How Military Surplus Vendors Get Inventory: The Process from Beginning to End

One of the biggest questions that people have when they are looking for military surplus items is how the overall process works. Where do they get the gear from in the first place? Is the stock good quality? Is military surplus legal? How do I purchase? The answers to these questions are not as complicated as you might think, and we can assure you that it is perfectly legal! This article will cover everything from how a surplus store gets its stock, how they account for the stuff once they obtain it, and why the department of defense gets rid of its military gear in the first place.

Why do the Armed Forces get rid of equipment?

One of the biggest questions you more than likely have is why the government surpluses anything in the first place? The Army surplus model has been around for decades and is an integral part of the entire military supply chain. Sometimes the branch orders too much stuff so there is an overstock situation. Supply warehouses (I.E., CIF) get closed down, inventory is moved to different bases (think of post-reduction or closure), or any other number of possibilities. There are also the daily amount of soldiers who turn in their gear to CIF after discharge or when they get reissued newer gear. Because of these reasons, there ends up being a lot of equipment that is no longer needed or damaged, and needs to be moved off the base storage.

In order to get rid of these supplies, the military will sell this gear themselves through official channels at auctions and other venues. Those contract holders who purchase from the government then turn around and sell to vendors such as Navy surplus stores, typically in bulk. The process from start to finish is quite extensive and involves a lot of time, paperwork, and moving parts.

Military surplus stores are the primary suppliers of military gear to civilians

The first step that an Army Navy store takes is finding out the best places they can obtain a great selection of next featured products in or near their area. There are a number of ways that a shop can obtain their inventory such as sold on bid (auctions), direct purchases from the government (if they are lucky to be contract holders), and sometimes even buying it as scrap by the pound in which you don't even know what you will get!

To give you an idea, when a pallet (or even truckload) of gear is being auctioned, it is being sold as is and you don't get to inspect it beforehand. Out of the total amount of supplies purchased in bulk about 25% will be unusable, 50% will need some form of repair, and only the remaining 25% of the equipment will be good to go as is. Military surplus stores can also get their hands on items that are considered obsolete or excess because they may have been updated by the manufacturer (even minor updates such as a new buckle). Now the military wants to phase the older model(s) out in exchange for the newer updated equipment.

This type of gear still has value and usually tons of life left which is why it makes its way down the supply chain, ultimately arriving at a store for purchase by the consumer.

The reseller then processes the purchased military gear

Once the Army surplus has obtained their gear, they will need to go through a process of sorting and processing which includes inspecting each item for its quality and any damage. If it's not up to standard then there are several different options that can be done with the merchandise depending on the severity of the issue. Sometimes the outdoor gear like backpacks may just need new webbing or buckles replaced in order to be back in shape. However, other times items could have severe structural problems such as broken frames or handles that need to be replaced.

These soon-to-be shop items move on to a team of expert operated repair technicians. This team does anything from sewing clothing or uniforms to replacing entire frames on hunting and camping gear. Once repaired and fit for service the team then gives all of the articles a good scrub down so that it is clean when shipped to your doorstep. The repair team is integral to the process and the good job they perform is the reason you are able to browse the best selection of Army surplus gear. They account for the quality products shipping out and help deliver the experience customers expect.

The final step before the articles are ready for consumers is double checking everything will work correctly and as intended. This is to help ensure your satisfaction with your new products when you purchase!

What do military surplus stores sell?

Now that you have an overview of the process that Army surplus goes through, you may be wondering what kind of items does a surplus store sell?

First and foremost, military equipment is designed to last in many different kinds of situations. That means that you can find some pretty iconic and unique pieces still in excellent condition at a surplus shop. Items from landmine metal detector that work for hobbyist, to an "old-school" rucksack can be just as functional today as it was years ago when the manufacturer put it into circulation (it may need a little TLC beforehand of course).

We hope this article has helped you better understand the military surplus process and answered all of your questions. If it hasn't, please feel free to leave us a comment or get in touch with our customer service team for further information. We are here and happy to help!

Military Surplus and online stores are still the best way to get U.S. made outdoor camping equipment, survival gear and clothing with a lot of use left in it. When you think of the process, buying Military Surplus is also the ultimate recycling method keeping quality items in use for years to come all at a fraction of the price.

Is it illegal to sell military Surplus gear?

While it is illegal to sell or transfer military weapons and weapon systems, this does not account for all surplus merchandise. Some of the items available for purchase include clothing, footwear, and supplies that are perfectly legal to resell. Some of the items may still require a permit to sell which we would have where applicable. You can rest assured that everything you see on our site is legal, ready for shipping, and primed for your next grand adventure!

Does military surplus mean used?

Military surplus does mean used in most cases. However, it is not always the case that every item for sale in the shop at Army Navy Outdoors has been previously owned by a service member or contractor (or military ally). For example, you may see new products coming in of the time including clothing and footwear which has never been worn due to a reason such as an overstock. Army surplus items such as rucksacks that we offer even have different purchasing price points based on the condition of the item so you as the customer know what you are getting.

Which country has the best military surplus?

There are several countries that produce goods for the military, but then also sell them in their surplus stores. Some of these include Canada, New Zealand, and many European nations. A lot of great gear comes from other countries and goes through the same process as discussed previously. But the difference is the items then still need to be imported. Some goods can be far less expensive than the US based on the strength of the dollar when it's bought. It all depends on what you are looking for and need as far as features are concerned in the product.