Buying a Used CNC Machine: Is an Auction Purchase Wise?
As they look for pre-owned woodworking machinery for sale, many woodworkers consider buying equipment from an auction - an opportunity that can result in getting a CNC Machine for a price that is lower than some sale prices.
However, with the advantages of buying equipment at a steep discount come some disadvantages.
Below are four reasons why buying woodworking equipment from a machinery company is safer than buying it at auction.
Equipment is Sold "As-is" Auctions are similar to pawn shops-products are sold "as-is," with no quality assurance program attached to the product, and no return policy attached to the sale.
When you spend thousands of dollars on a machine that you need to generate revenue, buying it on an as-is basis is risky at best.
A better option is to buy the machine from a professional seller of pre-owned woodworking equipment that reconditions machines before selling them, and has a quality assurance program.
Difficult to Test the Equipment Ideally, a CNC machine should be put through a short test run before it is purchased.
Conducting a short test allows the customer to listen for sounds that indicate the equipment has internal problems, and observe whether the cutting mechanism and arm function properly.
When you buy pre-owned woodworking machinery for sale from a machinery company, you can request the opportunity to test the equipment, or receive a video of the equipment in operation.
Testing equipment on the auction floor may not be an option.
Difficult to Inspect the Equipment Thoroughly Different auctions allow different levels of access to the equipment on auction floor, but buyers can rarely inspect the equipment by removing part housings and panels to view its inner workings.
When a machine cannot be tested, these types of inspections are important, as they can identify a machine that will soon need replacement parts or repairs.
They can also identify machines that have a poor maintenance history.
When your money is on the line, it is safest to buy from a professional seller of reconditioned woodworking equipment.
Auctions: Buyer Beware Auctions are designed to serve sellers by liquidating their equipment.
There is no form of customer service available after the sale.
For buyers, this means that no technical support is available from the seller.
In many cases, contact with the owner of the equipment is not established, and the owner sells the equipment with profit as the sole motivator.
When you buy equipment from a machinery company, the sale is conducted with the intention of generating return business, which brings a sense of assurance that the equipment will perform as expected.
Conclusion When woodworkers choose to buy a CNC machine at auction, they do so at a financial risk.
In addition to being sold as-is, the equipment at most auctions cannot be thoroughly inspected for internal wear, or tested for performance.
Furthermore, auctions sell equipment only to liquidate it, not to serve customers.
For these reasons, it is safer to buy pre-owned woodworking machinery for sale from a machinery company instead of buying it at auction.
However, with the advantages of buying equipment at a steep discount come some disadvantages.
Below are four reasons why buying woodworking equipment from a machinery company is safer than buying it at auction.
Equipment is Sold "As-is" Auctions are similar to pawn shops-products are sold "as-is," with no quality assurance program attached to the product, and no return policy attached to the sale.
When you spend thousands of dollars on a machine that you need to generate revenue, buying it on an as-is basis is risky at best.
A better option is to buy the machine from a professional seller of pre-owned woodworking equipment that reconditions machines before selling them, and has a quality assurance program.
Difficult to Test the Equipment Ideally, a CNC machine should be put through a short test run before it is purchased.
Conducting a short test allows the customer to listen for sounds that indicate the equipment has internal problems, and observe whether the cutting mechanism and arm function properly.
When you buy pre-owned woodworking machinery for sale from a machinery company, you can request the opportunity to test the equipment, or receive a video of the equipment in operation.
Testing equipment on the auction floor may not be an option.
Difficult to Inspect the Equipment Thoroughly Different auctions allow different levels of access to the equipment on auction floor, but buyers can rarely inspect the equipment by removing part housings and panels to view its inner workings.
When a machine cannot be tested, these types of inspections are important, as they can identify a machine that will soon need replacement parts or repairs.
They can also identify machines that have a poor maintenance history.
When your money is on the line, it is safest to buy from a professional seller of reconditioned woodworking equipment.
Auctions: Buyer Beware Auctions are designed to serve sellers by liquidating their equipment.
There is no form of customer service available after the sale.
For buyers, this means that no technical support is available from the seller.
In many cases, contact with the owner of the equipment is not established, and the owner sells the equipment with profit as the sole motivator.
When you buy equipment from a machinery company, the sale is conducted with the intention of generating return business, which brings a sense of assurance that the equipment will perform as expected.
Conclusion When woodworkers choose to buy a CNC machine at auction, they do so at a financial risk.
In addition to being sold as-is, the equipment at most auctions cannot be thoroughly inspected for internal wear, or tested for performance.
Furthermore, auctions sell equipment only to liquidate it, not to serve customers.
For these reasons, it is safer to buy pre-owned woodworking machinery for sale from a machinery company instead of buying it at auction.
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