Buying a used or second hand forklift can be a great way for your business to save some cash. You can trim literally thousands of dollars off the price of a new unit, and can avoid the huge depreciation hit you face when buying new.
Another advantage of buying used is that you can sometimes benefit from additional accessories or parts that were added to the lift along the line, as these will often be thrown in with the purchase. Again, this can save quite a bit of cash over customizing and outfitting a brand-new unit.
While there are plenty of benefits to buying a second hand forklift, there’s obviously some concerns you need to be aware of, just like buying any other used vehicle. But with a few basic guidelines, you can help make your purchase a successful one.
Picking a Brand
While we won’t go into a full run-down of the different makes and models here, choosing a forklift brand is a big deal — regardless if you’re buying new or used.
If you already own and operate a particular brand (and are happy with it), you can save quite a bit of hassle by purchasing that same brand in the future. This way, you can deal with one forklift dealer for all your repair needs rather than two or three. It also makes training your staff on the new lift much easier, as they’re already familiar with that brand’s standard control configurations.
Shopping Around
If you’re buying your first lift or are unhappy with your current brand, shop around! Try as many different brands as is reasonable, so you can narrow down the brand that works best for your shop. A great way to do your research is to rent a few different models for a month or two each. There’s no better way to learn the nuances of a brand’s lifts than by using them in your own warehouse!
Know When To Skimp… and When Not To
While we’re always looking for a good deal, sometimes tracking down that one unbelievable bargain can end up costing us. The same is true for forklifts. While you may be tempted to go for the cheapest offer you can find, it helps to remember that sometimes used lifts are cheap for a reason.
Skimping on a run-down lift can be a risky move, both from a return-on-investment standpoint and from a safety standpoint. If the lift mechanism or stability of a used lift is questionable, it could lead to an accident on the job.
Similarly, purchasing an extremely cheap forklift could end up costing plenty if repairs and downtime start eating into your business costs. See if you can work out a week-long test drive with the seller so you can be certain you’re making a good investment. If that’s not possible, ask to see any service logs or records for the lift.
