Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 06, 2019	Mar. 29, 2019
Cover page.
Entity Central Index Key	0001235468
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
No Trading Symbol Flag	false
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-51813
Entity Registrant Name	LIQUIDITY SERVICES, INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-2209244
Entity Address, Address Line One	6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200
Entity Address, City or Town	Bethesda
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	20814
City Area Code	202
Local Phone Number	467-6868
Title of 12(g) Security	Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 208.6
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		33,886,003
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement relating to its 2020 Annual Stockholders' Meeting, to be filed subsequently, are incorporated by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) of this Form 10-K.

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 36,497	$ 58,448
Short-term investments	30,000	20,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $291 and $337	6,704	4,870
Inventory	5,843	10,122
Prepaid taxes and tax refund receivable	2,531	1,727
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,350	7,816
Total current assets	89,925	102,983
Property and equipment, net	18,846	16,610
Intangible assets, net	6,043	7,366
Goodwill	59,467	59,819
Deferred tax assets	866	930
Other assets	12,136	14,124
Total assets	187,283	201,832
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	15,051	13,859
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	28,794	21,373
Distributions payable	1,675	2,128
Deferred revenue	3,049	2,142
Payables to sellers	20,253	28,969
Total current liabilities	68,822	68,471
Deferred taxes and other long-term liabilities	2,286	3,707
Total liabilities	71,108	72,178
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 8 and 15)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized; 33,687,115 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019; 32,774,118 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018	34	33
Additional paid-in capital	242,686	236,115
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,973)	(6,449)
Accumulated deficit	(118,572)	(100,045)
Total stockholders' equity	116,175	129,654
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 187,283	$ 201,832

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars)	$ 291	$ 337
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	120,000,000	120,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	33,687,115	32,774,118
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	33,687,115	32,774,118

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Total revenue from operations	$ 226,525	$ 224,514	$ 270,015
Costs and expenses from operations:
Cost of goods sold (excludes depreciation and amortization)	102,414	100,087	126,227
Seller distributions	10,831	14,715	19,298
Technology and operations	51,594	60,786	82,988
Sales and marketing	36,703	33,703	35,211
General and administrative	34,249	30,493	36,079
Depreciation and amortization	5,091	4,599	5,796
Acquisition costs and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	102	467	1,009
Other operating expenses	5,049	1,392	3,651
Total costs and expenses	246,033	246,242	310,259
Loss from operations	(19,508)	(21,728)	(40,244)
Interest income and other income, net	(1,448)	(785)	(606)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(18,060)	(20,943)	(39,638)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,200	(9,328)	(451)
Net loss	$ (19,260)	$ (11,615)	$ (39,187)
Basic and diluted loss per common share (USD per share)	$ (0.58)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.25)
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	33,062,976	32,095,491	31,402,921
Revenue
Total revenue from operations	$ 147,889	$ 149,677	$ 188,570
Fee revenue
Total revenue from operations	$ 78,636	$ 74,837	$ 81,445

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (19,260)	$ (11,615)	$ (39,187)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Defined benefit pension plan—unrecognized amounts, net of taxes	(540)	773	1,589
Foreign currency translation	(984)	(791)	551
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes	(1,524)	(18)	2,140
Comprehensive loss	$ (20,784)	$ (11,633)	$ (37,047)

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		30,742,662
Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 162,611	$ 29	$ 220,192	$ (8,571)	$ (49,039)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of common stock options, grants of restricted stock awards, and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)		760,687
Exercise of common stock options, grants of restricted stock awards, and vesting of restricted stock units	93		93
Compensation expense and incremental tax benefit from grants of common stock options and restricted stock	6,979		6,979
Net loss	(39,187)				(39,187)
Defined benefit pension plan—unrecognized amounts, net of taxes	1,589			1,589
Foreign currency translation	551			551
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		31,503,349
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	132,636	$ 29	227,264	(6,431)	(88,226)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of common stock options, grants of restricted stock awards, and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)		973,755
Exercise of common stock options, grants of restricted stock awards, and vesting of restricted stock units	404	$ 1	403
Compensation expense and incremental tax benefit from grants of common stock options and restricted stock	6,346		6,346
Net loss	(11,615)				(11,615)
Defined benefit pension plan—unrecognized amounts, net of taxes	773			773
Foreign currency translation	(791)
Foreign currency translation and other	(788)			(791)	3
Issuance of common stock for acquisition activity (in shares)		297,014
Issuance of common stock for acquisition activity	2,005	$ 3	2,002
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		32,774,118
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	129,654	$ 33	236,115	(6,449)	(100,045)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of common stock options, grants of restricted stock awards, and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)		953,066
Exercise of common stock options, grants of restricted stock awards, and vesting of restricted stock units	590	$ 1	589
Net loss	(19,260)				(19,260)
Defined benefit pension plan—unrecognized amounts, net of taxes	(540)			(540)
Foreign currency translation	(984)
Foreign currency translation and other	(981)			(984)	3
Tax settlements associated with stock compensation expense (in shares)		(6,906)
Tax settlements associated with stock compensation expense	(44)		(44)
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)		(33,163)
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards	0
Stock compensation expense	6,026		6,026
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		33,687,115
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 116,175	$ 34	$ 242,686	$ (7,973)	$ (118,572)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Operating activities
Net loss	$ (19,260)	$ (11,615)	$ (39,187)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,091	4,599	5,796
Change in fair value of earnout liability	3,500	100	(954)
Stock compensation expense	6,508	6,597	7,377
Inventory adjustment to net realizable value	331	2,494	10,381
Provision for doubtful accounts	178	199	357
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	136	(10,945)	(620)
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	0	0	1,963
Change in fair value of financial instruments	0	90	(573)
Incremental tax loss from exercise of common stock options and restricted stock	0	0	1,198
Gain on disposal of property and equipment	(15)	(480)	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,012)	6,582	(1,611)
Inventory	3,948	8,120	(3,507)
Prepaid and deferred taxes	(811)	739	730
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,554	(689)	(1,024)
Accounts payable	1,191	670	3,192
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	1,999	(9,576)	(14,882)
Distributions payable	(453)	(953)	1,359
Deferred revenue	906	743	0
Payables to sellers	(8,716)	4,586	(4,519)
Other liabilities	(317)	(642)	2,871
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(6,242)	619	(31,653)
Investing activities
Increase in intangibles	(23)	(35)	(119)
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software	(5,938)	(4,174)	(7,805)
Proceeds from note receivable	0	3,000	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	247	828	0
Purchase of short-term investments	(70,000)	(20,000)	0
Maturities of short-term investments	60,000	0	0
Cash paid for business acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	(16,673)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(15,714)	(37,054)	(7,924)
Financing activities
Short-term borrowings, net	0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options (net of tax)	590	404	92
Taxes paid associated with net settlement of share-based compensation	(44)	0	0
Incremental tax loss from exercise of common stock options and restricted stock	0	0	(1,198)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	546	404	(1,106)
Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents	(541)	131	518
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(21,951)	(35,900)	(40,165)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	58,448	94,348	134,513
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	36,497	58,448	94,348
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Earnout liability for acquisition activity	0	1,200	0
Issuance of common stock for acquisition activity	0	2,005	0
Cash (paid) received for income taxes, net	$ (1,008)	$ (916)	$ 793

Organization	12 Months Ended
Organization	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Organization Liquidity Services, Inc. (the Company) operates a network of e-commerce marketplaces that enable Buyers and Sellers to transact in an efficient, automated environment offering over 500 product categories. The Company’s marketplaces provide professional Buyers access to a global, organized supply of new, surplus and scrap assets presented with digital images and other relevant product information. Additionally, the Company enables corporate and government Sellers to enhance their financial return on offered assets by providing a liquid marketplace and value-added services that encompass the consultative management, valuation and sale of surplus assets. The Company's services include program management, valuation, asset management, reconciliation, refurbishment and recycling, fulfillment, marketing and sales, warehousing and transportation, Buyer support, compliance and risk mitigation, as well as self-directed service tools for its Sellers. The Company organizes the products on its marketplaces into categories across major industry verticals such as consumer electronics, general merchandise, apparel, scientific equipment, aerospace parts and equipment, technology hardware, energy equipment, industrial capital assets, fleet and transportation equipment and specialty equipment. The Company’s marketplaces are: www.liquidation.com, www.govdeals.com, www.networkintl.com, www.secondipity.com, www.go-dove.com. The Company also operates a global search engine for listing used machinery and equipment for sale at www.machinio.com. The Company has four reportable segments: Retail Supply Chain Group (RSCG), Capital Assets Group (CAG), GovDeals and Machinio. See Note 16 for Segment Information. On July 10, 2018, the Company acquired 100% of Machinio Corp., (“Machinio”), a privately-owned company based in Chicago, Illinois, with a second office in Berlin, Germany. Machinio operates a global online platform for listing used equipment for sale in the construction, machine tool, transportation, printing and agriculture sectors. See Note 4 for further information on this acquisition. The Company's operations are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are associated with technology-oriented companies, including, but not limited to, the Company's dependence on use of the Internet, the effect of general business and economic trends, the Company's susceptibility to rapid technological change, actual and potential competition by entities with greater financial and other resources, and the potential for the commercial Sellers from which the Company derives a significant portion of its inventory to change the way they conduct their disposition of surplus assets or to otherwise not renew their contracts with the Company.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation related to the adoption of ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which is discussed further in this note. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In addition, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been included.

Business Combinations

The Company recognizes all of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contractual contingencies, and contingent consideration at their fair value on the acquisition date. Acquisition-related costs are recognized separately from the acquisition and expensed as incurred. Restructuring costs incurred in periods subsequent to the acquisition date are expensed when incurred. Subsequent changes to the purchase price (i.e., working capital adjustments) or other fair value adjustments determined during the measurement period are recorded as an adjustment to goodwill, with the exception of contingent consideration, which is recognized in the statement of operations in the period it is modified. All subsequent changes to a valuation allowance or uncertain tax position that relate to the acquired company and existed at the acquisition date that occur both within the measurement period and as a result of facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date are recognized as an adjustment to goodwill. All other changes in valuation allowances are recognized as a reduction or increase to income tax expense or as a direct adjustment to additional paid-in capital as required.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid securities purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Short-term Investments

The Company's short-term investments at September 30, 2019 and 2018 consisted of various certificates of deposit with maturities of six months or less with interest rates between 1.97% and 2.8%.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are non-interest bearing. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts to reserve for potentially uncollectible receivables. Allowances are based on management’s judgment, which considers historical bad debt experience, a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices, and an assessment of general economic conditions.

Inventory

Inventory consists of property obtained for resale, generally through the online auction process, and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is generally determined using the specific identification method. Costs associated with our warehouse operations are expensed as incurred and included within Technology and operations expenses in the Statements of Operations. Charges for unsellable inventory, as well as for inventory written down to net realizable value, are included in Cost of goods sold in the period in which they have been determined to occur. As of September 30, 2019, and September 30, 2018, the Company's inventory reflects write-downs of $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets includes the short-term portion of a promissory note (described in "Other Assets"), as well as other miscellaneous prepaid expenses.

Other Assets

On September 30, 2015, the Company sold certain assets related to its Jacobs Trading business to Tanager Acquisitions, LLC ("Tanager"). In connection with the disposition, Tanager assumed certain liabilities related to the Jacobs Trading business. Tanager issued a $12.3 million 5-year interest bearing promissory note to the Company. Of the $12.3 million owed to the Company under the promissory note, $4.0 million has been repaid as of September 30, 2019.

On October 10, 2019, the Company entered into a Forbearance Agreement and Amendment to Note, Security Agreement and Guaranty Agreement (the "Forbearance Agreement") with Tanager (now known as Jacobs Trading, LLC) and certain of its affiliates (collectively, "JTC"). In exchange for additional collateral, security, and a higher interest rate, the Company granted JTC a new repayment schedule that requires quarterly payments to be made from August 2020 to August 2023. On that date, JTC repaid $2.5 million in principal, plus $0.4 million of accrued interest. JTC has the opportunity to prepay the full amount remaining before May 15, 2020 at a $500,000 discount.

The Company considered the terms of the Forbearance Agreement and the cash flows expected to be received from JTC under the new repayment schedule in concluding that it remains probable that the Company will collect the amounts due to the Company as of September 30, 2019 and that no impairment loss has been incurred. Of the $8.3 million outstanding at September 30, 2019, $5.5 million was recorded in Other assets, and $2.8 million in Prepaid expenses and other current assets as of September 30, 2019.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, and depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:


Computers and purchased software						One to five years
Office/operational equipment						Three to five years
Furniture and fixtures						Five to seven years
Internally developed software for internal-use						Five years (1)
Leasehold improvements						Shorter of lease term or useful life
Buildings						Thirty-nine years
Vehicles						Five years
Land						Not depreciated

(1) As part of our reassessment of the estimated useful lives of our property and equipment, our estimate of the useful life of internally developed software for internal-use changed from seven years to five years in the fourth quarter of the year ended September 30, 2019. This change in estimate was applied prospectively and it increased amortization expense by $0.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 and is expected to increase amortization expense by approximately $0.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2020.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of contract intangibles, brand and technology, and patent and trademarks. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. If an impairment indicator is present, the Company evaluates recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If the assets are impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. During the year ended September 30, 2017, the Company's IronDirect and TruckCenter businesses recorded impairment charges of $1.3 million for contract intangibles and $0.6 million for leasehold improvements. See Notes 5 and 7 for further information.

Goodwill

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually on July 1, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate impairment may exist. Examples of such events or circumstances could include a significant change in business climate or the loss of a significant contract.

In evaluating goodwill for impairment, the Company may first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, no further testing of goodwill assigned to the reporting unit is required. If the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company applies a fair value-based test.

