A photo-confirmed Agilent 385-ELSD (G4261A) with a seller-reported recurring Error 16 fault, missing parts, and unsuccessful prior repair history supports a $0 blind/as-is ceiling despite a $1,500 repaired-resale model.
The auction bid ceiling supported by this analysis, if one is defensible; see costs below for buyer-premium treatment.
Why this decision
REVIEW: the current blind/as-is economics support no positive hammer, but focused diagnosis of Error 16 and missing-part scope could justify rebuilding the model.
See costs and maximum bid for the displayed assumptions and buyer-premium treatment.
GSA Auctions sale 3-1-QSC-I-26-591, lot 031 · Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
Snapshot observed Sep 18, 2026, 6:17 AM UTC
Scheduled close October 1, 2026
Analysis prepared Sep 18, 2026, 6:17 AM UTC
Published September 18, 2026 · page updated September 18, 2026
Prepared and published by Oleksii Udod for LotCaliper.
View official GSA lotThis auction snapshot is historical. Continue with related research, or review a relevant published analysis whose recorded scheduled close has not passed.
These are individually prepared, time-stamped analyses with recorded scheduled closes. Verify the official auction before acting.
Auction snapshot
This page preserves the September 18, 2026 GSA pre-start preview observation for item 377637, sale 3-1-QSC-I-26-591, lot 031. No bid or bidder count was captured; blank fields are not a $0 result.
A specific Error 16 fault is not evidence of a cheap fan replacement when the service path includes wiring and circuitry and a prior broad repair did not cure it.
Independent review not required. No corrections recorded.
Independent review not required
No mandatory independent review was required under the current gate. This is not an approval.
How independent review worksSeller facts, photo-derived observations, manufacturer context, unknowns, and LotCaliper assumptions remain explicitly separated.
Source Confirmed
Photo Derived
Not Established
Manufacturer Context
Lotcaliper Assumption
Laboratory · quantity 1
Identity confidence: High
Seller identifies Agilent 385-ELSD serial GB11220001; supplied photo confirms the front marking.
GSA Auctions · Text · observed Sep 18, 2026, 6:17 AM UTC
Not established · no source evidence establishes presence or absence
Seller states parts are missing but does not identify them; photo does not prove internal completeness.
GSA Auctions · Image · observed Sep 18, 2026, 6:17 AM UTC
Confirmed repair required
Evidence confidence: Medium High
Seller condition and repair history, paraphrased.
GSA Auctions · Text · observed Sep 18, 2026, 6:17 AM UTC
Market evidence strength
Medium Low
Public auditability
Full
Evidence recency
Current
Current public Varian 385-LC asks provide near-exact working-condition context only; no dependable recent exact-condition realized sale is retained.
| Model match | Evidence type | Treatment | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Related Model | Asking | Used In Valuation | 1 |
| Related Model | Asking | Context Only | 2 |
| Related Model | Insufficient Evidence | Context Only | 1 |
| Source | Evidence | Observed | Price | Relevance and treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machinio / Labexchange Varian 385-LC Dealer | Asking Related Model | September 18, 2026 | $1,754 | Near-exact predecessor platform presented as verified used equipment; materially healthier than the GSA unit. Used In Valuation |
| Trout Underground Varian 385-LC Marketplace | Asking Related Model | September 18, 2026 | $2,117 | Near-exact used predecessor-platform ask with materially stronger condition than the salvage GSA unit. Context Only |
| SpectraLab Varian 385-LC Dealer | Asking Related Model | September 18, 2026 | Not published | Quote-only refurbished offering with testing/repair process and 90-day warranty. Context Only |
| Troostwijk Varian 385-LC catalog Auction | Insufficient Evidence Related Model | September 18, 2026 | Not published | Used detector auction-catalog appearance with no retained result price. Context Only |
Requires Verification
The scenarios show potentially workable economics, but the stated verification gate must be resolved before bidding responsibly.
At $0 hammer, the model yields about $225 profit and 21% ROI, below both return requirements.
If a low-cost repair and bounded completeness support a $1,700 resale model, a disciplined ceiling is roughly $300.
| Transaction / operating cost | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Fees | $225 | LotCaliper assumption: 15% of modeled gross resale. |
| Shipping | $250 | LotCaliper pickup, packing, rigging, and inbound-logistics reserve; not a carrier or GSA quote. |
| Testing Repair Reserve | $500 | LotCaliper functional-test and diagnostic reserve. |
| Risk Buffer | $300 | Persistent Error 16 after prior repair, unidentified missing parts, legacy support, and thin realized-price evidence. |
Profit floor: $0
ROI floor: $0
Binding: Profit and ROI floors
This is a reseller ceiling, not a prediction of the auction's closing price. Any buyer premium or other unquoted acquisition charge must be deducted before bidding.
The approved repaired-resale range is approximately $1,300–1,900, but it is not an as-is salvage estimate or proof that repair will succeed.
At a $0 hammer the model produces about $225 profit and 21% ROI, so both standard return requirements fail before a positive acquisition price. Inspection can be decision-changing only if it proves a low-cost fault and bounds missing-part risk.
Snapshot decision
REVIEWREVIEW: the current blind/as-is economics support no positive hammer, but focused diagnosis of Error 16 and missing-part scope could justify rebuilding the model.
Market support assesses how well the available evidence supports the resale assumption. Exact third-party marketplace records may be omitted when source-use rights are unclear. Each dimension uses the published methodology rubric; a confidence label measures the strength and boundedness of its evidence, not the likelihood of a profitable outcome.
High · Repair Required
Legacy service documentation directs diagnosis to circuitry, wires, or fan.
High · Missing Components
Unknown missing scope can materially change repairability and value.
Official public provenance for auction facts; no unverified direct item URL is invented.
Official auction provenance for the immutable September 18, 2026 preview observation.
Product identity and technical context; linked and paraphrased.
