This place is the real thrift store. The front room has lots of tools, kitchen items, and so on. You can get utility knives, steak knives, hand tools for literally a few dollars. The big room has all the furniture and appliances that are too big for me to take with. But all at a good price. Most if not all vintage items. read more

State Surplus Store - Discount Store Near Me - Austin, Texas

Interesting store, always something to look at, and you can find some genuine good deals. Some things are priced a bit high, but overall worth a look, especially for extra tools/pocket knives/ Leatherman type multi tools. If you're looking for "truck/car" tools you don't mind if they go missing, this is a pretty cheap source. A lot of Chinesium cheap stuff, but there are some quality name brand items mixed in. Don't miss going back into the warehouse area, lots of office/desk type furniture and items. One time they had surplus Civil Defense radiac meters (for Cold War collectors) pretty cheap. Lots of surplus SUV's out front, but most looked pretty used/inop. Might be good if looking for project parts. read more

State Surplus Store - Discount Store Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Found some good stuff but I was pretty disappointed the cashier overcharged me for a knife that I got from the 3$ bin. He was saying it was a specific brand that they usually keep in the glass cases up front. It was employee error that the knife was in the incorrect spot and I would have thought they would still honor it given an even bigger, newer knife I found was rung up at 3$. I still wanted the knife but having to pay an extra 5$ for something labeled incorrectly was pretty dumb. read more

This place is neat. They are open till 4:30 on weekdays only. They have some interesting items available including vitamix, tools, knives, umbrellas, belts, and office supplies. I saw a lot of office chairs and desks. It's definitely worth checking it out. read more

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State Surplus Store is an EXPERIENCE! It's like going to a museum with a $0 admission fee, and you might be able to leave with something. Last time I was there I was just killing time before a flight and randomly found a drill bit I needed and it was $0.10. Amazing. Go whether or not you are looking for something in partiular, it's great people watching on top of the stuff they have for sale there. read more

Overpriced! I saw this store on a TikTok and had to check it out. The prices were insanely high for some items that were old, dirty and gross. I'm glad I stopped in to check it out but, i won't be returning . read more

Selection of items was pretty sparse unless you're looking for pocket knives or small multitools.

It depends what you are looking for , Great deals on used furniture, computer monitors , knives and suitcases, some tools. Def worth checking out,, they close ar 4:30 pm read more

Priscilla and Shanna were very helpful. Super convenient location! Priscilla took time to show me the mechanics of opening and closing the rolling door. read more

Such a fun place for a thrifter! Really enjoy the variety of stuff they have! It's definitely a one of a kind store! Highly recommend you go! read more

The stock here is very old & tired. It feels like a sad Thrift store. Lots of cheap knives selling for more than they are worth. Same with tools. This would be good for a new business with a small budget to set up shop. $5 chairs & low priced file cabinets. I will say that it was very organized & pretty clean. No need for a second visit for me. read more

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The store is worth visiting if you are in the area. I'd avoid the big bin of fingernail clippers but everything else seemed safe. Mix of lost and found/confiscated stuff from the airport and restaurant/ office supply from I guess state buildings. If you need bookshelves or desks this is the place for a deal. Lots to look at. read more

I have read the terrible reviews about this place. I am sure that those folks arrived at this place on off days or perhaps was expecting something more. We went expecting to find used government furniture. We found 4 desks, 20 stackable chairs, 4 desk chairs, 2 filing cabinets, 1 credenza, and approximately 20 other small office items we needed. All for $500. The staff was very friendly. Three workers helped us load our trailer. Get there early. This warehouse is NOT air conditioned. read more

What a disappointment. Nothing like is advertised. Just a bunch of old junk. No abia excess as advertised.