The Company generally tests its goodwill for impairment using a fair-value based test, where the Company determines the fair value of each of its reporting units and compares that amount to the carrying amount of the respective reporting units, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, no impairment loss is recognized. If, instead, the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount of the excess carrying value. Under previous accounting guidance applied to goodwill impairment tests performed in fiscal 2018 and prior, a second step was required. The second step involved comparing the carrying amount of a reporting unit's goodwill to the implied fair value of its goodwill, and recognizing an impairment loss in the amount that the carrying amount of goodwill exceeded the implied fair value of goodwill.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue is primarily derived from subscription fees charged to customers for promotional placement on Machinio's search engine over periods ranging from one to fifteen months. Subscription fees are recognized ratably over the term of the agreements.

Short-Term Borrowings

The Company may enter into collateralized short-term borrowing agreements with banks to facilitate certain international transactions conducted under the purchase model. During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company borrowed and fully repaid its borrowings under such arrangements. No borrowings were performed during the years ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. No short-term debt was outstanding as of September 30, 2019 or 2018.

Revenue Recognition

In the Consolidated Statements of Operations, revenue from the resale of inventory that the Company purchases from Sellers is recognized within Revenue. Revenue from the sale of inventory that the Company sells on a consignment basis, and other non-consignment fee revenue, which includes Machinio's sales listing subscription service, service revenue from the Surplus Contract (defined below), as well as other services including returns management and refurbishment of assets, is recognized within Fee Revenue.

The Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standard Board's (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) effective October 1, 2018.

The Company recognizes revenue when or as performance obligations are satisfied and control is transferred to the customer. Revenue is recognized in the amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled.

Revenue is also evaluated to determine whether the Company should report the gross proceeds as revenue, when the Company acts as the principal in the arrangement, or the Company should report its revenue on a net basis, when the Company acts as an agent. Specifically, when other parties are involved in providing goods or services to a customer, the Company must determine whether the nature of its promise is a performance obligation to provide the specified goods or services itself, or to arrange for another party to provide them. The Company evaluates the following factors to determine if it is acting as a principal: (1) whether the Company is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the asset or assets; (2) whether the Company has inventory risk of the asset or assets before they are transferred to the Buyer; and (3) whether the Company has discretion in establishing the price for the asset or assets.

The Company enters into contracts with Buyers and Sellers. The Company has master agreements with some Sellers pertaining to the sale of a flow of surplus assets over the term of the master agreement; however, a revenue contract for accounting purposes exists when the Company agrees to sell a specific asset or assets. When acting as a principal (a “purchase” arrangement), the Company purchases an asset or assets from a Seller and then the Company seeks to sell the asset or assets to a Buyer. The Company recognizes as Revenue the gross proceeds from the sale, including Buyer's premiums. In purchase arrangements, the contract with the Seller is not a revenue contract in the scope of the revenue recognition guidance; rather, it is a purchase of inventory. When the Company is acting as an agent (a “consignment” arrangement), its performance obligation is to arrange for the Seller to sell an asset or assets to the Buyer directly. The Company recognizes Fee Revenue based on the sales commissions that are paid to the Company by the Sellers for utilizing the Company's services; in this situation, sales commissions represent a percentage of the gross proceeds from the sale that the Seller pays to the Company upon completion of the transaction.

In both purchase and consignment contracts, the Company sometimes provides distinct services to the Seller, such as returns management, refurbishment of assets, or valuation services. These services are distinct because the Seller could benefit from the services separately from the asset sale, and as such they are treated as separate performance obligations. Some services provided to Sellers are not distinct, like providing access to the Company’s e-commerce marketplaces or promoting the asset or assets for sale, because they could not benefit the Seller separately from the sale of the asset or assets.

The consideration received from Buyers and Sellers includes (1) Buyer’s premiums, (2) Seller’s commissions, and (3) fees for services, including reimbursed expenses. Consideration is variable based on units, final auction prices, or other factors, until the Buyer’s purchase of the asset or assets is complete, or the service has been provided. Recognition of variable consideration that is based on the results of auctions or purchases by Buyers is constrained until those transactions have been finalized. The Company estimates and recognizes amounts related to sales returns, discounts or rebates promised to customers, and reimbursed expenses, however, those estimates are not significant relative to the Company's consolidated revenues. The total transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized when or as the performance obligation is satisfied. Variable consideration is allocated to individual performance obligations when the variable consideration is related to satisfying that performance obligation and consistent with the allocation objective. The Company's revenue is generally recorded subsequent to receipt of payment authorization, utilizing credit cards, wire transfers and PayPal, an Internet-based payment system, as methods of payments. Goods are generally not shipped before payment is received. For certain transactions, payment is due upon invoice and the payment terms vary depending on the business segment.

The Company collects and remits sales taxes on merchandise that it purchases and sells and has elected the practical expedient to report such amounts under the net method in its Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company also provides shipping and handling services in some arrangements and has elected the practical expedient to treat those activities as a fulfillment cost. If the Company is acting as a principal for the combined obligation, amounts received from customers for shipping are recognized as Revenue, and amounts paid for shipping are recognized as costs of goods sold. If the Company is acting as an agent for the combined obligation, shipping revenue and costs will be netted and recognized within costs of goods sold.

The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied when control of the asset is transferred to the Buyer or when the service is completed. The Company determines when control has transferred by evaluating the following five indicators: (1) whether the Company has a present right to payment for the asset or assets; (2) whether the Buyer has legal title to the asset; (3) whether the Buyer has physical possession of the asset or assets; (4) whether the Buyer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership; and (5) whether the Buyer has accepted the asset or assets.

For the Company's Machinio business segment, the performance obligation is satisfied over time as the Company provides the sales listing services over the term of the subscription. At September 30, 2019, the Machinio business segment had a remaining performance obligation of $3.0 million; the Company expects to recognize the substantial majority of that amount as Fee Revenue over the next 12 months.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the costs of purchasing and transporting property for auction, shipping and handling costs, as well as credit card transaction fees. The Company purchases the majority of its inventory at a percentage of the vendor's original acquisition cost under the Surplus Contract and certain commercial contracts, and at a percentage of the vendor's last retail price under certain commercial contracts. Title for the inventory passes to the Company at the time of purchase and the Company bears the risks and rewards of ownership. The Company does not have title to assets sold on behalf of its commercial or government Sellers when it performs under a consignment arrangement and, as such, recognizes no inventory and related cost of goods sold associated with those sales.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract assets reflect an estimate of expenses that will be reimbursed upon settlement with a Seller. The contract asset balance was $0.7 million as of October 1, 2018 and $0.3 million as of September 30, 2019 and is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Contract liabilities reflect obligations to provide services for which the Company has already received consideration, and generally arise from up-front payments received in connection with Machinio's subscription services. The contract liability balance was $2.1 million as of October 1, 2018, and $3.0 million as of September 30, 2019 and is included in the line item Deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets. Of the October 1, 2018 contract liability balance, $2.1 million was earned as Fee Revenue during the year ended September 30, 2019.

Contract Costs

Contract costs relate to sales commissions paid on consignment contracts that are capitalized. Contract costs are amortized over the expected life of the customer contract. The contract cost balance was $0.1 million as of October 1, 2018 and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2019 and is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Amortization expense was immaterial during the year ended September 30, 2019.

Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations

For the majority of Buyers that receive goods before payment to the Company is made, credit evaluations are performed. However, for the remaining Buyers, goods are not shipped before payment is made, and as a result the Company is not subject to significant collection risk from those Buyers.

For consignment sales transactions, funds are typically collected from Buyers and are held by the Company on the Sellers' behalf. The funds are included in Cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated financial statements. The Company releases the funds to the Seller, less the Company's commission and other fees due, after the Buyer has accepted the goods or within 30 days, depending on the state where the Buyer and Seller conduct business. The amount of cash held on behalf of the Sellers is recorded as Payables to sellers in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of Cash and cash equivalents in banks over FDIC limits, Short-term investments, and Accounts receivable. The Company deposits its Cash and cash equivalents with and acquires Short-term investments from financial institutions that the Company considers to be of high credit quality.

During the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Company had two material vendor contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD) under which it acquired, managed and sold government property. Revenue from the sale of property acquired, as well as provision of services, under the Surplus Contract accounted for 0%, 12.4%, and 27.6%, of the Company's consolidated revenue for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Revenue from the sale of property acquired under the Scrap Contract accounted for 7.4%, 10.2% and 11.1% of the Company's total revenue for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. These contracts are included within the Company's CAG segment. See Note 3, Significant Contracts, for further information related to the Scrap and Surplus Contracts.

Additionally, the Company has multiple vendor contracts with Amazon.com, Inc. under which it acquires and sells commercial merchandise. The property purchased under this contract represented 43.6%, 33.7%, and 21.8% of cost of goods sold for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. This contract is included within the RSCG segment.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for the years in which the taxes are expected to be paid or recovered. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that it believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax asset. The resulting net tax asset reflects management's estimate of the amount that will be realized.

The Company applies the authoritative guidance related to uncertainty in income taxes. Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740 states that a benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of technical merits. During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a charge of $0.3 million for unrecognized tax benefits related to foreign operations. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties in the period in which they occur in the income tax provision. The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state and local jurisdictions and in foreign jurisdictions including, among others, Canada and the U.K.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has incentive plans under which stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, and stock appreciation rights are issued. The awards issued can contain service conditions, performance conditions based upon Company financial results, and/or market conditions based upon changes in the Company's stock price.

Service- and performance-based stock awards are measured at fair value on their grant date. Stock options and stock appreciation rights are measured at fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. However, because the stock appreciation rights are cash settled, they are also measured at fair value in each reporting period. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model includes assumptions for the expected term, volatility, and dividend yield, each of which are determined in reference to the Company's historical results. Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards are measured at fair value using the closing price of the Company's stock on the grant date. For service-based stock awards, the Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the service period, which is generally a period one to four years. For performance-based stock awards, the Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the derived service period expected to be required to achieve the performance condition. The Company records a cumulative adjustment to compensation expense for performance-based awards if there is a change in determination of whether it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved.

Market-based stock awards are measured at fair value on their grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation. The Monte Carlo simulation includes assumptions for the expected term, volatility, and dividend yield, each of which are determined in reference to the Company's historical results. For market-based stock option and restricted stock awards, the Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the derived service period determined by the Monte Carlo simulation, for each stock price target within the award. The Company accelerates expense when a stock price target is achieved prior to the derived service period. The Company, however, does not reverse expense recognized if the stock price target(s) are not ultimately achieved, as required by equity accounting for market-based awards. For market-based stock appreciation rights, because they are cash settled, they are measured at fair value in each reporting period. The Company recognized expense on a straight-line basis over the derived service period determined by the Monte Carlo simulation in each reporting period, for each stock price target within

the award. The Company accelerates expense when a stock price target is achieved prior to the derived service period, and reverses expense recognized if the stock price target(s) are not ultimately achieved, as required by liability accounting for market-based awards.

The Company recognizes the impact of forfeitures in the period they occur. This policy was adopted in the first quarter of 2018 due to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, which resulted in a $0.2 million retained earnings adjustment as of October 1, 2017.

Compensation expense from the stock awards is included in the same lines on the consolidated statements of operations as the cash compensation to the employees receiving the stock awards.

Excess tax benefits realized from stock awards are reported as cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Advertising Costs

Advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs charged to expense were $2.7 million, $3.6 million and $5.2 million for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is primarily the local currency. The translation of the subsidiary's financial statements into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using an average exchange rate during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, a separate component of stockholders' equity. Realized and unrealized foreign currency transaction gains and losses for 2019, 2018 and 2017 are included in interest and other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)

The following table shows the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (in thousands):


	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments		Net Change Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	(7,345)	$	(1,226)	$	(8,571)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	551		1,589		2,140
Balance at September 30, 2017	(6,794)		363		(6,431)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(791)		773		(18)
Balance at September 30, 2018	(7,585)		1,136		(6,449)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(984)		(540)		(1,524)
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	(8,569)	$	596	$	(7,973)

Net Income (Loss) Per Share (EPS)

The Company calculates basic EPS by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Unvested restricted stock awards, which are included in shares issued and outstanding on the consolidated balance sheets, are excluded from weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period because they do not have nonforfeitable rights to dividends.

The Company calculates diluted EPS giving effect to potentially dilutive common shares using the treasury stock method. The Company's potentially dilutive common shares include stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. For such awards that have performance- or market-conditions, they are considered only when those performance- or market-conditions have been satisfied as of the reporting date. However, in periods of a net loss, the Company's diluted EPS will equal its basic EPS, as all its potential common shares are anti-dilutive in that case.

For the years ended September 30, 2019, September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company operated at a net loss, and basic and diluted weighted average common shares were the same because the inclusion of potentially dilutive common shares would have been anti-dilutive. See Note 11 for outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards, all of which are anti-dilutive as of September 30, 2019.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted

On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company applied the new revenue standard to all contracts that were not completed as of October 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis and recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative period information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the consolidated October 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows (in thousands):


	Balance at September 30, 2018		Adjustment due to adoption of ASC 606		Balance as adjusted at October 1, 2018
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	7,816	$	671	$	8,487
Other assets	$	14,124	$	59	$	14,183
Accumulated deficit	$	(100,045)	$	730	$	(99,315)

The impact of adopting ASC 606 on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended September 30, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):

Year ended September 30, 2019

As reported

Balance without adoption of ASC 606

Effect of change

Higher/(lower)

Consolidated statement of operations:

Fee revenue

78,636

78,989

(353)


	September 30, 2019
	As reported	Balance without adoption of ASC 606	Effect of change Higher/(lower)
Consolidated balance sheet:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,350	7,844	506
Other assets	12,136	11,827	309
Accumulated deficit	(118,572)	(117,757)	(815)

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. ASU 2017-07 changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans present the cost of the benefits in the income statement. Under this standard, employers will present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item(s) as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. Employers will present the other components of the net periodic benefit cost separately from the line item(s) that includes the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income, if one is presented. The adoption of ASU 2017-07 on October 1, 2018, using the retrospective method, did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. As a result of adopting this standard $347 thousand, $335 thousand and $244 thousand for years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were reclassified in the consolidated statement of operations from General and administrative, a component of loss from operations, to Interest and other income, net, which is outside of loss from operations.

