Everything must go! That includes the chairs, the desks, and wait…even the coffee maker?
It seems that Twitter’s San Francisco HQ is having a liquidation sale and is auctioning everything. According to a posting on the Heritage Global Partners website, the social media giant is holding an online auction for its « surplus corporate office assets. » Bidding opens on Jan. 17, 2023, with opening bids starting at $25 and $50. Items on the auction block include office chairs, industry-grade espresso machines, and lots and lots of kitchenware.
Among the other items on sale that might catch buyers’ eyes is the « manual flywheel slicer » starting at $25. Or the multiple restaurant-grade full-sized ovens, also starting at $25. Not worth your money? Okay well, how about the « Electrolux Greens Machine 20Gal Vegetable Dryer »?
Twitter users have speculated, jokingly, that this is a desperate move by a company struggling to keep the lights on, but a representative with Heritage told Fortune that the auction « has nothing to do with their financial position. » Further, the representative pointed to an auction that Twitter’s UK offices held back in January as proof that this is business as usual for the company.
« They’ve sold for 44 billion, and we’re selling a couple of chairs and desks and computers, » the Heritage rep told Fortune. « So if anyone genuinely thinks that the revenue from selling a couple computers and chairs will pay for the mountain there, then they’re a moron. »
Twitter is in dire straights now that CEO Elon Musk has taken charge. You’ve probably heard what’s going on by now: Massive layoffs, a messy verification revamp, potential FTC lawsuits, and major advertisers pulling out. And while the news of Musk selling surplus office assets shouldn’t set off alarm bells, it does point to a larger trend toward belt-tightening among the big tech companies in Silicon Valley.