I found a few good deals in the warehouse. If you need an office chair or office furniture look there first great deals starting at just $5. Good books for a $1. read more

I went here a year ago and got some real bargains re a $15 bag of assorted knives and a few other items. I came back here last week and they now only sell knives as singles and have marked them up. They were selling readers that were junk marked up higher than Walmart or the $ store! They go on to eBay and try and price everything up. This place is a junk store and the traffic getting in and out is terrible. There is nothing here anyone should want that u cannot get at Walmart, Tuesday Morning or Marshalls at a better price! Don't waste your time read more

A store that specialized in items that otherwise could have brought our country to its knees. All the stuff that TSA has seized from travelers in the name of safety. Fortunately, the TSA has taken this stuff out of the public's hands, since it's so dangerous. Now, these deadly items can only be obtained by the select few who can find a few dollars to spend here. "Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither." - Ben Franklin. If Franklin had seen this store, he'd point out that you don't deserve your screwdrivers, knives, ammo magazines, etc. either. They also have the retired gears of the Texas bureaucracy. Old desks, filing cabinets, chairs. If you're going to start a office, this is a great place to outfit it. The prices on all this stuff aren't that great. It seems that the stuff is pretty picked over. If you can find a hidden gem, there might be something for you. read more

Dirty, cramped. Items for sale are dirty or broken. They were even trying to sell partially used bars of soap! Poor selection.

I already hate this review because I'm giving up one of the best-kept secrets in Austin. Yeah, that's right--it's The State of Texas Surplus Store. And I love it. If you've found the place, you're already doing better than most. I've probably driven by 100 times or more before I ever knew it existed (it's in a non-descript office/industrial park off 183 and not near any major exits). There isn't lot of signage, either. Upon walking in to the storefront (about the size of a small one-bedroom apartment), you'll find everything from confiscated snow globes (they contain liquid, so it's a carry-on no-no at the airport) to Vietnamese cobra liquor! If you're in to pocket knives, you'll be in heaven. They have buckets and buckets full of knives and many can be had in near-new condition for $1-3! Go through the double-glass doors near the jewelry cases, and this leads to the large warehouse floor. They have tons of used office furniture (desks, chairs, file cabinets, etc.), fax machines, and even some restaurant equipment too! The best thing about the State Surplus Store, though? ALL PRICES NEGOTIABLE! (It actually doesn't say that anywhere, but keep in mind that this is a clearing house for the state. They're trying to move stuff out before the next truckload comes in. Make them a reasonable offer and, more times than not, they'll accept it.) Even if you aren't looking for anything in particular, it's fun to just to have look around. Who knows what you'll find next! read more

I was in search of a filing cabinet, and I wasn't about to fork up $150 for one at Sam's Club. A co-worker sent me to East Austin where the Surplus Store is located, and my wish for a cheapo filing cabinet in good condition came true. In fact, it came true about 200 times because that's probably about how many filing cabinets the Surplus Store had in stock. The only issue with this many different filing cabinets is that you actually have to take the time to find a really good looking one and make sure everything works right. Unfortunately, some of the nicer ones are locked, and the store doesn't have the key to these locks. I came across this issue about ten times and had to move on and try another one. With that aside, the Surplus Store really is great. In addition to filing cabinets, they also sell chairs, desks, bookshelves, and pretty much anything that you would need for an office. My large, 4-drawer cabinet came out to be $39.99, and I paid $5 for a giant box of hanging filing folders and $2 for four sets of metal folder hangers. read more

I have two things to say about this place. Number one: This is where old (state) office furniture goes to die. Come here and pay your respects to the office chairs of yesteryear and the credenzas of yore. If these chairs could talk, they would tell us thousands of boring tales of state workers sitting around being bureaucrats. Point B: Knives. So. Many. Knives. You never knew knives existed. The number of knives per capita within the surplus store is greater than at an actual knife store. It's mind boggling to realize that, in 2012, people still try to bring this many knives to the airport. Seriously people. Also, who just walks off and forgets their belt? Seriously? read more