The Company also adopted the following ASUs during the year ended September 30, 2019 that did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements or the related footnote disclosures:

Accounting Standards Update

Effective Date

2017-09

Scope of Modification Accounting

October 1, 2018

2017-01

Clarifying the Definition of a Business

October 1, 2018

2016-16

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

October 1, 2018

2016-15

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

October 1, 2018

2016-01

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities, as updated by 2018-03

October 1, 2018

2017-04

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

July 1, 2019

2018-14

Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans

September 30, 2019

2018-13

Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements

September 30, 2019

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), or ASC 842. ASC 842, including all amendments and related guidance, will change the way the Company recognizes its leased assets. It will require organizations that lease assets—referred to as "lessees"—to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities representing the rights and obligations created by those leases. ASC 842 will also require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance will be effective for the Company beginning on October 1, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into, after either the adoption date or the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. In its adoption of ASU 842, the Company will not adjust its comparative periods. In addition, the Company will elect to use the package of practical expedients offered by ASC 842, which will permit the Company to not reassess whether a contract is or contains a lease, lease classification, or initial direct costs. The Company will not apply hindsight when determining the lease term. For all of its asset classes, the Company will account for both lease and non-lease components as a single component and account for it as a lease, and the Company will not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities for its short-term leases. The Company will use incremental borrowing rates that average between 6% and 7%, which are consistent with the lease term determined at the lease's commencement. The Company is substantially complete with its adoption of ASC 842, and expects to recognize $11.0 to $12.5 million of operating right-of-use assets and $12.0 to $13.5 million of operating lease liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets on October 1, 2019. The Company does not expect to have significant finance lease assets or liabilities. Adopting ASC 842 will also require the Company to make quantitative and qualitative disclosures about its leases.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs in a cloud computing arrangement with the requirement for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This ASU will become effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU may have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), or ASC 326. ASC 326, including all amendments and related guidance, was designed to provide financial statement users with more useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit. ASC 326 will require estimation of expected credit losses using a methodology that takes into consideration a broad range of reasonable and supportable information. The guidance will be effective for the Company beginning on October 1, 2023 and will be applied on a modified-retrospective basis, with any cumulative-effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings on the adoption date. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact ASC 326 will have on its consolidated financial statements and expects to estimate credit losses on its financial assets such as its Accounts Receivable, Short-term Investments, and Promissory Note. While the Company has not experienced significant credit losses historically, the materiality of the impact of adoption will depend on events and conditions as of the date of adoption, which cannot be determined conclusively at this time.

The Company has also completed its evaluation of the following ASUs, which are not expected to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements or the related footnote disclosures:

Accounting Standards Update

Effective Date

2018-07

Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting

October 1, 2019

2018-02

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

October 1, 2019

Acquisition

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisition

Machinio

On July 10, 2018, the Company, acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Machinio. Machinio operates a global online platform for listing used equipment for sale in the construction, machine tool, transportation, printing and agriculture sectors. The reason for the acquisition was to expand the services and channels the Company offers to its Sellers, and to grow the Company's network of Buyers. For segment reporting purposes, Machinio is a separate reportable segment.

The consideration paid to the Sellers for the acquisition of Machinio equity was $19.9 million in cash, earn-out consideration, and Company equity, including the acquisition of Machinio cash of $1.5 million at the closing and a closing working capital purchase price adjustment (for a net cash consideration of $16.7 million). Shares of restricted stock of the Company issued in a private placement to Machinio executives in exchange for their shares of Machinio stock valued at $2.0 million were included in the consideration. In addition, the Machinio sellers are eligible to receive earn-out consideration up to $5.0 million, based upon Machinio's adjusted EBITDA performance for the calendar year ended December 31, 2019. The earn-out consideration was valued at $1.2 million at the acquisition date. The earn-out consideration is subsequent to fair value measurement each reporting period until its expected settlement in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, see Note 12 for further details.

In connection with the acquisition, the Company issued restricted stock units and restricted stock awards valued at $4.7 million in the aggregate to Machinio’s executives and employees. The restricted stock units and restricted stock awards are subject to performance-based vesting, based upon Machinio's achievement of certain annual revenue and adjusted EBITDA targets through calendar year 2021, in each case, subject to each recipient’s continued employment with the Company on such vesting dates and other standard terms and conditions set forth in the respective grant agreements.

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total estimated purchase price is allocated to Machinio's net tangible and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values as of July 10, 2018. Based on management's valuation of the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, goodwill of $14.6 million was recorded, of which zero is deductible for tax purposes. The purchase price was allocated as follows:


	Consideration Amount
	(in thousands)
Other Current Assets	$	106
Goodwill	14,558
Customer relationships intangible asset	3,100
Developed technology intangible asset	2,700
Trade name intangible asset	1,500
Property and equipment and other long-term assets	252
Liabilities excluding deferred revenue	(956)
Deferred revenue	(1,400)
Total consideration	$	19,860

Related to the recognition of intangible assets for customer relationships, developed technology, and trade name, as well as the earn-out consideration and deferred revenue, certain nonrecurring fair value measurements were performed as of the acquisition date under the provisions of ASC 805. The fair value measurements were classified as Level 3 assets within the fair value hierarchy under the provisions of ASC 820 and ASC 805. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy were discount rates ranging from 30% to 35% for the identifiable intangible assets and deferred revenue and 12% to 17% for the contingent consideration. The valuation processes used included the relief from royalty method and the multi-period excess earnings method for the identifiable intangible assets, cost to fulfill method for the deferred revenue, and a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the fair value of the contingent consideration.

The net sales and operating losses of Machinio included within the Consolidated Financial Statements since the date of acquisition was $0.7 million and $(0.9) million for the year ended September 30, 2018.

The following pro-forma financial information presents the Company's results as if the acquisition had occurred on October 1, 2016:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2018		2017
	(in thousands)
Revenue	$	228,484	$	272,231
Net loss	$	(12,857)	$	(42,289)

This pro-forma information includes nonrecurring adjustments for the amortization of intangible assets and the recognition of deferred revenue.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

The components of the provision for income taxes of continuing operations are as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
	(in thousands)
Current tax provision (benefit):
U.S. Federal	$	—	$	108	$	(234)
State	453		714		613
Foreign	611		795		(210)
	1,064		1,617		169
Deferred tax provision (benefit):
U.S. Federal	103		(6,796)		(592)
State	(31)		(4,182)		(86)
Foreign	64		33		58
	136		(10,945)		(620)
Total (benefit) provision	$	1,200	$	(9,328)	$	(451)

Deferred taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:


	September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses—Foreign	$	13,009	$	10,163
Net operating losses—U.S.	34,856		32,328
Accrued vacation and bonus	674		437
Inventory capitalization	226		238
Allowance for doubtful accounts	87		47
Stock compensation expense	1,989		3,455
Restructuring costs	42		353
Depreciation	485		—
Other	953		1,158
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	52,321		48,179
Less: valuation allowance	(41,909)		(39,337)
Net deferred tax assets	10,412		8,842
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization of intangibles	408		204
Amortization of goodwill	6,374		5,949
Depreciation	—		37
Capitalized costs	3,730		2,542
Pension liability	482		556
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	10,994	$	9,288
Net deferred taxes	$	(582)	$	(446)

The reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective rate for continuing operations is as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
U.S. statutory rate	21.0	%	24.5	%	35.0	%
Permanent items	(6.8)	%	(1.2)	%	(0.9)	%
State taxes	(0.4)	%	0.1	%	1.2	%
Net foreign rate differential	(0.6)	%	(1.3)	%	(2.8)	%
Unrecognized tax benefits	(1.5)	%	(0.5)	%	3.51	%
Change in valuation allowance	(22.5)	%	(31.6)	%	(34.8)	%
Benefit from new Tax Act	—	%	51.3	%	—	%
Other	4.2	%	3.3	%	(0.1)	%
Provision for income taxes	(6.6)	%	44.6	%	1.1	%

At September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Company had federal and state deferred tax assets of $27.9 million and $28.4 million, respectively, related to available federal and state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards and other U.S. deductible temporary differences. The NOL carryforwards expire beginning in 2035. At September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Company had deferred tax assets related to available foreign NOL carryforwards of $13.0 million and $10.2 million

respectively. All but $0.4 million of our foreign NOLs maintain an indefinite carry forward life. The NOLs with limited carryforward periods will expire beginning in 2020.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“The Tax Act”) was signed into law. The Tax Act reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The rate change was administratively effective at the beginning of the Company’s 2018 fiscal year, using a blended rate of 24.5%. At September 30, 2018, the Company had not yet completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act; however, the Company recorded a provisional benefit of $10.7 million in 2018 for the remeasurement of its deferred tax balance and recognition of the realizability of its deferred tax assets. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Company completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act and determined no change to the amount recorded in fiscal year 2018 was required.

The international provisions of the Tax Act establish a territorial tax system and subject certain foreign earnings on which U.S. tax is currently deferred to a one-time transition tax. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Company completed its analysis of foreign earnings and determined that no one-time transition tax was due. As a result, the Company has not recorded any impact in its financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2019 or 2018.

The Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to a minimum tax on "global intangible low-taxed income" ("GILTI") earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A Topic 740 No. 5. Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI resulting from those items in the year the tax is incurred. The Company has elected to recognize the resulting tax on GILTI as an expense in the period the tax is incurred.

The Company assesses available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax assets. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred over the three-year period ended September 30, 2019. Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other evidence such as our projections for future growth. On the basis of this evaluation, the Company recorded a net change to its valuation allowance of $2.6 million to bring the total valuation allowance to $41.9 million at September 30, 2019.

On July 10, 2018, the Company acquired 100% of the stock of Machinio for $19.9 million. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the Company recorded a net deferred tax liability of $0.7 million comprised primarily of acquired intangibles netted against NOLs and other deferred assets and recognized a $0.7 million tax benefit from a reduction to its valuation allowance. The total amount of acquired NOLs, which are subject to limitations under Section 382, were $1.4 million.

The Company has not recorded a provision for deferred U.S. tax expense on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries since the Company intends to indefinitely reinvest the earnings of these foreign subsidiaries outside the U.S. The amount of such undistributed foreign earnings was $2.8 million as of September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, and 2018, $21.0 million and $14.4 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents was held overseas and not available to fund domestic operations without incurring taxes upon repatriation.

The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits:


	Year Ended September 30, (In thousands)
	2019		2018		2017
Beginning balance at October 1	$	—	$	—	$	725
Additions based on positions related to the current year	—		—		—
Additions for tax positions of prior years	273		107		1,426
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	—		(107)		(229)
Settlements	—		—		(1,922)
Balance at September 30	$	273	$	—	$	—

The Company applies the authoritative guidance related to uncertainty in income taxes. ASC 740 states that a benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits. During 2019, the Company recorded a charge of $0.3 million for unrecognized tax benefits related to foreign operations.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties in the period in which they occur in the income tax provision. The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state and local jurisdictions and in foreign

jurisdictions, primarily Canada and the U.K. The Company has no open income tax examinations and the statute of limitations for years prior to 2016 is now closed. However, certain tax attribute carryforwards that were generated prior to fiscal year 2016 may be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if they are utilized.

Equity Transactions

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Equity Transactions

Stock Compensation Incentive Plans

The Company has several incentive plans under which stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), restricted stock awards (RSAs), and cash-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs) have been issued, including the Second Amended and Restated 2006 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, and a plan and private placement issuances related to the Company’s acquisition of Machinio. As of September 30, 2019, the Company has reserved a total of 16,300,000 shares of its common stock for exercises of stock options, vesting of RSUs, and grants of RSAs under these plans. Vesting of RSUs and grants of RSAs count as 1.5x shares against the plan reserves. As of September 30, 2019, 1,321,256 shares of common stock remained available for use.

Stock Compensation Expense

The table below presents the components of share-based compensation expense (in thousands):


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
Equity-classified awards:
Stock options	$	1,530	$	858	$	869
RSUs & RSAs	4,496		5,454		7,308
Liability-classified awards:
SARs	$	482	$	285	$	(800)
Total stock compensation expense:	$	6,508	$	6,597	$	7,377

The Company’s total liabilities for liability-classified stock compensation awards was $758 thousand and $749 thousand as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the current portion of which was $707 thousand and $557 thousand, respectively.

Share-Based Award Activity

Stock Options

The table below presents stock option activity (aggregate intrinsic value in thousands):


	Stock Options	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018	2,018,323	$	10.49	5.13	$	1,143
Granted	1,134,316	$	6.32		$	—
Exercised	(132,633)	$	4.44		$	307
Forfeited	(347,728)	$	6.78		$	279
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019	2,672,278	$	9.50	6.19	$	2,502
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019	2,609,071	$	9.58	6.15	$	2,409
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019	1,270,164	$	12.94	4.37	$	876

Of the 1,402,114 stock options not yet exercisable as of September 30, 2019, 618,488 can become exercisable by satisfying service conditions only, and 783,626 can become exercisable by satisfying service and performance or market conditions.

Stock options containing only service conditions generally vest over periods of one to four years and expire five to ten years from the date of grant. Stock compensation cost is expensed ratably over the entire service period. As of September 30, 2019,

there was $1.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options containing only service conditions, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years

The range of assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:


	Year ended September 30
	2019	2018	2017
Dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	47.8% - 53.7%	50.8% - 58.6%	54.2% - 54.9%
Risk-free interest rate	1.9% - 2.8%	0.5% - 2.7%	1.7% - 2.2%
Expected term	4.2- 7.1 years	3.8 years	3.8 years

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the year-ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $2.70, $2.04 and $3.58, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $307 thousand, $30 thousand and $24 thousand, respectively.

Stock options containing performance conditions are discussed separately in the section below.

RSUs & RSAs

The table below presents RSU & RSA activity (aggregate fair value in thousands):


	RSU & RSA	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Fair Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018	2,316,865	$	7.19	2.17	$	14,712
Granted	612,728	$	6.70		$	4,103
Exercised	(731,433)	$	6.85		$	4,757
Forfeited	(274,171)	$	7.02		$	1,939
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019	1,923,989	$	7.19	2.09	$	14,237
Expected to vest as of September 30, 2019	1,193,034	$	6.96	2.18	$	8,828

Of the outstanding RSUs & RSAs as of September 30, 2019, 748,670 can vest by satisfying service conditions only, and 1,175,310 can vest by satisfying service and performance or market conditions.

