Mail Call
          
               In addition to seized and forfeited property,
          governments may auction off abandoned property.  For
          example, the U.S. Postal Service holds auctions from time
          to time.  Typically, the items sold are packages that are
          not delivered for one reason or another.  These are
          consolidated in the following five regional centers of
          the U.S. Postal Service:
               * Atlanta           730 Great S.W. Parkway
                                   Atlanta GA 30336
                                   404  344-1625
          
               * New York          380 West 33rd Street
                                   New York NY 10199
                                   212  330-3800
          
               * Philadelphia      2970 Market Street
                                   Room 531-A
                                   Philadelphia PA 19104-9886
                                   215  895-8140
          
               * San Francisco     390 Main Street
                                   San Francisco CA 94105-9502
                                   415  543-1826
          
               * St. Paul          443 Fillmore Street
                                   St. Paul MN 55107
                                   612  293-3082
          
               You might find that items for sale may be viewed at
          8 a.m. on the day of the auction, with the official
          bidding beginning at 10 a.m.
               A catalog describing specific lots for sale and
          additional instructions typically will be available on
          the day of the auction.  Most of the items are
          merchandise you'd find in a department store, the kinds
          of things people send as gifts: books, clothing, etc. 
          Often, the items are grouped into large lots, or "tubs,"
          for which you bid as a package.
               In order to bid, you must have a numbered paddle
          issued by postal personnel at the auction.  When the
          bidding starts, all interested buyers raise their
          paddles.  As the auctioneer increases the price, buyers
          who lose interest drop their paddles.  The last raised
          paddle is the winner.  All items are sold "as is" and
          must be paid for in cash or cashier's, certified, or
          traveler's checks.  If you submit the high bid, you're
          responsible for supplying containers and transportation
          necessary to remove your purchases from the premises by
          4 p.m. on the day of the sale.
               Most post offices auction used vehicles, too,
          especially jeeps and vans.  Call your local post office
          and ask when the sale will take place.