Mesa sells bikes, jewelry, other surplus goods

Mesa's surplus sales are offering bicycles for half the price from now until Christmas. Even a giant Ronald McDonald statue sits among the slew of merchandise available this holiday season.

From 8 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday, Mesa's Materials and Supplies Department will display various goods at the city's east warehouse, 7041 E. Adobe St.

"It's a great opportunity to get some unique gifts, and it also helps the city," said city spokesman Bob Huhn.

The products will be on tables outside of the warehouse for shoppers to peruse, said Sherri Power of the materials and supplies department.

The department is working on an area inside the warehouse to set up shop, she said.

Jewelry, bikes, toys, clothes, major appliances, tools, musical instruments, electronics, office supplies, home decor, swords and other objects make up the display at the surplus sale.

The colossal Ronald McDonald statue is on sale for $300 among the merchandise.

"He's always happy and smiling at customers," Power said.

Holiday shoppers can sift through products such as costume and high-end jewelry, along with new clothes with tags still attached, Power said.

Sales on various items are run intermittently, and costume jewelry will be on sale Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Dec. 2.

Items for sale were either seized by the Mesa Police Department or were received from other city departments.

Only after rightful owners cannot be located by Mesa police are items added to the collection of surplus commodities.

Money from the surplus sales goes to the city's General Fund. The department put $155,000 in the General Fund last year, Power said.

Sales on eBay by the department also contributed to that sum.

Sales are not held on holidays or rainy days, and Dec. 18 will be the last day for sales in 2008.

Major credit cards are accepted, Power said.