.
Call 800-652-2466 (international +1 216-271-3500) or email sales@fedequip.com. Send an equipment list, and we will recommend how to sell it.
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