RSUs containing only service conditions vest ratably each year over periods of one to four years. Stock compensation cost is expensed ratably over the entire service period. As of September 30, 2019, there was $2.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs containing only service conditions, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years.

RSUs and RSAs containing performance conditions and market conditions are discussed separately in the section below.

SARs

The table below presents SAR award activity (aggregate intrinsic value in thousands):


	SARs	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018	934,205	$	7.23	0.78	$	789
Granted	95,000	$	6.11		$	—
Exercised	(181,009)	$	4.57		$	491
Forfeited	(414,614)	$	8.90		$	74
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019	433,582	$	6.49	0.93	$	748
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019	379,179	$	5.95	0.92	$	748
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019	143,375	$	5.83	0.23	$	316

Of the 290,207 SARs not yet exercisable as of September 30, 2019, 164,088 can become exercisable by satisfying service conditions only, and 126,119 can become exercisable by satisfying service and performance or market conditions.

As of September 30, 2019, there was $0.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to SARs containing only service conditions, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.2 years. The Company made cash payments of $0.5 million, $0.2 million and $0.3 million to settle SARs exercised during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The fair value of outstanding SARs containing only service conditions is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The range of assumptions used to determine the fair value of outstanding SARs as of September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017 were as follows:


	Year ended September 30
	2019	2018	2017
Dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	38.2% - 48.8%	34.9% - 53.6%	38.2% - 48.8%
Risk-free interest rate	1.3% - 1.7%	2.6% - 2.8%	1.3% - 1.6%
Expected term	0.1-3.3 years	0.1-2.0 years	1.0-3.0 years

As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the weighted-average fair value of SARs outstanding was $1.7 and $0.8 per award.

SARs containing performance conditions and market conditions are discussed separately in the section below.

Stock Awards Containing Performance and Market Conditions

Stock awards containing performance conditions vest upon the achievement of specified financial targets of the Company or its business units. Vesting is generally measured on the first day of each fiscal quarter over the four-year terms of the awards, starting with the first fiscal quarter after the first anniversary of the grant date, based upon the trailing twelve months performance of the Company or its business units. When it is probable that the performance targets will be achieved, stock compensation expense is recognized ratably over the derived service period. If the Company determines that achievement of the performance targets is no longer probable, the Company no longer records expense and reverses all previously recognized expense. As of September 30, 2019, there was $0.6 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options and RSUs & RSAs, containing performance conditions that are considered probable of being met, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

Stock awards containing market conditions vest upon the achievement of specified increases in the Company’s share price. Vesting is measured the first day of each fiscal quarter over the four-year terms of the award, starting with the first fiscal quarter after the first anniversary of the grant date, based upon the trailing 20-days average of the Company’s share price. Stock compensation cost is expensed on a straight-line basis over the derived service period for each stock price target within the award. The Company accelerates expense when a stock price target is achieved prior to the derived service period. For equity-classified awards, the Company does not reverse expense recognized if the stock price target(s) are not ultimately achieved, but expense is reversed when such situations occur for liability classified awards. As of September 30, 2019, there was $1.2 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options, RSUs and SARs, containing market conditions, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

The fair value of stock options, RSUs and SARs containing market conditions is estimated using Monte Carlo simulations. The range of assumptions used to determine the fair value of these awards during the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:


	Year ended September 30
	2019	2018	2017
Dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	45.5% - 55.0%	50.0% - 54.5%	—%
Risk-free interest rate	1.5% - 2.9%	2.0% - 2.5%	—%
Expected holding period (% of remaining term)	25.9% - 100.0%	20.3%	—%

There were no stock awards containing market conditions granted during 2017.

Share Repurchase Program

The Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase issued and outstanding shares of its common stock under a share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors. Share repurchases may be made through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, at times and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements and other market conditions. The repurchase program may be discontinued or suspended at any time and will be funded using the Company's available cash. The Company's Board of Directors reviews the share repurchase program periodically, the last such review having occurred in May 2016. The Company did not repurchase shares under this program during the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, the Company may repurchase an additional $10.1 million of shares under this program.

Fair Value Measurement

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurement

The Company measures and records in the accompanying consolidated financial statements certain liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. Authoritative guidance issued by the FASB establishes a fair value hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company's assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:


Level 1						Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2						Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
Level 3						Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions developed by the Company, which reflect those that a market participant would use.

During the year ended September 30, 2018, and as a result of the acquisition of Machinio, the Company recorded contingent consideration which is measured at fair value (Level 3) at September 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration using a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation estimated Machinio's adjusted EBITDA over the calendar year 2019 earn-out period using a market-based volatility factor and market interest rates resulting in an average adjusted EBITDA. A present value factor was applied based on the expected settlement date of the contingent consideration. The liability for this consideration is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2019, and in Deferred taxes and other long-term liabilities as of September 30, 2018, as the earn-out is expected to settle prior to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

The changes in the earn-out liability measured at fair value for which the Company has used Level 3 inputs to determine fair value for the year ended September 30, 2019, are as follows (dollars in thousands):


	Contingent Consideration

Balance at September 30, 2018	$	1,300
Change in fair value of earn-out liability	3,500
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	4,800

The increase in the fair value of the earn-out liability is primarily due to an increase in Machinio's estimated adjusted EBITDA over the earn-out period, which was the result of Machinio's realized adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 exceeding the previous estimate. Secondary factors for the increase in fair value relate to the present value factor, which was impacted by the shorter period remaining until the earn out payment date, as well as a change in market conditions that reduced interest rates and the weighted average cost of capital.

Management’s estimation of the fair value of these assets and liabilities is based on the best information available in the circumstances and may incorporate management's own assumptions regarding market demand for these assets. Such assumptions involve management's judgment, taking into consideration a combination of internal and external factors. Changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 assets and liabilities are recorded in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company invested $30.0 million and $20.0 million in certificates of deposit, respectively, with maturities of six months or less, and interest rates between 1.97% and 2.8%. These assets were measured at fair value and were classified as Level 1 assets within the fair value hierarchy.

The Company’s financial assets not measured at fair value are cash and cash equivalents (which includes cash and commercial paper with original maturities of less than 90 days), accounts receivable, and a promissory note. The Company believes the carrying value of these instruments approximates fair value.

As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Certain employees of Liquidity Services UK Limited ("GoIndustry"), which the Company acquired in July 2012, are covered by the Henry Butcher Pension Fund and Life Assurance Scheme (the "Scheme"), a qualified defined benefit pension plan. The Company guarantees GoIndustry's performance on all present and future obligations to make payments to the Scheme for up to a maximum of 10 million British pounds. The Scheme was closed to new members on January 1, 2002.

The Company recognizes the funded status of its postretirement benefit plans, with a corresponding noncash adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, in stockholders' equity. The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of the Scheme's assets and the benefit obligation of the Scheme.

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, included the following components:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
	(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	618	$	651	$	582
Expected return on plan assets	(965)		(986)		(826)
Total net periodic benefit	$	(347)	$	(335)	$	(244)

The following table provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets, and funded status related to the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligation
Beginning balance	$	22,226	$	25,085
Interest cost	618		651
Benefits paid	(879)		(2,297)
Actuarial loss/(gain)	2,508		(590)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,233)		(623)
Ending balance	$	23,240	$	22,226


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Change in plan assets
Beginning balance at fair value	$	25,132	$	26,943
Actual return on plan assets	3,003		1,175
Benefits paid	(879)		(2,297)
Employer's contributions	—		—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,477)		(689)
Ending balance at fair value	$	25,779	$	25,132
Overfunded status of the Scheme	$	2,539	$	2,906

The accrued pension asset of $2.5 million is recorded in Other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Because the Scheme is closed to new participants, the accumulated benefit obligation is equal to the projected benefit obligation, which was $23.2 million and $22.2 million at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The amounts recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss related to the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan, net of taxes, and the related foreign currency translation adjustments, for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, is shown in the following table:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at beginning of year	$	(892)	$	(123)
Net actuarial gain (loss)	540		(773)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	49		4
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at end of year	$	(303)	$	(892)

The plan complies with the funding provisions of the UK Pensions Act 2004 and the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulations Act 2005. The Company does not plan to make contributions to the plan in the near future.

Actuarial Assumptions

The actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations at September 30, 2019 and 2018, and to determine the net periodic (benefit) cost for the year were as follows:


	September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018
Discount rate to determine net periodic (benefit) cost	2.90	%	2.70	%
Expected return on plan assets	4.00	%	3.80	%
Discount rate to determine benefit obligations	1.80	%	2.90	%
Rate of increases to deferred CPI linked benefits	2.10	%	2.20	%
Rate of increases to deferred RPI linked benefits	3.20	%	3.30	%

Mortality—105% for males and females of S2PxA mortality tables, projected in line with the 2018 Continuous Mortality Investigation projection model and a 1.3% per annum long-term rate of improvement.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The Company's pension plan expects to make the following benefit payments to participants over the next 10 years:


	Pension Benefits
	(in thousands)
Year ending September 30,
2020	$	750
2021	705
2022	828
2023	1,112
2024	964
2025 through 2029	4,779
Total	$	9,138

Fair Value Measurements

The investment policy and strategy of the plan assets, as established by the Trustees (the "Trustees") of the plan, strive to maximize the likelihood of achieving primary objectives of the investment policy established for the plan, which are:

•Funding—to ensure that the Plan is fully funded using assumptions that contain a modest margin for prudence. Where an actuarial valuation reveals a deficit, a recovery plan will be put in place which will take into account the financial covenant of the employer;

•Stability—to have due regard to the likely level and volatility of required contributions when setting the Plan's investment strategy; and

•Security—to ensure that the solvency position of the Scheme is expected to improve. The Trustees will take into account the strength of employer's covenant when determining the expected improvement in the solvency position of the Plan.

The assets are allocated among equity securities, corporate bonds, and diversified funds. The assets are not rebalanced, but the allocation is reviewed on a periodic basis to ensure that the investments are appropriate to the Scheme's circumstances. The Trustees review the investment policy on an ongoing basis, to determine whether a change in the policy or asset allocation targets is necessary. The Company has elected to use a bid value of Scheme assets to calculate the expected return on assets in the net periodic benefit cost. The assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2019 and 2018:


	September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018
Equity securities	19.7	%	45.7	%
Corporate bonds	56.4	%	53.1	%
Diversified fund	23.5	%	—	%
Cash	0.4	%	1.2	%
Total	100.0	%	100.0	%

The expected long-term rate of return for the plan's total assets is based on the expected returns of each of the above categories, weighted based on the current target allocation for each class. The Trustees evaluate whether adjustments are needed based on historical returns to more accurately reflect expectations of future returns.

The Company is required to present certain fair value disclosures related to its postretirement benefit plan assets, even though those assets are not included on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table presents the fair value of the assets of the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan by asset category and their level within the fair value hierarchy, which has three levels based on reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs, and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant unobservable inputs.


Balance as of September 30, 2018	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in thousands)
Equity securities	$	—	$	11,489	$	—	$	11,489
Fixed-income securities	—		13,347		—		13,347
Cash equivalents	296		—		—		296
Total	$	296	$	24,836	$	—	$	25,132


Balance as of September 30, 2019	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in thousands)
Equity securities	$	—	$	5,077	$	—	$	5,077
Corporate bonds	—		14,546		—		14,546
Diversified fund	—		6,062		—		6,062
Cash	94		—		—		94
Total	$	94	$	25,685	$	—	$	25,779

Valuation Techniques

The Company relies on pricing inputs from investment fund managers to value investments. The fund manager prices the underlying securities using independent external pricing sources.

Business Realignment Expenses

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Business Realignment Expenses

Business realignment expenses are associated with management changes, exiting certain businesses, or other cost saving actions, and include employee severance and benefit costs associated with terminations, occupancy costs associated the ceased use of facilities, and other related costs, such as impairments. Business realignment expenses are recorded as a component of Other operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2019, business realignment expenses were incurred related to: management changes associated with a strategic reorganization of the Company's go-to-market strategy for self-directed and fully-managed market place services, the conclusion of the Scrap contract, and other cost saving actions.

For the year ended September 30, 2018, business realignment expenses were incurred related to: cost saving actions in the CAG segment and Corporate IT department. These actions were partially offset by an adjustment to reduce the liability associated with the ceased use of the Company's previous headquarters location in Washington D.C. that was initially recognized during the year ended September 30, 2017.

For the year ended September 30, 2017, business realignment expenses were incurred related to: the ceased use of the Company's previous headquarters location in Washington D.C., the exit of the TruckCenter land-base, live action and retail business, cost saving actions in the CAG segment and IronDirect business, including a related onerous contract and impairment charges.

The table below sets forth the significant components and activity in the liability for business realignment initiatives during the year ended September 30, 2019, on a segment and consolidated basis:


(in thousands)	Liability Balance at September 30, 2017		Business Realignment Expenses		Cash Payments		Liability Balance at September 30, 2018		Business Realignment Expenses		Cash Payments		Liability Balance at September 30, 2019
Employee severance and benefit costs:
CAG	$	793	$	979	$	(1,683)	$	89	$	443	$	(118)	$	414
Corporate & Other	399		472		(850)		21		1,537		(1,320)		238
Total employee severance and benefit costs	$	1,192	$	1,451	$	(2,533)	$	110	$	1,980	$	(1,438)	$	652
Occupancy and other costs:
CAG	—		739		(280)		459		51		(341)		169
Corporate & Other	1,988		(248)		(933)		807		134		(941)		—
Total occupancy and other costs	$	1,988	$	491	$	(1,213)	$	1,266	$	185	$	(1,282)	$	169
Total business realignment	$	3,180	$	1,942	$	(3,746)	$	1,376	$	2,165	$	(2,720)	$	821

The Company expects that the majority of the remaining liability balance at September 30, 2019 will be paid during fiscal 2020.

