Watch Out When Buying Reconditioned Equipment
When you buy used equipment over the internet you have to take a leap of faith. Is your supplier honest? Unfortunately we have seen firsthand that many are not. I had a meeting with the regional manager at a major manufacturer of floor cleaning equipment the other day. He told the story of an account that had purchased a floor scrubber that was advertised on the internet as a “demo model”. Once the end user received the machine he suspected the unit was older than what he was told. Contacting the manufacturer to check the age he learned the so called “demo model” was a 13 year old “classic”.
Needless to say the end user was not pleased, but in reality, what was he thinking. Did he really think he could by a demo model for less than half the price of a new unit? No one has an advantage when buying used equipment to re-sell. My cost and my competitors cost are about the same. We also pay the same price for parts. So why are some demo models or reconditioned models cheaper than others? It’s really quite simple. Some resell the unit making only a few cosmetic fixes while other provide a complete overhaul. To recondition a scrubber or sweeper properly, you need to strip the unit down and replace everything including batteries, vac motors, squeegees gaskets and more. It’s not easy, and it’s not cheap but it’s what makes the difference between a “New” old machine and an old machine.
At Factory Cleaning Equipment we take great pride in our reconditioned floor scrubbers and sweepers. We don’t cut corners, and as a result we consistently deliver a product that is better than our competitors. We ship reconditioned equipment all over the country and have satisfied customers from coast to coast. My mom gave me great advice long ago that still is true today “If its looks too good to be true it probably is." It’s tempting to buy when you see a price that looks like a bargain. We want to pat ourselves on the back for doing such great research and finding a steal. Unfortunately, things are not always what they seem. The next time you are deciding whose reconditioned floor scrubber or floor sweeper is the best deal, take time to consider what you are really getting. Quality is not cheap, and no one in our business has any special price advantage when they rebuild equipment. Remember, you only get what you pay for.