About Us

Civil Surplus has been a long journey from the inception back in 2008.

The idea is not a new idea but the concept is. The Civil Surplus idea is that as a civil Construction company we often find ourselves in a position where we have more than is required, Not like a barrow of concrete, but sometimes a coil of cable or MH section or valves.

The valves and large fittings came about in a project where we had to order from another supplier as the original didn’t have the items in stock, Not a normal item.

So we ended up with extra, something didn’t get canceled….. and hey presto we have $5,000.00 dollars of fittings we don’t actually need. They were a special class of fittings and so we can’t return these. So we are landed and have been for some time owned these fittings.

Old mate said to me once $50.00 in your pocket is better than $100.00 in your head. I think he is right.

So we built this website. But it’s not just for me and I don’t have so much to sell. I know there are other web-based sites that you can sell and buy on. And it’s great, we as Kiwi’s love it. I love it. But sometimes when I’m looking for something, say during work hours. Sometimes we get off track and the search is turning out skateboard trucks rather than just trucks. Or if I’m looking at it during work hours….The boss thinks I’m looking at personal stuff or gifts or ‘not work-related.’

Civil Surplus is really all about Civil supplies, work-related, share and reuse. It might be a bit dirty or there might be only 20m left. But storing these things that we might one day need. Well, you end up with piles of stuff, you cant remember what you have. Its not recorded anywhere. And eventually you have a cleanup and I might want to keep it for another ten years and forget about it again. Or this gets overruled and someone else just chucks it out. Every one loses.

So you have this site. ‘Civil Surplus’

You have a list of things that you can add to each day.

Someone might want it, whatever it is.

You sell it. The cash is transferred into your bank account, the delivery can be arranged, networks are formed good deeds are done and we all end up with a good deal.

 And if you ever need one of whatever you sold but need it now…. Have a look and see if there is one on someone else’s list. It may be in better condition.

You can even run your own shop front with the ability to add stock ID and part numbers. This is where you can record all those items that have been sold and then returned, second hand or damaged. This is your website to trade your civil Service’s, Civil Materials, or Civil Surplus.

Again this site is for anyone with civil or work-related stuff, even farm machinery. And to help it get started there is no commission on anything while we iron out any bugs. I’m not looking to make millions of dollars out of this but if it supports my family through school and into university, then it is a success.

One last thing, this was my Dads idea, even though he was from the working generation or baby boomer generation, he recognized that internet was going to be a big part of the future.

So thanks Dad.

Still thinking of you.