Buying heavy equipment carefully and avoiding unethical suppliers

Buying heavy equipment like hook lifts, skip loaders and HMF cranes requires extreme caution and a bit of scepticism as there are unethical distributors that can cause you trouble over the long run. No one wants to spend a fairly huge sum of money on machinery that doesn’t comply with industry regulations.

For starters, transacting only with certified heavy equipment suppliers is one way to make sure you’ll obtain a piece that will operate seamlessly. You’d best avoid uncertified sellers that usually make the rounds on the Internet unless you don’t mind dealing with substantial issues that involve safety and legality.

In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to buy heavy equipment carefully and how to avoid unethical suppliers.

Ask questions about the equipment

Asking the right questions goes a long way towards buying a truck crane in Australia—or basically any piece of heavy equipment around the world—that will do the job. Here are a few important questions to ask your dealer to ensure you buy a piece that suits your specifications.

How old is the equipment? Older pieces are more likely to require repairs and replacement parts before long. This doesn’t mean you should steer clear of old equipment. A sensible supplier would put an older piece up for sale at a much lower price and would give you sound advice on how to maintain it.

Newer pieces, on the other hand, are more likely to have a better factory warranty. If there are problems that spring up after the purchase, they should be resolved soundly under warranty. This is one vital reason why you should never look past the importance of warranty that comes with the machine when dealing with your supplier.

How was the equipment used? This is an important question to ask when buying pre-owned machinery. If the piece was frequently used under extreme conditions, you may want to inspect it further for some serious wear and tear. An ethical supplier should be able to provide you with a machine’s history with honesty and ease. Proper documentation is a must!

Scour for references and reviews

Keeping in touch with a dealer’s old clients could take away some of your precious time. However, receiving positive feedback from previous customers—first-hand—gives you a level of assurance like no other.

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Being aware of these red flags will enable you to make wiser decisions in the choosing process. A good rule of thumb: if you find a seller suspicious, check with reliable references or move on to the next dealer.