Kelowna Restaurant Equipment

Friday, September 18, 2009

Is Buying used Restaurant Equipment a Good Idea?

By Clifford Pierce

Is it a good idea to buy used restaurant equipment? That mostly depends on: does that particular piece fit your needs, what is the history behind it, and how good are you at repairs?

When buying a used piece of equipment you need to be careful. Just because it is cheap does not mean it’s a good value. In the long run it can end up costing you a lot more money, so your need to be careful.

First and foremost, just like when buying new equipment, will the output of this machine match your current needs and planned growth? I see this often when ice machines are purchased for existing needs (or based on a cheap price), only to fall seriously short of ice needed when business increases.

Where did the machine come from and how old is it? If you are buying an old mixer, and it came from a pizza shop, there is probably a good reason that they getting rid of it (such as the motor is worn out)! If the unit is within a couple of years old, and possibly came from a bankruptcy, you are probably pretty safe. Just know what the prices are new before you go buy used so you can negotiate the best deal.

Before you buy a used piece of equipment, have an idea if it is a popular brand name.You don’t want to be buying an old unit that you can’t get parts for as the manufacturer no longer exists or does not have any Canadian representation (for faster service on parts). If you aren’t a handyman, then don’t buy an old piece of equipment either, because whatever you might have saved on buying used can quickly end up costing you more by having constant repairs from a professional technician.

A lot of time and effort should go into purchasing a piece of restaurant equipment. The decision you make will be a big commitment and will help you to determine the success or failure of your operation. Build good relationships with your suppliers and ask a lot of questions, and they will help guide you into the right fit for your present and future needs.

As a general rule, new is better, particularly in the area of refrigeration. You don’t want to take any chances with equipment failure scenarios. New equipment has no history behind it of overuse or neglect. New equipment generally holds up very well and the warranties alone can often make the difference in the decision making of buying new vs. used.


Clifford Pierce
Phone : 250.979.8631
E-mail 
Commercial Kitchens Kelowna Restaurant Equipment
http://commercialkitchens.blogspot.com/

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4 comments:

  1. Hi Clifford
    i like your blog for telling us what precautions we must have to follow before buying a old or new Commercial ice machine for our own use...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the information, we will add this story to our blog, as we have a audience in this sector that loves reading like this”

    Pizza Equipment For Sale

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow..Looks amazing!!!! /I look forward to your feedback /thanks for this man it was very helpful.!
    Cooking Equipment

    ReplyDelete
  4. just linked this article on my facebook account. it’s a very interesting article for all. Used Restaurant Equipment

    ReplyDelete