Segment Information

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

The Company provides operating results in four reportable segments: GovDeals, Capital Assets Group (CAG), Retail Supply Chain Group (RSCG), Machinio. The Company's reportable segments constituted over 99% of the Company's revenue for the year ended September 30, 2019. Descriptions of our reportable segments are as follows:

•The GovDeals reportable segment provides self-directed service solutions in which Sellers list their own assets, and it consists of marketplaces that enable local and state government entities including city, county and state agencies, as well as commercial businesses located in the United States and Canada to sell surplus and salvage assets. GovDeals also offers a suite of services to Sellers that includes asset sales and marketing. This segment includes the Company's GovDeals.com and AuctionDeals.com marketplaces.

•The CAG reportable segment provides full-service solutions to Sellers and it consists of marketplaces that enable commercial businesses to sell surplus, salvage, and scrap assets. CAG also offers a suite of services that includes surplus management, asset valuation, asset sales and marketing. Commercial Sellers are located in the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia. This segment includes the Company's Network International and GoIndustry DoveBid marketplaces. Prior to the conclusion of the Scrap and Surplus Contracts (see Note 3), CAG sold surplus and scrap assets from the DoD on its Government Liquidation marketplace.

•The RSCG reportable segment consists of marketplaces that enable corporations located in the United States and Canada to sell surplus and salvage consumer goods and retail capital assets. RSCG also offers a suite of services that includes returns management, asset recovery, and e-commerce services. This segment includes the Company's Liquidation.com, Liquidation.com DIRECT, and Secondipity marketplaces.

•The Machinio reportable segment operates a global online platform for listing used equipment for sale in the construction, machine tool, transportation, printing and agriculture sectors. Machinio was acquired by the Company on July 10, 2018.

We also report results of Corporate & Other, which combines two previously existing operating segments that did not meet the quantitative thresholds to be reportable segments, IronDirect and TruckCenter, with corporate activity and elimination adjustments. The Company exited the TruckCenter business in January 2017 and exited the IronDirect business in January 2019.

Decisions concerning the allocation of the Company’s resources are made by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), which is the Company's Chief Executive Officer, with oversight by the Board of Directors. The Company reports segment information based on the internal performance measures used by the CODM to assess the performance of each operating segment in a given period. In connection with that assessment, the CODM uses segment gross profit to evaluate the performance of each segment. Gross profit is calculated as total revenue less cost of goods sold and seller distributions.

The following table sets forth certain financial information for the Company's reportable segments:


		Year Ended September 30,
(in thousands)				2019			2018			2017
GovDeals:
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Fee revenue	32,936			30,214			26,853
	Total revenue	32,936			30,214			26,853
	Gross profit	30,386			27,990			25,172

CAG:
	Revenue	36,684			57,717			100,160
	Fee revenue	23,558			30,308			44,971
	Total revenue	60,242			88,025			145,131
	Gross profit	32,679			48,873			71,934

RSCG:
	Revenue	110,736			88,295			85,766
	Fee revenue	16,585			13,659			9,265
	Total revenue	127,321			101,954			95,032
	Gross profit	44,967			33,009			30,050

Machinio:
	Revenue	—			—			—
	Fee revenue	5,598			653			—
	Total revenue	5,598			653			—
	Gross profit	5,196			501			—

Corporate & Other:
	Revenue	469			3,665			2,644
	Fee revenue	(41)			3			356
	Total revenue	428			3,668			2,999
	Gross profit	52			(661)			(2,666)

Consolidated:
	Revenue	147,889			149,677			188,570
	Fee revenue	78,636			74,837			81,445
	Total revenue	226,525			224,514			270,015
	Gross profit	113,280			109,712			124,490

The following table presents a reconciliation between gross profit used in the reportable segments and the Company's consolidated results:


		Year Ended September 30,
(in thousands)			2019		2018		2017
Reconciliation:
	Gross profit	113,280		109,712		124,490
	Operating expenses	127,739		130,048		161,083
	Other operating expenses	5,049		1,392		3,651
	Interest (income) expense and other expense, net	(1,448)		(785)		(606)
	Loss before provision for income taxes	(18,060)		(20,943)		(39,638)

Total segment assets reconciled to consolidated amounts are as follows. The amounts as of September 30, 2018 have been be reclassified to match the current year presentation of segment assets.


	September 30,
(in thousands)	2019		2018
Segment Assets:
GovDeals	$	75,218	$	47,632
CAG	128,918		146,544
RSCG	27,075		19,418
Machinio	26,613		25,916
Corporate & Other, including elimination adjustments	(70,541)		(37,678)
Total Segment Assets:	$	187,283	$	201,832

Revenue attributed to countries that represent a significant portion of consolidated revenues are as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2019		2018		2017
United States	$	191,816	$	193,240	$	240,102
Rest of the world	34,709		31,274		29,913
Consolidated	$	226,525	$	224,514	$	270,015

Total long-lived assets by geographic areas are presented as follows:


	September 30,
(in thousands)	2019		2018
United States	$	18,455	$	16,367
Rest of the world	391		243
Consolidated	$	18,846	$	16,610

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Business Combinations

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid securities purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Short-term Investments

The Company's short-term investments at September 30, 2019 and 2018 consisted of various certificates of deposit with maturities of six months or less with interest rates between 1.97% and 2.8%.

Accounts Receivable

Inventory

InventoryInventory consists of property obtained for resale, generally through the online auction process, and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is generally determined using the specific identification method. Costs associated with our warehouse operations are expensed as incurred and included within Technology and operations expenses in the Statements of Operations. Charges for unsellable inventory, as well as for inventory written down to net realizable value, are included in Cost of goods sold in the period in which they have been determined to occur.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assetsPrepaid expenses and other current assets includes the short-term portion of a promissory note (described in "Other Assets"), as well as other miscellaneous prepaid expenses.

Other Assets

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, and depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:


Computers and purchased software						One to five years
Office/operational equipment						Three to five years
Furniture and fixtures						Five to seven years
Internally developed software for internal-use						Five years (1)
Leasehold improvements						Shorter of lease term or useful life
Buildings						Thirty-nine years
Vehicles						Five years
Land						Not depreciated

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of contract intangibles, brand and technology, and patent and trademarks. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill

Deferred Revenue

Short-Term Borrowings

Short-Term BorrowingsThe Company may enter into collateralized short-term borrowing agreements with banks to facilitate certain international transactions conducted under the purchase model.

Revenue Recognition

The Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standard Board's (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) effective October 1, 2018.

Cost of Goods Sold

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract Costs

Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations

Income Taxes

Stock-Based Compensation

Compensation expense from the stock awards is included in the same lines on the consolidated statements of operations as the cash compensation to the employees receiving the stock awards.

Excess tax benefits realized from stock awards are reported as cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Advertising Costs

Advertising CostsAdvertising expenditures are expensed as incurred.

Foreign Currency Translation

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)

The following table shows the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (in thousands):


	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments		Net Change Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	(7,345)	$	(1,226)	$	(8,571)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	551		1,589		2,140
Balance at September 30, 2017	(6,794)		363		(6,431)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(791)		773		(18)
Balance at September 30, 2018	(7,585)		1,136		(6,449)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(984)		(540)		(1,524)
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	(8,569)	$	596	$	(7,973)

Net Income (Loss) Per Share (EPS)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the consolidated October 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows (in thousands):


	Balance at September 30, 2018		Adjustment due to adoption of ASC 606		Balance as adjusted at October 1, 2018
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	7,816	$	671	$	8,487
Other assets	$	14,124	$	59	$	14,183
Accumulated deficit	$	(100,045)	$	730	$	(99,315)

The impact of adopting ASC 606 on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended September 30, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):

Year ended September 30, 2019

As reported

Balance without adoption of ASC 606

Effect of change

Higher/(lower)

Consolidated statement of operations:

Fee revenue

78,636

78,989

(353)


	September 30, 2019
	As reported	Balance without adoption of ASC 606	Effect of change Higher/(lower)
Consolidated balance sheet:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,350	7,844	506
Other assets	12,136	11,827	309
Accumulated deficit	(118,572)	(117,757)	(815)

Accounting Standards Update

Effective Date

2017-09

Scope of Modification Accounting

October 1, 2018

2017-01

Clarifying the Definition of a Business

October 1, 2018

2016-16

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

October 1, 2018

2016-15

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

October 1, 2018

2016-01

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities, as updated by 2018-03

October 1, 2018

2017-04

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

July 1, 2019

2018-14

Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans

September 30, 2019

2018-13

Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements

September 30, 2019

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

The Company has also completed its evaluation of the following ASUs, which are not expected to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements or the related footnote disclosures:

Accounting Standards Update

Effective Date

2018-07

Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting

October 1, 2019

2018-02

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

October 1, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Schedule of property and equipment useful lives

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, and depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:


Computers and purchased software						One to five years
Office/operational equipment						Three to five years
Furniture and fixtures						Five to seven years
Internally developed software for internal-use						Five years (1)
Leasehold improvements						Shorter of lease term or useful life
Buildings						Thirty-nine years
Vehicles						Five years
Land						Not depreciated

Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

The following table shows the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (in thousands):


	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments		Net Change Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	(7,345)	$	(1,226)	$	(8,571)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	551		1,589		2,140
Balance at September 30, 2017	(6,794)		363		(6,431)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(791)		773		(18)
Balance at September 30, 2018	(7,585)		1,136		(6,449)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(984)		(540)		(1,524)
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	(8,569)	$	596	$	(7,973)

Schedule of new accounting pronouncements

Accounting Standards Update

Effective Date

2017-09

Scope of Modification Accounting

October 1, 2018

2017-01

Clarifying the Definition of a Business

October 1, 2018

2016-16

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

October 1, 2018

2016-15

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

October 1, 2018

2016-01

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities, as updated by 2018-03

October 1, 2018

2017-04

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

July 1, 2019

2018-14

Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans

September 30, 2019

2018-13

Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements

September 30, 2019

The Company has also completed its evaluation of the following ASUs, which are not expected to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements or the related footnote disclosures:

Accounting Standards Update

Effective Date

2018-07

Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting

October 1, 2019

2018-02

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

October 1, 2019

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Schedule of new accounting pronouncements

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the consolidated October 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows (in thousands):


	Balance at September 30, 2018		Adjustment due to adoption of ASC 606		Balance as adjusted at October 1, 2018
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	7,816	$	671	$	8,487
Other assets	$	14,124	$	59	$	14,183
Accumulated deficit	$	(100,045)	$	730	$	(99,315)

The impact of adopting ASC 606 on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended September 30, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):

Year ended September 30, 2019

As reported

Balance without adoption of ASC 606

Effect of change

Higher/(lower)

Consolidated statement of operations:

Fee revenue

78,636

78,989

(353)


	September 30, 2019
	As reported	Balance without adoption of ASC 606	Effect of change Higher/(lower)
Consolidated balance sheet:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,350	7,844	506
Other assets	12,136	11,827	309
Accumulated deficit	(118,572)	(117,757)	(815)

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of components of provision for income taxes of continuing operations

The components of the provision for income taxes of continuing operations are as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
	(in thousands)
Current tax provision (benefit):
U.S. Federal	$	—	$	108	$	(234)
State	453		714		613
Foreign	611		795		(210)
	1,064		1,617		169
Deferred tax provision (benefit):
U.S. Federal	103		(6,796)		(592)
State	(31)		(4,182)		(86)
Foreign	64		33		58
	136		(10,945)		(620)
Total (benefit) provision	$	1,200	$	(9,328)	$	(451)

Schedule of significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:


	September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses—Foreign	$	13,009	$	10,163
Net operating losses—U.S.	34,856		32,328
Accrued vacation and bonus	674		437
Inventory capitalization	226		238
Allowance for doubtful accounts	87		47
Stock compensation expense	1,989		3,455
Restructuring costs	42		353
Depreciation	485		—
Other	953		1,158
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	52,321		48,179
Less: valuation allowance	(41,909)		(39,337)
Net deferred tax assets	10,412		8,842
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization of intangibles	408		204
Amortization of goodwill	6,374		5,949
Depreciation	—		37
Capitalized costs	3,730		2,542
Pension liability	482		556
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	10,994	$	9,288
Net deferred taxes	$	(582)	$	(446)

Schedule of reconciliation of U.S. federal statutory rate to effective rate for continuing operations

The reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective rate for continuing operations is as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
U.S. statutory rate	21.0	%	24.5	%	35.0	%
Permanent items	(6.8)	%	(1.2)	%	(0.9)	%
State taxes	(0.4)	%	0.1	%	1.2	%
Net foreign rate differential	(0.6)	%	(1.3)	%	(2.8)	%
Unrecognized tax benefits	(1.5)	%	(0.5)	%	3.51	%
Change in valuation allowance	(22.5)	%	(31.6)	%	(34.8)	%
Benefit from new Tax Act	—	%	51.3	%	—	%
Other	4.2	%	3.3	%	(0.1)	%
Provision for income taxes	(6.6)	%	44.6	%	1.1	%

Schedule of reconciliation unrecognized tax benefits

The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits:


	Year Ended September 30, (In thousands)
	2019		2018		2017
Beginning balance at October 1	$	—	$	—	$	725
Additions based on positions related to the current year	—		—		—
Additions for tax positions of prior years	273		107		1,426
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	—		(107)		(229)
Settlements	—		—		(1,922)
Balance at September 30	$	273	$	—	$	—

Equity Transactions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Summary of share-based compensation expense

The table below presents the components of share-based compensation expense (in thousands):


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
Equity-classified awards:
Stock options	$	1,530	$	858	$	869
RSUs & RSAs	4,496		5,454		7,308
Liability-classified awards:
SARs	$	482	$	285	$	(800)
Total stock compensation expense:	$	6,508	$	6,597	$	7,377

Summary of stock option activity

The table below presents stock option activity (aggregate intrinsic value in thousands):


	Stock Options	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018	2,018,323	$	10.49	5.13	$	1,143
Granted	1,134,316	$	6.32		$	—
Exercised	(132,633)	$	4.44		$	307
Forfeited	(347,728)	$	6.78		$	279
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019	2,672,278	$	9.50	6.19	$	2,502
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019	2,609,071	$	9.58	6.15	$	2,409
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019	1,270,164	$	12.94	4.37	$	876

