Deciding on New or Used Equipment
By Geoff Moore, Sales Consultant for Pollard Equipment Chilliwack Ltd.
By Geoff Moore, Sales Consultant for Pollard Equipment Chilliwack Ltd.
When shopping for heavy equipment or forklifts, it is important to keep in mind the many different options that are available. Knowledge of the wide array of products on the market can be invaluable to you, the buyer, ensuring that the equipment you decide to purchase will fulfill your needs and fit your budget. One decision that should not be overlooked is the choice between a new unit and a used unit.
Buyers should be aware of the cost-efficient products available for sale. Used equipment, used diesel engines, used gas engines and used propane engines are regularly sold by reputable dealers. These products are likely to satisfy your needs reliably for a substantially lower price than you would pay for a brand new machine. Machinery bearing the most trusted brand names (Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit, Perkins, GM etc) can be purchased for as little as 50% of their original retail price. So, a buyer may be asking, what are the benefits of purchasing a new? And are there risks in buying a used?
The primary benefit of purchasing a new machine is that it will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. Such warranties usually last one or two years and ensure that the owner will not be financially responsible for any unforeseen mechanical problems; the extent of a warranty’s coverage varies between manufacturers and often relies upon the intended use. As with any expensive purchase, this kind of insurance can provide great comfort to the buyer. However, it is possible to find used equipment for sale that are still covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty and, furthermore, many companies that deal in used equipment will provide guarantees on their own refurbished products. If you are considering purchasing a used, be sure to ask the seller if any sort of warranty or guarantee is included. If it is included, this should increase you buying confidence significantly.
Most used equipment, though, will not be insured to the extent that new one would be. Therefore, it is imperative that the buyer learns the usage history of any machine he is considering buying. The fewer hours on the engine, the less likely you will be to have problems with your purchase. Inquire about the equipment’s previous operation—what was the previous application.
This is an area in which shopping for used equipment can become worrisome. As with any used product, the buyer must rely on the seller’s word and a dishonorable seller could bend the truth about the history and condition of his goods. People shopping for used products can be fairly confident that they will not be swindled as long as they deal with reputable companies. Look for an established, professional dealer with a good sales history—you can assume that customers are satisfied with their products if the company is succeeding.
One final, and perhaps crucial, benefit of buying a used machine is that, in all likelihood, you will receive your purchase immediately. The availability of brand new equipment is often limited and manufacturing distributors have long waiting periods as well. Companies that sell used equipment usually have them ready for immediate (and often free) shipping. So if you need to make a timely purchase, a used machine is definitely the best option.
New heavy machines and forklifts are certainly attractive due to the confidence the buyer is given by inviolate machinery and protective warranties. They might be ideal purchases for larger companies that value security, can abide a lengthy wait and, most importantly, have a generous amount of money to spend. However, for many buyers concerned with cost-efficiency, used options might be the better route. If you take the time to learn about the company you are dealing with and the condition of the equipment you are buying, you are likely to be very satisfied with the value you receive. Also, if you still have reservations about buying a used product, remember that most equipment is built to be reliable over the course of time; although it is advisable to learn about the particular unit you intend to buy, the chance that any one of them will break down remains slim.
Pollard Equipment (Chilliwack) Ltd. has been in business for over 20 years servicing our clients throughout BC and abroad. We provide quick service turn-around and a large inventory of heavy equipment and forklift parts. You can even view our used equipment online.
Find us at WWW.POLLARDEQUIP.COM
Buyers should be aware of the cost-efficient products available for sale. Used equipment, used diesel engines, used gas engines and used propane engines are regularly sold by reputable dealers. These products are likely to satisfy your needs reliably for a substantially lower price than you would pay for a brand new machine. Machinery bearing the most trusted brand names (Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit, Perkins, GM etc) can be purchased for as little as 50% of their original retail price. So, a buyer may be asking, what are the benefits of purchasing a new? And are there risks in buying a used?
The primary benefit of purchasing a new machine is that it will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. Such warranties usually last one or two years and ensure that the owner will not be financially responsible for any unforeseen mechanical problems; the extent of a warranty’s coverage varies between manufacturers and often relies upon the intended use. As with any expensive purchase, this kind of insurance can provide great comfort to the buyer. However, it is possible to find used equipment for sale that are still covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty and, furthermore, many companies that deal in used equipment will provide guarantees on their own refurbished products. If you are considering purchasing a used, be sure to ask the seller if any sort of warranty or guarantee is included. If it is included, this should increase you buying confidence significantly.
Most used equipment, though, will not be insured to the extent that new one would be. Therefore, it is imperative that the buyer learns the usage history of any machine he is considering buying. The fewer hours on the engine, the less likely you will be to have problems with your purchase. Inquire about the equipment’s previous operation—what was the previous application.
This is an area in which shopping for used equipment can become worrisome. As with any used product, the buyer must rely on the seller’s word and a dishonorable seller could bend the truth about the history and condition of his goods. People shopping for used products can be fairly confident that they will not be swindled as long as they deal with reputable companies. Look for an established, professional dealer with a good sales history—you can assume that customers are satisfied with their products if the company is succeeding.
One final, and perhaps crucial, benefit of buying a used machine is that, in all likelihood, you will receive your purchase immediately. The availability of brand new equipment is often limited and manufacturing distributors have long waiting periods as well. Companies that sell used equipment usually have them ready for immediate (and often free) shipping. So if you need to make a timely purchase, a used machine is definitely the best option.
New heavy machines and forklifts are certainly attractive due to the confidence the buyer is given by inviolate machinery and protective warranties. They might be ideal purchases for larger companies that value security, can abide a lengthy wait and, most importantly, have a generous amount of money to spend. However, for many buyers concerned with cost-efficiency, used options might be the better route. If you take the time to learn about the company you are dealing with and the condition of the equipment you are buying, you are likely to be very satisfied with the value you receive. Also, if you still have reservations about buying a used product, remember that most equipment is built to be reliable over the course of time; although it is advisable to learn about the particular unit you intend to buy, the chance that any one of them will break down remains slim.
If you are looking for quality used heavy machinery or forklifts in BC or if you would like any additional information on this topic, please call us at 604-793-2287or e-mail us at geoff@pollardchilliwack.com
Pollard Equipment (Chilliwack) Ltd. has been in business for over 20 years servicing our clients throughout BC and abroad. We provide quick service turn-around and a large inventory of heavy equipment and forklift parts. You can even view our used equipment online.
Find us at WWW.POLLARDEQUIP.COM
