Anyone in the warehousing, supermarket, hardware, or wholesale discount club business knows how valuable a forklift is. These machines transport heavy goods over large floor areas, as well as help to place them on high shelving.
They reduce the risk to human workers when moving these items as well as save time, effort, and money. Speaking of money, new forklifts do not come cheap. There are different types of forklifts, with varying weight-bearing capacities. Depending on what you want, a new forklift can run you anywhere between $26,000 and $80,000.
If you find that a bit too pricey, used forklifts are an option you can explore. As with any used good, caution and common sense should be used to get you the best product possible for your money’s worth. You can use the following general guidelines to help you on your search for an affordable replacement to your
Search for the Best Deal Possible
There is a surprisingly wide array of places you can get a used forklift to buy.
Most major dealers have a used section and with the advent of the Internet, there are now auction sites that specialize in used items. Therefore, no matter your specs, it’s possible to get the best prices on used forklifts, in a variety of places and locations. Once you’ve found a used machine at a price you like, your work isn’t over, as the price has to be combined with a couple of other things.
As far as Possible, Know the State Your Forklift Is In
This one will be more difficult if you are purchasing your forklift online. If you can, ask the seller for the forklift’s maintenance record. If you can’t access these, that’s a red flag which may point to the fact that it wasn’t properly repaired and you’re better off not buying.
Try to find out where the forklift was used as well. Some used forklifts would have been worked harder than others. If the forklift was in an environment where it was likely to be overworked, you may have to pass on it.
Get a Warranty and Understand Its Terms
You may not be able to persuade the seller to give you warranty terms close to what you may have gotten if you bought a new one, but most will offer you some kind of warranty.
Ensure that you understand the terms of this warranty, such as whether it will cover repairs and parts and for how long. You might want to stay away from any seller who isn’t willing to guarantee their forklift. That may be a sign that it is in bad condition.
If you are physically able to visit the forklift you want to buy, ask the seller if it would be okay to bring a mechanic along to examine the forklift to give you an opinion on the spot before you purchase.
Things you should check for on your used forklift:
- The way the mast extends
- Mast chains for wear and tear
- The wheels for wear and tear
- The engine
- The batteries
Check to See How Many Hours the Forklift Was Used
Like a car, a forklift will have an odometer that will log how many hours of use the forklift has had in its lifetime.
The odometer will reflect the true amount of wear and tear the forklift has. Be aware that some unscrupulous sellers will reset the hours to make it appear the forklift has less usage than it actually does.
Explore Whether Parts Are Easy to Get
Because your forklift will not be new, it is likely that some repair may be necessary from time to time. This will be so much easier if parts are readily available. This is the reason you should stay away from limited-edition models. Parts for those are going to be especially difficult to find.
The downtime from looking for hard-to-find parts can affect your business and cost you money.
Don’t Forget to Add the Cost of Shipping
Locating a good deal can sometimes blind you to the true cost of making the purchase. If you’ve purchased this forklift from another area of the country or even from overseas, you should be prepared for the cost of getting it to your business.
If you wish to avoid this cost, you can look for used forklifts located closer to where your business is located.
Buying a used forklift doesn’t have to be hard. There are thousands of options out there for your business. As with any other used purchase, you will have to be careful. Once you’ve done that, your used forklift can be with you for a long time.