eBay brings bigger payoff for old buses

RUPERT, Idaho – An Idaho school district has begun putting its old buses up for sale on eBay after traditional sales methods failed to draw high enough prices.

The Minidoka County School District started using the Internet auction site last year and immediately tripled the sale prices of its buses. Before, it was getting traditional bids of about $1,100. After, it got $3,400.

Before buses, people have sold nearly every type of good on eBay in an effort to get bigger payoffs by broadening the pool of potential buyers.

The district still advertises for bids in local newspapers, but bidders will have to go online for a shot at three old buses that were posted Thursday, said Michelle DeLuna, the district’s business manager.

“We’re not getting enough out of these buses,” DeLuna said of traditional sales channels. “We had a little bit better luck on eBay.”

Last year’s bus buyers were from Twin Falls, northern Idaho, Canada and Alaska.

This year the district is selling two 1989 Ward/IM 1800 65-passenger buses that were appraised at $2,900 each and a 1991 Ward/IH 1800 65-passenger that was appraised at $3,500.

DeLuna said the district got the idea from the Meridian School District near Boise, which sells buses through a company that uses live and online auctions.

A new school bus costs about $56,000, but loses most of its value through heavy use on Idaho’s rural roads. Money from Minidoka’s online auctions goes back into the plant facilities fund that helps purchase new buses, DeLuna said.

The district is buying three new ones this year.