CLEVELAND -- Many people don't realize it, but Uncle Sam wants your help getting rid of millions of dollars of government surplus items.

Consumer reporter John Matarese shares secrets of government auctions so you don't waste your money.

"There's all sorts of things out there you wouldn't believe," Ray Wessling said.

He can't believe all the stuff he grabbed at a government auction. He bought a commercial grade projector, a top-of-the-line VCR, a device that transfers computer images to film and a microfilm reader.

"It's $15,000 new, for a microfilm reader," Wessling said.

He bought everything for $101.

He found it at an official U.S. Government auction, or GSA Auctions. It's an online garage sale, run by General Services Administration.

You can find everything from used cars, to chain link fencing, to Army camouflage jackets. The starting bid was $3 per jacket.

Thanks to the internet, anyone can now bid on these items.

Dave Sidelmeyer showed NewsChannel5 a cavernous warehouse, filled with equipment the government doesn't want anymore.

Many of the items belonged to the state of Ohio. The items are shipped to a Columbus warehouse where it's inventoried and prepared for a monthly sale.

"Anything that's left over, we sell to the general public," Sidelmeyer said. "We sell computers, desks. A couple of organs, a drum set, some rolls for an old player piano from the veterans home."

You can take part by searching for U.S. government or state auction online.

But Matarese said to beware: Many privately-run sites charge you to enter. He suggests using these two sites:

• GSAauctions.gov
• Treasury.gov

Both sites are run by the government and don't charge fees.

You can also check with your local Sheriff's Department; most hold regular auctions of seized goods.

One last caution: You are responsible for shipping or picking up the items you buy, so you may first want to check to see where the items are located.