Summary of fair value assumptions, stock options

The range of assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:


	Year ended September 30
	2019	2018	2017
Dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	47.8% - 53.7%	50.8% - 58.6%	54.2% - 54.9%
Risk-free interest rate	1.9% - 2.8%	0.5% - 2.7%	1.7% - 2.2%
Expected term	4.2- 7.1 years	3.8 years	3.8 years

Summary of RSU and RSA Activity

The table below presents RSU & RSA activity (aggregate fair value in thousands):


	RSU & RSA	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Fair Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018	2,316,865	$	7.19	2.17	$	14,712
Granted	612,728	$	6.70		$	4,103
Exercised	(731,433)	$	6.85		$	4,757
Forfeited	(274,171)	$	7.02		$	1,939
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019	1,923,989	$	7.19	2.09	$	14,237
Expected to vest as of September 30, 2019	1,193,034	$	6.96	2.18	$	8,828

Summary of stock appreciation right activity

The table below presents SAR award activity (aggregate intrinsic value in thousands):


	SARs	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018	934,205	$	7.23	0.78	$	789
Granted	95,000	$	6.11		$	—
Exercised	(181,009)	$	4.57		$	491
Forfeited	(414,614)	$	8.90		$	74
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019	433,582	$	6.49	0.93	$	748
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019	379,179	$	5.95	0.92	$	748
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019	143,375	$	5.83	0.23	$	316

Summary of fair value assumptions, stock appreciation rights

The range of assumptions used to determine the fair value of outstanding SARs as of September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017 were as follows:


	Year ended September 30
	2019	2018	2017
Dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	38.2% - 48.8%	34.9% - 53.6%	38.2% - 48.8%
Risk-free interest rate	1.3% - 1.7%	2.6% - 2.8%	1.3% - 1.6%
Expected term	0.1-3.3 years	0.1-2.0 years	1.0-3.0 years

Summary of fair value assumptions


	Year ended September 30
	2019	2018	2017
Dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	45.5% - 55.0%	50.0% - 54.5%	—%
Risk-free interest rate	1.5% - 2.9%	2.0% - 2.5%	—%
Expected holding period (% of remaining term)	25.9% - 100.0%	20.3%	—%

Defined Benefit Pension Plan (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]

Schedule of net periodic benefit cost recognized

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, included the following components:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2017
	(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	618	$	651	$	582
Expected return on plan assets	(965)		(986)		(826)
Total net periodic benefit	$	(347)	$	(335)	$	(244)

Schedule of reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets, and funded status related to qualified defined benefit pension plan


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligation
Beginning balance	$	22,226	$	25,085
Interest cost	618		651
Benefits paid	(879)		(2,297)
Actuarial loss/(gain)	2,508		(590)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,233)		(623)
Ending balance	$	23,240	$	22,226


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Change in plan assets
Beginning balance at fair value	$	25,132	$	26,943
Actual return on plan assets	3,003		1,175
Benefits paid	(879)		(2,297)
Employer's contributions	—		—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,477)		(689)
Ending balance at fair value	$	25,779	$	25,132
Overfunded status of the Scheme	$	2,539	$	2,906

Schedule of amount recognized in other comprehensive loss related to qualified defined benefit pension plan, net of tax


	Year Ended September 30,
	2019		2018
	(in thousands)
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at beginning of year	$	(892)	$	(123)
Net actuarial gain (loss)	540		(773)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	49		4
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at end of year	$	(303)	$	(892)

Schedule of actuarial assumptions used to determine (benefit) obligations and net periodic benefit cost

The actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations at September 30, 2019 and 2018, and to determine the net periodic (benefit) cost for the year were as follows:


	September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018
Discount rate to determine net periodic (benefit) cost	2.90	%	2.70	%
Expected return on plan assets	4.00	%	3.80	%
Discount rate to determine benefit obligations	1.80	%	2.90	%
Rate of increases to deferred CPI linked benefits	2.10	%	2.20	%
Rate of increases to deferred RPI linked benefits	3.20	%	3.30	%

Schedule of expected benefit payments to participants

The Company's pension plan expects to make the following benefit payments to participants over the next 10 years:


	Pension Benefits
	(in thousands)
Year ending September 30,
2020	$	750
2021	705
2022	828
2023	1,112
2024	964
2025 through 2029	4,779
Total	$	9,138

Schedule of allocation of plan assets

The assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2019 and 2018:


	September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018
Equity securities	19.7	%	45.7	%
Corporate bonds	56.4	%	53.1	%
Diversified fund	23.5	%	—	%
Cash	0.4	%	1.2	%
Total	100.0	%	100.0	%

Schedule of fair value of assets of qualified defined benefit pension plan by asset category and level within fair value hierarchy

The following table presents the fair value of the assets of the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plan by asset category and their level within the fair value hierarchy, which has three levels based on reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs, and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant unobservable inputs.


Balance as of September 30, 2018	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in thousands)
Equity securities	$	—	$	11,489	$	—	$	11,489
Fixed-income securities	—		13,347		—		13,347
Cash equivalents	296		—		—		296
Total	$	296	$	24,836	$	—	$	25,132


Balance as of September 30, 2019	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in thousands)
Equity securities	$	—	$	5,077	$	—	$	5,077
Corporate bonds	—		14,546		—		14,546
Diversified fund	—		6,062		—		6,062
Cash	94		—		—		94
Total	$	94	$	25,685	$	—	$	25,779

Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of segment reporting information, by segment

The following table sets forth certain financial information for the Company's reportable segments:


		Year Ended September 30,
(in thousands)				2019			2018			2017
GovDeals:
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Fee revenue	32,936			30,214			26,853
	Total revenue	32,936			30,214			26,853
	Gross profit	30,386			27,990			25,172

CAG:
	Revenue	36,684			57,717			100,160
	Fee revenue	23,558			30,308			44,971
	Total revenue	60,242			88,025			145,131
	Gross profit	32,679			48,873			71,934

RSCG:
	Revenue	110,736			88,295			85,766
	Fee revenue	16,585			13,659			9,265
	Total revenue	127,321			101,954			95,032
	Gross profit	44,967			33,009			30,050

Machinio:
	Revenue	—			—			—
	Fee revenue	5,598			653			—
	Total revenue	5,598			653			—
	Gross profit	5,196			501			—

Corporate & Other:
	Revenue	469			3,665			2,644
	Fee revenue	(41)			3			356
	Total revenue	428			3,668			2,999
	Gross profit	52			(661)			(2,666)

Consolidated:
	Revenue	147,889			149,677			188,570
	Fee revenue	78,636			74,837			81,445
	Total revenue	226,525			224,514			270,015
	Gross profit	113,280			109,712			124,490

Reconciliation of revenue from segments to consolidated

The following table presents a reconciliation between gross profit used in the reportable segments and the Company's consolidated results:


		Year Ended September 30,
(in thousands)			2019		2018		2017
Reconciliation:
	Gross profit	113,280		109,712		124,490
	Operating expenses	127,739		130,048		161,083
	Other operating expenses	5,049		1,392		3,651
	Interest (income) expense and other expense, net	(1,448)		(785)		(606)
	Loss before provision for income taxes	(18,060)		(20,943)		(39,638)

Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated

Total segment assets reconciled to consolidated amounts are as follows. The amounts as of September 30, 2018 have been be reclassified to match the current year presentation of segment assets.


	September 30,
(in thousands)	2019		2018
Segment Assets:
GovDeals	$	75,218	$	47,632
CAG	128,918		146,544
RSCG	27,075		19,418
Machinio	26,613		25,916
Corporate & Other, including elimination adjustments	(70,541)		(37,678)
Total Segment Assets:	$	187,283	$	201,832

Revenue by geographical areas

Revenue attributed to countries that represent a significant portion of consolidated revenues are as follows:


	Year Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2019		2018		2017
United States	$	191,816	$	193,240	$	240,102
Rest of the world	34,709		31,274		29,913
Consolidated	$	226,525	$	224,514	$	270,015

Long-lived assets by geographical areas

Total long-lived assets by geographic areas are presented as follows:


	September 30,
(in thousands)	2019		2018
United States	$	18,455	$	16,367
Rest of the world	391		243
Consolidated	$	18,846	$	16,610

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Other Assets (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 10, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2015
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Interest income		$ 1,448,000	$ 785,000	$ 606,000
Tanager Acquisitions Promissory Note
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Receivable with imputed interest, face amount					$ 12,300,000
Receivable with imputed interest, term (in years)					5 years
Proceeds from collection of notes receivable		4,000,000.0
Receivable with imputed interest, net amount		8,300,000
Tanager Acquisitions Promissory Note \| Other Assets
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Receivable with imputed interest, net amount		5,500,000
Tanager Acquisitions Promissory Note \| Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Receivable with imputed interest, net amount		$ 2,800,000
Tanager Acquisitions Promissory Note \| Subsequent Event
Receivables with Imputed Interest [Line Items]
Proceeds from collection of notes receivable	$ 2,500,000
Interest income	400,000
Prepayment discount	$ 500,000

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - PP&E (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Property and Equipment
Increase in amortization				$ 0.1
Scenario, Forecast
Property and Equipment
Increase in amortization			$ 0.7
Computers and purchased software \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				1 year
Computers and purchased software \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				5 years
Office/operational equipment \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				3 years
Office/operational equipment \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				5 years
Furniture and fixtures \| Minimum
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				5 years
Furniture and fixtures \| Maximum
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				7 years
Internally developed software for internal-use
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life	5 years	7 years		5 years
Building
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				39 years
Vehicles
Property and Equipment
Estimated useful life				5 years

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Contract Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 01, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Contract asset	$ 0.3	$ 0.7
Contract liability	3.0	2.1
Contract liability recognized as revenue	2.1
Contract costs	$ 0.5	$ 0.1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Concentration (Details) - contract	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
U.S. Department of Defense
Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations
Number of contracts	2	2	2
U.S. Department of Defense \| Revenue \| Surplus Contract
Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations
Concentration risk (as a percent)	0.00%	12.40%	27.60%
U.S. Department of Defense \| Revenue \| Scrap Contract
Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations
Concentration risk (as a percent)	7.40%	10.20%	11.10%
Supplier Concentration Risk \| Cost of Goods Sold \| Contract with commercial client
Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations
Concentration risk (as a percent)	43.60%	33.70%	21.80%
Maximum
Risk Associated with Certain Concentrations
Term for release of funds to the seller	30 days

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 01, 2018	Oct. 01, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Adjustment to retained earnings		$ 730	$ (107)
Retained Earnings
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Adjustment to retained earnings		$ 730	(207)
Retained Earnings \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Adjustment to retained earnings			$ (200)
Minimum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Shares and options vesting period	1 year
Maximum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Shares and options vesting period	4 years

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Advertising Costs and AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs	$ 2,700	$ 3,600	$ 5,200
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	129,654	132,636	162,611
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,524)	(18)	2,140
Balance	116,175	129,654	132,636
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	(7,585)	(6,794)	(7,345)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(984)	(791)	551
Balance	(8,569)	(7,585)	(6,794)
Net Change Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	1,136	363	(1,226)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(540)	773	1,589
Balance	596	1,136	363
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	(6,449)	(6,431)	(8,571)
Balance	$ (7,973)	$ (6,449)	$ (6,431)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Accounting Standards Adopted (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2019	Oct. 01, 2018
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 8,350				$ 7,816				$ 8,350	$ 7,816			$ 8,487
Other assets	12,136				14,124				12,136	14,124			14,183
Accumulated deficit	(118,572)				(100,045)				(118,572)	(100,045)			(99,315)
Total revenue from operations	58,790	$ 56,882	$ 56,800	$ 54,053	$ 52,705	$ 50,569	$ 60,097	$ 61,143	226,525	224,514	$ 270,015
Decrease in general and administrative expense from reclassification									34,249	30,493	36,079
Decrease in interest and other income, net									1,448	785	606
Fee revenue
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									78,636	74,837	81,445
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Decrease in general and administrative expense from reclassification									(347)	(335)	(244)
Decrease in interest and other income, net									(347)	$ (335)	$ (244)
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 \| Scenario, Forecast \| Minimum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Incremental borrowing rate												6.00%
Operating right-of-use assets												$ 11,000
Operating lease liability												$ 12,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 \| Scenario, Forecast \| Maximum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Incremental borrowing rate												7.00%
Operating right-of-use assets												$ 12,500
Operating lease liability												$ 13,500
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	506								506				671
Other assets	309								309				59
Accumulated deficit	(815)								(815)				$ 730
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 \| Fee revenue
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									(353)
Balance without adoption of ASC 606
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,844								7,844
Other assets	11,827								11,827
Accumulated deficit	$ (117,757)								(117,757)
Balance without adoption of ASC 606 \| Fee revenue
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									$ 78,989

DoD Contracts with DLA Disposition Services (Details) - contract	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
U.S. Department of Defense
Significant Contracts
Number of contracts			2	2	2
Scrap Contract
Significant Contracts
Adjusted percentage of profit sharing distribution			64.50%
Scrap Contract \| U.S. Department of Defense \| Revenue
Significant Contracts
Concentration risk (as a percent)			7.40%	10.20%	11.10%
Surplus Contract \| U.S. Department of Defense \| Revenue
Significant Contracts
Concentration risk (as a percent)			0.00%	12.40%	27.60%
Surplus Contract \| Non-rolling stock surplus contract
Significant Contracts
Usable surplus property to be purchased as a fixed percentage of DoD's original acquisition value		4.35%
Profits from resale of the property (as a percent)	100.00%

Acquisition - Narrative (Details)		12 Months Ended
Acquisition - Narrative (Details)	Jul. 10, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 59,819,000	$ 59,467,000	$ 45,388,000	$ 45,134,000
Machinio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage acquired	100.00%
Consideration paid	$ 19,900,000
Cash	1,500,000
Purchase price, net	16,700,000
Value of stock issued	2,000,000.0
Maximum earn-out	5,000,000.0
Fair value of earn-out	1,200,000
Value of shares issued	4,700,000
Goodwill	14,558,000
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes	$ 0
Net sales since acquisition date		700,000
Net operating loss since acquisition		$ (900,000)
Level 3 \| Minimum \| Measurement Input, Discount Rate
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets, measurement input			0.30
Deferred revenue, measurement input			0.30
Contingent consideration, measurement input			0.12
Level 3 \| Maximum \| Measurement Input, Discount Rate
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets, measurement input			0.35
Deferred revenue, measurement input			0.35
Contingent consideration, measurement input			0.17