Depressing. Not air conditioned. Kinda gross. Sometimes stained. Sticky. I saw used up prison soap in a big container once. Like just bars of beat-up soap with no packaging. Ew. Used resuscitation doll. Filthy office chairs. Moldering hard disks. Grimy computer accessories. Guys, this is where they send the state office supplies once they are too nasty. Things that would be on Craigslist-free are sold here. Sold! The end is nigh. I have rarely found anything to purchase. I had a really gross desk at the state once. They so kindly allowed me a $200 budget to get new furniture. Because if it's under $200 it's just a transfer and not an expense. So i got a 1960s Allsteel desk in a pukey yellow. I got it bc i figured i could sterilize it. Had it for 7 years. Kill me. It's more like an ethical freak show than a true surplus store. They have a cabinet of oddities. But you can't buy them. What?! The only things worth purchasing are the preserved snake in a jar of brown fluid and the big bullwhip. By all means, go ahead and visit. Experience the sad stench of the crushed hopes your state's employees. There used to be boxes of used nail clippers that tsa would confiscate. Barf. Glad tsa stopped taking those. BUT THERE ARE STILL A BILLION SNOWGLOBES. Because those are known to be used by terrorists with a grand sense of irony. read more

I enjoyed my first visit to the Texas State Surplus Store. If you're looking for some used multi-tools or knives or scissors or tools in general, this is the place to be! I found almost new Leatherman Multi-Tools for a fraction of the price of a new one. Great place to find filing cabinets and desks, in addition you will find a bunch of staplers, hole punchers, etc. This is a fun place to walk around all the stuff they have! read more

Well finally made it here If going on 183 at this time you have to be headed south, because of the construction. Right lane, look for the building,take a right, otherwise good luck. I thought there would be more, mainly stuff not to many people want, Now if you need office furniture, there is plenty. If you need a good fire extinguisher cheap, 10-15 Worth one visit at least Suggest access from I-35 side read more

Featuring an interesting array of articles that for one reason or another didn't make it through airport security (snow globes, weapons, etc) and state surplus items (desks and file cabinets). This is probably one of the most unique shopping experiences you can have in Austin. Just don't go there looking for souvenirs to take out of state or else your gifts will end up right back where you found them. read more

My wife and I stopped into this surplus store on our way home from Austin a few weeks ago. I had been looking for a good pocket knife to carry, and found exactly that. For just $8. I you need a pocket knife, hand tools or old office furniture, this is the place to go. Many of their items come from TSA seizures at Texas airports. read more

Lots of good deals on knives, mulititools (gerber, leathermen), jewelry, and office furniture. Interesting mix of other items including household items, toys, tools, luggage, golf clubs - all things that people were unable to take on planes with them. Also sells used state agency vehicles - mostly sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks. An interesting place to visit especially for the bargain hunters. While most of the items are used, some are new/unused. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Cost way to high for used items. I would rather go to a garage sale than drive to this place.

This place is always hit or miss. Over the last few years they have raised some of their prices. Chairs in particular are priced ridiculously. The last time I went in there and the warehouse was over flowing with mostly nasty rolling office chairs that they priced $9-$30. Some of the chairs were in such poor condition (duck tape, stains, fabric ripped off), that I think they should have just thrown them in the trash, but they were still trying to make a buck. I enjoyed a few things I found 3+ years ago, but the last 3-4 times I have gone, it has been extremely disappointing. read more

Scored a sailor-hat blue mini filing cabinet for 15 dollars. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, if you're looking for knives, tools, couches, desks, office chairs, and filing cabinets, you'd do best to check here first before signing up for hours of frustration at Ikea. Staff were amicable and carried my file cabinet out to my car before I became lost in my imaginings of the prior lives of the desks lined in infinite rows pointing straight into the bureaucratic past. There was a retired highway patrol car in the parking lot, marred by white spray paint. I wished I could buy it. read more

I enjoy the selection of strange items, however the inside staff are very rude and make things awkward. Operations are poorly managed.

I'm used to getting surplus stuff for pennies on the dollar, but at least here at the Austin store they have very Austinized prices. I'm used to buying the retired Crown Vic service vehicles for $500-1000 but here they are like $3-4k. Desks should be $20-30 and chairs $5 but they are easily 3-4x that. read more

This place is so COOL! If you are looking for any kind of office furniture, they have it. CHEAP! We set our office up with items purchased here. Nothing is new, but there is a wide variety of things to chose from. They also have all kinds of trinkets and things that were sent to them from the airport security lines. If you lost something in the security lines, it probably ended up here. read more