If you are in the kind of business that needs industrial lift equipment, you already know how expensive high-quality lift equipment can be. That’s one reason that many business owners think about purchasing used lift equipment. Used equipment, after all, can have significantly lower upfront costs, though you are likely to shell out more in maintenance and repair fees over time. And, of course, there is always the nightmare scenario where used equipment has an unexpected fault that can lead to injury or worse.
Horror stories about used lift equipment abound. One retailer, for example, recently had a client call for help after they tried to save money by buying a used forklift on Craigslist. In the end, they bought a used electric forklift from an out-of-state reseller for 50% down and 50% due on delivery. But the two-week delivery window stretched into two months. And that was only the beginning. The delivery fee wasn’t included in the purchase price, so they had to pay for that. The machine was delivered with excessive wear and tear, and the seller provided the wrong charger and a dying battery.
In the end, the buyer had to call the retailer whose products they tried to avoid buying at full price for help getting the used lift equipment up and running again.
However, there is another option that can avoid the worst problems of purchasing used lift equipment while still helping to save you significant money on upfront costs. Purchasing discounted industrial lift equipment can be exactly the kind of compromise that can help you to balance quality with cost savings for your business.
Lower Purchase Costs
When you purchase discounted equipment, one obvious benefit is the lower cost. Discounted lift equipment has a lower price than its full-price retail cousin. The discounts can come from many possible reasons. Retailers may have too much stock and need to move some. Equipment may be phased out and replaced with newer models, so older versions are discounted. Or there may be a promotion or a sale to attract new business. As with any sale price, though, you should be sure to comparison shop to make sure you are getting a good deal and that the equipment you are purchasing will meet your needs.
Similarly, if you are using financing to purchase equipment, a lower upfront cost will mean that you will use less financing and take out a smaller loan, so the amount of interest you will pay will be lower over time, saving you money across the life of the loan vs. the interest you would pay financing full price.
Access to High-Quality Equipment on a Budget
Purchasing discounted lift equipment can help you to afford better quality equipment on the same budget. If you have a fixed amount that you can spend on lift equipment, purchasing discounted products will help you to make your budget stretch farther. You will either be able to afford more equipment or be able to advance to a higher level of quality in the equipment that you purchase. Either way, you’ll stretch a dollar and get more bang for your buck. It’s also worth noting that when you buy discounted lift equipment rather than secondhand equipment from a reputable dealer like Zuma sales, parts are more likely to be available for new equipment, making maintenance and repair easier.
Improved Return on Investment
When you buy used lift equipment off Craigslist or anywhere else, you can’t always guarantee the quality and the value of the equipment you receive. By contrast, discounted equipment offers the same value as full retail price equipment but with less of an initial financial outlay. Because these are still new products, just sold at a lower price, they have the same quality and longevity as those you pay full price for. This allows you to retain the residual value of the lift equipment without having to pay full price upfront, thus saving money on initial purchase and giving you as much value later on when you resell it as you would get from full retail price equipment. Similarly, because the initial price is lower, you will experience less depreciation on the equipment over time.
Conclusion
If you have the opportunity to purchase discounted lift equipment vs. purchasing secondhand lift equipment in the used product market, the case is clear that you should choose discounted new equipment most of the time, even if it costs a little bit more upfront than used.