Acquisition - Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 10, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 59,467	$ 59,819		$ 45,388	$ 45,134
Machinio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other Current Assets			$ 106
Goodwill			14,558
Property and equipment and other long-term assets			252
Liabilities excluding deferred revenue			(956)
Deferred revenue			(1,400)
Total consideration			19,860
Customer relationships intangible asset \| Machinio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			3,100
Developed technology intangible asset \| Machinio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			2,700
Trade name intangible asset \| Machinio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			$ 1,500

Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	$ 29,412,000	$ 27,688,000
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(10,566,000)	(11,078,000)
Property and equipment, net	18,846,000	16,610,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,700,000	4,200,000	$ 4,800,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	0
Computers and purchased software
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	2,234,000	2,488,000
Internally developed software for internal-use
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	12,166,000	8,094,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,200,000	1,400,000	400,000
Office/Operational equipment
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	6,154,000	5,957,000
Leasehold improvements
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	2,965,000	2,918,000
Impairment of long-lived assets			$ 600,000
Building
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	2,604,000	2,572,000
Furniture and fixtures
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	1,075,000	1,056,000
Vehicles
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	1,091,000	858,000
Land
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	754,000	754,000
Construction in progress
Property and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	$ 369,000	$ 2,991,000

Goodwill - Schedule of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 59,819	$ 45,388	$ 45,134
Translation adjustments	(352)	(127)	254
Business acquisition		14,558
Balance at the end of the period	59,467	59,819	45,388
RSCG
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0	0	0
Translation adjustments	0	0	0
Business acquisition		0
Balance at the end of the period	0	0	0
CAG
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	21,530	21,657	21,403
Translation adjustments	(352)	(127)	254
Business acquisition		0
Balance at the end of the period	21,178	21,530	21,657
GovDeals
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	23,731	23,731	23,731
Translation adjustments	0	0	0
Business acquisition		0
Balance at the end of the period	23,731	23,731	23,731
Machinio
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	14,558	0	0
Translation adjustments	0	0	0
Business acquisition		14,558
Balance at the end of the period	$ 14,558	$ 14,558	$ 0

Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 8,076,000	$ 8,069,000
Accumulated Amortization	(2,033,000)	(703,000)
Net Carrying Amount	6,043,000	7,366,000
Amortization expense	1,300,000	400,000	$ 1,000,000.0
Write off of intangible asset	$ 0	0
Contract intangibles
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)	6 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 3,100,000	3,100,000
Accumulated Amortization	(646,000)	(129,000)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 2,454,000	$ 2,971,000
Write off of intangible asset			$ 1,300,000
Contract intangibles \| Weighted Average
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)		6 years
Brand and technology
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)	5 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 2,700,000	$ 2,700,000
Accumulated Amortization	(675,000)	(135,000)
Net Carrying Amount	2,025,000	$ 2,565,000
Brand and technology \| Weighted Average
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)		5 years
Patent and trademarks
Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	2,276,000	$ 2,269,000
Accumulated Amortization	(712,000)	(439,000)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1,564,000	$ 1,830,000
Patent and trademarks \| Minimum
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)	7 years
Patent and trademarks \| Maximum
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)	10 years
Patent and trademarks \| Weighted Average
Intangible Assets
Useful Life (in years)		7 years 9 months 18 days

Intangible Assets - Future Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Future expected amortization of intangible assets
2020	$ 1,336
2021	1,331
2022	1,322
2023	1,178
2024	640
2025 and after	236
Net Carrying Amount	$ 6,043	$ 7,366

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Leases, Operating [Abstract]
Deferred rent charges included in other long-term liabilities	$ 400	$ 600
Rent expense	5,900	$ 10,700	$ 10,800
Operating Lease Payments
2020	5,572
2021	3,551
2022	2,279
2023	1,500
2024	545
Total future minimum lease payments	13,447
Capital Lease Payments
2020	52
2021	53
2022	53
2023	54
2024	160
Total future minimum lease payments	372
Total
2020	5,624
2021	3,604
2022	2,332
2023	1,554
2024	705
Total future minimum lease payments	13,819
Tax liability accrued	$ 600

Income Taxes - Provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Current tax provision (benefit):
U.S. Federal	$ 0	$ 108	$ (234)
State	453	714	613
Foreign	611	795	(210)
Current income tax expense	1,064	1,617	169
Deferred tax (benefit) expense:
U.S. Federal	103	(6,796)	(592)
State	(31)	(4,182)	(86)
Foreign	64	33	58
Total deferred tax (benefit) expense	136	(10,945)	(620)
Total (benefit) provision	$ 1,200	$ (9,328)	$ (451)

Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses—Foreign	$ 13,009	$ 10,163
Net operating losses—U.S.	34,856	32,328
Accrued vacation and bonus	674	437
Inventory capitalization	226	238
Allowance for doubtful accounts	87	47
Stock compensation expense	1,989	3,455
Restructuring costs	42	353
Depreciation	485	0
Other	953	1,158
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	52,321	48,179
Less: valuation allowance	(41,909)	(39,337)
Net deferred tax assets	10,412	8,842
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization of intangibles	408	204
Amortization of goodwill	6,374	5,949
Depreciation	0	37
Capitalized costs	3,730	2,542
Pension liability	482	556
Total deferred tax liabilities	10,994	9,288
Net deferred taxes	$ (582)	$ (446)

Income Taxes - Reconciliation (Details)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Reconciliation (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective rate for continuing operations
U.S. statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	24.50%	35.00%
Permanent items (as a percent)	(6.80%)	(1.20%)	(0.90%)
State taxes (as a percent)	(0.40%)	0.10%	1.20%
Net foreign rate differential (as a percent)	(0.60%)	(1.30%)	(2.80%)
Unrecognized tax benefits (as a percent)	(1.50%)	(0.50%)	3.51%
Change in valuation allowance (as a percent)	(22.50%)	(31.60%)	(34.80%)
Benefit from new Tax Act (as a percent)	0.00%	51.30%	0.00%
Other (as a percent)	4.20%	3.30%	(0.10%)
Provision for income taxes (as a percent)	(6.60%)	44.60%	1.10%

Income Taxes - CarryForwards (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 10, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards
Deferred tax assets related to available federal and state NOL carryforwards		$ 27,900	$ 28,400
Deferred tax assets related to available foreign NOL carryforwards		13,009	$ 10,163
Blended effective tax rate (as a percentage)			24.50%
Tax benefit relating to adjustment in corporate tax rate			$ 10,700
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance		2,600
Valuation allowance		41,909	39,337
Undistributed foreign earnings		2,800
Cash and cash equivalents held overseas on which taxes would be incurred upon repatriation		21,000	14,400
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits
Beginning balance		0	0	$ 725
Additions based on positions related to the current year		0	0	0
Additions for tax positions of prior years		273	107	1,426
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		0	(107)	(229)
Settlements		0	0	(1,922)
Ending balance		273	$ 0	$ 0
Foreign
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards
NOL's subject to expiration		400
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits related to foreign operations		300
Machinio
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards
Percentage acquired	100.00%
Consideration paid	$ 19,900
Acquisition, deferred tax liability	$ 700
Acquisition, net operating loss		1,400
Machinio \| Deferred Tax Asset Related To Business Acquisition
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance		$ 700

Equity Transactions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for issuance (in shares)	16,300,000
Reserve shares counted per share granted from fungible share pool (in shares)	1.5
Remaining shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	1,321,256
Stock compensation awards, total liability	$ 758	$ 749
Stock compensation awards, current portion	$ 707	$ 557
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.70	$ 2.04	$ 3.58
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 307	$ 30	$ 24
Shares repurchased (in shares)	0
Remaining repurchase amount	$ 10,100
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	1 year
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	4 years
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options not yet exercisable (in shares)	1,402,114
Options, service-based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options not yet exercisable (in shares)	618,488
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 1,400
Weighted average vesting period for unrecognized compensation cost	2 years 10 months 24 days
Options, service-based \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	1 year
Stock options, expiration term	5 years
Options, service-based \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	4 years
Stock options, expiration term	10 years
Options, service and performance or market based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options not yet exercisable (in shares)	783,626
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, service based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares (in shares)	748,670
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, service and performance or market based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares (in shares)	1,175,310
Restricted stock unit, service based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average vesting period for unrecognized compensation cost	2 years 6 months
Unrecognized compensation cost, excluding options	$ 2,900
Restricted stock unit, service based \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	1 year
Restricted stock unit, service based \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	4 years
Stock appreciation rights
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares (in shares)	290,207
Cash paid to settle stock appreciation rights	$ 500	$ 200	$ 300
Stock appreciation rights, weighted-average fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 1.7	$ 0.8
Stock appreciation rights, service based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average vesting period for unrecognized compensation cost	3 years 2 months 12 days
Nonvested shares (in shares)	164,088
Unrecognized compensation cost, excluding options	$ 100
Stock appreciation rights, service and performance or market based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares (in shares)	126,119
Stock options, RSUs and RSAs, performance based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average vesting period for unrecognized compensation cost	2 years 2 months 12 days
Unrecognized compensation costs	$ 600
Stock options, RSUs and SARS, market based
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	4 years
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 1,200
Weighted average vesting period for unrecognized compensation cost	1 year 8 months 12 days
Average share price term	20 days

Equity Transactions - Stock Option Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Stock Options
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (in shares)	2,018,323
Granted (in shares)	1,134,316
Exercised (in shares)	(132,633)
Forfeited (in shares)	(347,728)
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	2,672,278	2,018,323
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	2,609,071
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	1,270,164
Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (in dollars per share)	$ 10.49
Granted (in dollars per share)	6.32
Exercised (in dollars per share)	4.44
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	6.78
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	9.50	$ 10.49
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	9.58
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	$ 12.94
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
Outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual term	6 years 2 months 8 days	5 years 1 month 17 days
Vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual term	6 years 1 month 24 days
Exercisable, weighted-average remaining contractual term	4 years 4 months 13 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 1,143
Granted, aggregate intrinsic value	0
Exercised, aggregate intrinsic value	307	$ 30	$ 24
Forfeited, aggregate intrinsic value	279
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019, aggregate intrinsic value	2,502	$ 1,143
Vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value	2,409
Exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 876

Equity Transactions - Fair Value (Details)	12 Months Ended
Equity Transactions - Fair Value (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Stock options
Fair value assumptions
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility, minimum (as a percent)	47.80%	50.80%	54.20%
Expected volatility, maximum (as a percent)	53.70%	58.60%	54.90%
Risk free interest rate, minimum (as a percent)	1.90%	0.50%	1.70%
Risk free interest rate, maximum (as a percent)	2.80%	2.70%	2.20%
Expected term		3 years 9 months 18 days	3 years 9 months 18 days
Stock options \| Minimum
Fair value assumptions
Expected term	4 years 2 months 12 days
Stock options \| Maximum
Fair value assumptions
Expected term	7 years 1 month 6 days
Stock appreciation rights
Fair value assumptions
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility, minimum (as a percent)	38.20%	34.90%	38.20%
Expected volatility, maximum (as a percent)	48.80%	53.60%	48.80%
Risk free interest rate, minimum (as a percent)	1.30%	2.60%	1.30%
Risk free interest rate, maximum (as a percent)	1.70%	2.80%	1.60%
Stock appreciation rights \| Minimum
Fair value assumptions
Expected term	1 month 6 days	1 month 6 days	1 year
Stock appreciation rights \| Maximum
Fair value assumptions
Expected term	3 years 3 months 18 days	2 years	3 years
Stock options, RSUs and SARS, market based
Fair value assumptions
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility, minimum (as a percent)	45.50%	50.00%
Expected volatility, maximum (as a percent)	55.00%	54.50%
Risk free interest rate, minimum (as a percent)	1.50%	2.00%
Risk free interest rate, maximum (as a percent)	2.90%	2.50%
Expected volatility			0.00%
Risk-free interest rate			0.00%
Expected holding period (as a percent)		20.30%	0.00%
Stock options, RSUs and SARS, market based \| Minimum
Fair value assumptions
Expected holding period (as a percent)	25.90%
Stock options, RSUs and SARS, market based \| Maximum
Fair value assumptions
Expected holding period (as a percent)	100.00%

Equity Transactions - Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Awards (Details) - RSUs & RSAs - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
RSU & RSA
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (in shares)	2,316,865
Granted (in shares)	612,728
Exercised (in shares)	(731,433)
Forfeited (in shares)	(274,171)
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	1,923,989	2,316,865
Expected to vest as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	1,193,034
Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (in dollars per share)	$ 7.19
Granted (in dollars per share)	6.70
Exercised (in dollars per share)	6.85
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	7.02
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	7.19	$ 7.19
Expected to vest as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	$ 6.96
Additional Disclosures
Outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual term	2 years 1 month 2 days	2 years 2 months 1 day
Expected to vest as of September 30, 2019, weighted-average remaining contractual term	2 years 2 months 4 days
Aggregate Fair Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018, aggregate fair value	$ 14,712
Granted, aggregate fair value	4,103
Exercised, aggregate fair value	4,757
Forfeited, aggregate fair value	1,939
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019, aggregate fair value	14,237	$ 14,712
Expected to vest as of September 30, 2019, aggregate fair value	$ 8,828

