The need for an industrial woodworking machine creates several concerns. Can the product be purchased affordably? Can it be purchased affordably from a reputable seller? What type of sales arrangement offers the best combination of value and security?
Woodworkers must ask these questions before they invest in a product, particularly if they plan to buy the product used. After considering these questions, some woodworkers choose buying pre-owned machinery at woodworking equipment auctions.
The Risks of Auctions
An auction could be a great place to get a topnotch product for a low price, but you may also end up overpaying for a product. Ultimately, the value of the event depends on who is buying, as much as it does on what is sold. If the bidding is high, your chance of getting a phenomenal deal is low, but if the bidding is low, your chance of getting a “steal” increases.
In pursuit of a great deal, some woodworkers search for events where bidding remains low, such as company liquidations, or auctions where amateur sellers “flip” products they bought at liquidation events. Although deals can be found at these events, there is also a great risk of purchasing a lemon—a recalcitrant product whose poor quality was known or unknown before the sale.
To avoid buying such a product, woodworkers should buy used equipment direct from the owner of the machine. Although the price may seem higher, machines have been thoroughly inspected, and in many cases reconditioned, prior to being put up for sale. This limits your risk of purchasing a “lemon” machine. In addition, a reputable dealer will guarantee the machines condition.
Although getting a product for a good price should be a priority, it is important to remember the true value of boring machines and other products lies in its reliability and performance. If the machine plays an integral role in your work, its quality should be considered more important than its price. A low price on a machine today may lead to major production problems later that will cost both time and money.
Buying From the Right Seller
Who was the machine’s previous owner? What does its maintenance record reveal? In what type of environment was it used? Answering these questions is crucial to assessing the potential longevity of a product. If you cannot answer these questions before bidding on a machine at auction, it would be safer to avoid buying the product.
RT Machine has the Products You Need
For fifteen years, RT Machine has sold a variety of quality used woodworking products, including routers, saws, and boring machines.