Equity Transactions - Stock Appreciation Rights Activity (Details) - Stock appreciation rights - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
SARs
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (in shares)	934,205
Granted (in shares)	95,000
Exercised (in shares)	(181,009)
Forfeited (in shares)	(414,614)
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	433,582	934,205
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	379,179
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019 (in shares)	143,375
Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018 (in dollars per share)	$ 7.23
Granted (in dollars per share)	6.11
Exercised (in dollars per share)	4.57
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	8.90
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	6.49	$ 7.23
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	5.95
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share)	$ 5.83
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
Outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual term	11 months 4 days	9 months 10 days
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019, weighted-average remaining contractual term	11 months 1 day
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019, weighted average remaining contractual term	2 months 23 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of September 30, 2018, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 789
Granted, aggregate intrinsic value	0
Exercised, aggregate intrinsic value	491
Forfeited, aggregate intrinsic value	74
Outstanding as of September 30, 2019, aggregate intrinsic value	748	$ 789
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2019, aggregate intrinsic value	748
Exercisable as of September 30, 2019, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 316

Fair Value Measurement - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair value measurement
Certificates of deposits	$ 30,000,000.0	$ 20,000,000.0
Nonrecurring
Fair value measurement
Fair value, asset (liability)	$ 0	$ 0
Minimum
Fair value measurement
Interest rate	1.97%	1.97%
Maximum
Fair value measurement
Interest rate	2.80%	2.80%

Defined Benefit Pension Plan - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 GBP (£)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Net periodic benefit cost recognized
Interest cost	$ 618	$ 651	$ 582
Expected return on plan assets	(965)	(986)	(826)
Total net periodic benefit	(347)	(335)	(244)
Change in benefit obligation
Beginning balance	22,226	25,085
Interest cost	618	651	582
Benefits paid	(879)	(2,297)
Actuarial loss/(gain)	2,508	(590)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,233)	(623)
Ending balance	23,240	22,226	25,085
Change in plan assets
Beginning balance at fair value	25,132	26,943
Actual return on plan assets	3,003	1,175
Benefits paid	(879)	(2,297)
Employer's contributions	0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,477)	(689)
Ending balance at fair value	25,779	25,132	26,943
Overfunded status of the Scheme					$ 2,539	$ 2,906
Benefit obligation	22,226	22,226	25,085		$ 23,240	$ 22,226
Accumulated OCI
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at beginning of year	(892)	(123)
Net actuarial gain (loss)	540	(773)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	49	4
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at end of year	$ (303)	$ (892)	$ (123)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Discount rate to determine net periodic (benefit) cost (as a percentage)	2.90%	2.70%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percentage)	4.00%	3.80%
Discount rate to determine benefit obligations (as a percentage)				1.80%	1.80%	2.90%
Rate of increases to deferred CPI linked benefits (as a percentage)	2.10%	2.20%
Rate of increases to deferred RPI linked benefits (as a percentage)	3.20%	3.30%
Defined benefit plan long term rate of improvement (as a percentage)	1.30%
Expected benefit payments over the next 10 years
2020					$ 750
2021					705
2022					828
2023					1,112
2024					964
2025 through 2029					4,779
Total					$ 9,138
Information about plan assets
Actual (as a percent)				100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Maximum
Defined benefit pension plan
Expected contributions \| £				£ 10,000,000
Males
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Defined benefit plan mortality rate (as a percentage)	105.00%
Females
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Defined benefit plan mortality rate (as a percentage)	105.00%
Equity securities
Information about plan assets
Actual (as a percent)				19.70%	19.70%	45.70%
Corporate bonds
Information about plan assets
Actual (as a percent)				56.40%	56.40%	53.10%
Diversified fund
Information about plan assets
Actual (as a percent)				23.50%	23.50%	0.00%
Cash
Information about plan assets
Actual (as a percent)				0.40%	0.40%	1.20%

Defined Benefit Pension Plan - Fair Value Estimates (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	$ 25,779	$ 25,132	$ 26,943
Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	25,779	25,132
Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	94	296
Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	25,685	24,836
Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0	0
Equity securities \| Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	5,077	11,489
Equity securities \| Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0	0
Equity securities \| Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	5,077	11,489
Equity securities \| Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0	0
Fixed-income securities \| Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		13,347
Fixed-income securities \| Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		0
Fixed-income securities \| Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		13,347
Fixed-income securities \| Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		0
Cash equivalents \| Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		296
Cash equivalents \| Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		296
Cash equivalents \| Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		0
Cash equivalents \| Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values		$ 0
Corporate bonds \| Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	14,546
Corporate bonds \| Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0
Corporate bonds \| Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	14,546
Corporate bonds \| Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0
Diversified fund \| Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	6,062
Diversified fund \| Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0
Diversified fund \| Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	6,062
Diversified fund \| Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0
Cash \| Total
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	94
Cash \| Level 1
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	94
Cash \| Level 2
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	0
Cash \| Level 3
Defined benefit pension plan
Fair values	$ 0

Business Realignment Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	$ 1,376	$ 3,180
Business Realignment Expenses	2,165	1,942
Cash Payments	(2,720)	(3,746)
Liability Balance, ending	821	1,376
Employee severance and benefit costs
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	110	1,192
Business Realignment Expenses	1,980	1,451
Cash Payments	(1,438)	(2,533)
Liability Balance, ending	652	110
Occupancy and other costs
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	1,266	1,988
Business Realignment Expenses	185	491
Cash Payments	(1,282)	(1,213)
Liability Balance, ending	169	1,266
CAG \| Employee severance and benefit costs
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	89	793
Business Realignment Expenses	443	979
Cash Payments	(118)	(1,683)
Liability Balance, ending	414	89
CAG \| Occupancy and other costs
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	459	0
Business Realignment Expenses	51	739
Cash Payments	(341)	(280)
Liability Balance, ending	169	459
Corporate & Other \| Employee severance and benefit costs
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	21	399
Business Realignment Expenses	1,537	472
Cash Payments	(1,320)	(850)
Liability Balance, ending	238	21
Corporate & Other \| Occupancy and other costs
Business realignment expenses rollforward
Liability Balance, beginning	807	1,988
Business Realignment Expenses	134	(248)
Cash Payments	(941)	(933)
Liability Balance, ending	$ 0	$ 807

Segment Information - Schedule of Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations	$ 58,790	$ 56,882	$ 56,800	$ 54,053	$ 52,705	$ 50,569	$ 60,097	$ 61,143	$ 226,525	$ 224,514	$ 270,015
Gross profit	$ 29,038	$ 28,551	$ 29,218	$ 26,473	$ 24,857	$ 27,144	$ 27,511	$ 30,200	113,280	109,712	124,490
Operating Segments \| GovDeals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									32,936	30,214	26,853
Gross profit									30,386	27,990	25,172
Operating Segments \| CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									60,242	88,025	145,131
Gross profit									32,679	48,873	71,934
Operating Segments \| RSCG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									127,321	101,954	95,032
Gross profit									44,967	33,009	30,050
Operating Segments \| Machinio
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									5,598	653	0
Gross profit									5,196	501	0
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									428	3,668	2,999
Gross profit									52	(661)	(2,666)
Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									147,889	149,677	188,570
Revenue \| Operating Segments \| GovDeals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									0	0	0
Revenue \| Operating Segments \| CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									36,684	57,717	100,160
Revenue \| Operating Segments \| RSCG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									110,736	88,295	85,766
Revenue \| Operating Segments \| Machinio
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									0	0	0
Revenue \| Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									469	3,665	2,644
Fee revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									78,636	74,837	81,445
Fee revenue \| Operating Segments \| GovDeals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									32,936	30,214	26,853
Fee revenue \| Operating Segments \| CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									23,558	30,308	44,971
Fee revenue \| Operating Segments \| RSCG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									16,585	13,659	9,265
Fee revenue \| Operating Segments \| Machinio
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									5,598	653	0
Fee revenue \| Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from operations									$ (41)	$ 3	$ 356

Segment Information - Reconciliation from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Gross profit	$ 29,038	$ 28,551	$ 29,218	$ 26,473	$ 24,857	$ 27,144	$ 27,511	$ 30,200	$ 113,280	$ 109,712	$ 124,490
Operating expenses									127,739	130,048	161,083
Other operating expenses									5,049	1,392	3,651
Interest (income) expense and other expense, net									(1,448)	(785)	(606)
Loss before provision for income taxes	$ (5,163)	$ (4,107)	$ (4,034)	$ (4,756)	$ (6,547)	$ (3,093)	$ (5,276)	$ (6,027)	$ (18,060)	$ (20,943)	$ (39,638)

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Unaudited quarterly consolidated statement of operations
Revenue	$ 58,790	$ 56,882	$ 56,800	$ 54,053	$ 52,705	$ 50,569	$ 60,097	$ 61,143	$ 226,525	$ 224,514	$ 270,015
Gross profit	29,038	28,551	29,218	26,473	24,857	27,144	27,511	30,200	113,280	109,712	124,490
Loss before provision for income taxes	(5,163)	(4,107)	(4,034)	(4,756)	(6,547)	(3,093)	(5,276)	(6,027)	(18,060)	(20,943)	(39,638)
Net loss	$ (5,227)	$ (4,649)	$ (4,362)	$ (5,022)	$ (1,043)	$ (3,705)	$ (5,655)	$ (1,212)	$ (19,260)	$ (11,615)	$ (39,187)
Unaudited quarterly consolidated statement of operations
Basic and diluted loss per common share (USD per share)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.58)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.25)
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	33,291,275	33,164,750	32,987,608	32,808,144	32,425,669	32,104,368	31,972,752	31,876,603	33,062,976	32,095,491	31,402,921

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Deferred tax valuation allowance (deducted from net deferred tax assets)
Activity in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	$ 39,337	$ 54,379	$ 44,257
Charged (credited) to expense	2,572	(15,042)	10,122
Reductions	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	41,909	39,337	54,379
Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from accounts receivable)
Activity in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	337	668	718
Charged (credited) to expense	178	199	357
Reductions	(224)	(530)	(407)
Balance at end of period	291	337	668
Provision for Inventory allowance (deducted from inventory)
Activity in valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	503	4,572	3,446
Charged (credited) to expense	331	2,494	10,381
Reductions	(503)	(6,563)	(9,255)
Balance at end of period	$ 331	$ 503	$ 4,572

DoD Contracts with DLA Disposition Services	12 Months Ended
DoD Contracts with DLA Disposition Services	Sep. 30, 2019
Contractors [Abstract]
DoD Contracts with DLA Disposition Services	DoD Contracts with DLA Disposition Services Historically, the Company had two material vendor contracts with the DoD, the Scrap Contract and the Surplus Contract. Both contracts have concluded as of September 30, 2019. Under the Scrap Contract, which concluded on September 30, 2019, the Company was the remarketer of all DoD non-electronic scrap turned into the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) available for sale within the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The Company paid a revenue-sharing payment to the DLA under this contract equal to 64.5% of the gross resale proceeds of the scrap property, and the Company bore all of the costs for the sorting, merchandising and sale of the property. Revenue from the Scrap Contract accounted for 7.4%, 10.2%, and 11.1% of the Company's consolidated revenue for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Under the Surplus Contract, which concluded on June 30, 2018, the Company managed and sold usable DoD surplus personal property turned into the DLA. Surplus property generally consisted of items the DoD determined were no longer needed, and not claimed for reuse by any federal agency, such as consumer electronics, industrial equipment, office supplies, scientific and medical equipment, aircraft parts, clothing and textiles. The Surplus Contract required the Company to purchase all usable surplus property offered to the Company by the DoD at 4.35% of the DoD's original acquisition value. The Company retained 100% of the profits from the resale of the property and bore all of the costs for the merchandising and sale of the property. Revenue from the Surplus Contract accounted for 0%, 12.4% and 27.6%, of the Company's consolidated revenue for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The 401(k) Benefit Plan	12 Months Ended
The 401(k) Benefit Plan	Sep. 30, 2019
Defined Contribution Plan [Abstract]
401(k) Benefit Plan	401(k) Benefit PlanThe Company has a retirement plan (the Plan), which is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is a defined contribution plan available to all eligible employees and allows participants to contribute up to the legal maximum of their eligible compensation, not to exceed the maximum tax-deferred amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. The Plan also allows the Company to make discretionary matching contributions. For the years ended September 30, 2019, September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Company recorded expenses of $1.6 million, $1.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively, related to its contributions to the Plan.

Legal Proceedings	12 Months Ended
Legal Proceedings	Sep. 30, 2019
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings	Legal ProceedingsFrom time to time, the Company may become involved in litigation relating to claims arising in the ordinary course of the business. There are no claims or actions pending or threatened against the Company that, if adversely determined, would in the Company's management's judgment have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Goodwill - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Jul. 01, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss	$ 168.6		$ 168.6
Percentage of fair value in excess of carrying value		11.00%

The 401(k) Benefit Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
The 401(k) Benefit Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Defined Contribution Plan [Abstract]
Amount contributed and recorded expense under the 401(k) Benefit Plan	$ 1.6	$ 1.4	$ 2.1

Organization (Details)	12 Months Ended
Organization (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019 reportablesegment categories	Jul. 10, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of product categories offered (in categories) \| categories	500
Reportable segments (in segments) \| reportablesegment	4
Machinio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage acquired		100.00%

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Short-term Investments (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Minimum
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate	1.97%	1.97%
Maximum
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate	2.80%	2.80%

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Inventory (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Inventory reserve	$ 0.3	$ 0.5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Deferred Revenue (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Timing of revenue recognition	Deferred revenue is primarily derived from subscription fees charged to customers for promotional placement on Machinio's search engine over periods ranging from one to fifteen months.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Performance Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Deferred revenue	$ 3,049	$ 2,142

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Income Taxes (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Interest expense	$ 0.3

Fair Value Measurement - Changes in Level 3 Assets (Details) - Recurring basis - Level 3 $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, contingent consideration	$ 1,300
Change in fair value of earn-out liability	3,500
Ending balance, contingent consideration	$ 4,800

Segment Information - Schedule of Total Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 187,283	$ 201,832
Operating Segments \| GovDeals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	75,218	47,632
Operating Segments \| CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	128,918	146,544
Operating Segments \| RSCG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	27,075	19,418
Operating Segments \| Machinio
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	26,613	25,916
Corporate & Other, including elimination adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ (70,541)	$ (37,678)

Segment Information - Schedule of Total Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 18,846	$ 16,610
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	18,455	16,367
Rest of the world
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 391	$ 243

Label	Element	Value
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 0
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 100,000