Buying used catering equipment does not have to be a lottery, there are always options to consider. After spending 20 years in the catering business it soon became clear just how difficult it was to find good quality second hand catering equipment.
Driving around the country finding great quality catering equipment became a full time job. When your deciding which equipment to purchase here are some rather handy hints and tips:-
- Age
- Condition
- Quality
- Workload
- Brand
Age
Of course age is important, however it’s not a true measure when deciding whether to purchase or not. Old does not mean something should be consigned to the scrapheap, in fact there is an argument that things were made a little more slowly and with a little more care, either way it doesn’t mean something is ready to be thrown away. In fact it’s true to say just as my old mother tells me “they dont make them like they used too” very true in today’s mass manufacturing process’s.
Condition
Obviously do not try and assess the item over the phone. Pictures can be deceptive so do not rely on just pictures although if the seller has took the time to picture any dents and scratches to be as honest as possible you can take it at face value.
The equipment can be spring cleaned to look like new, however, its the actual mechanics that will cost you the money should they fail. Be sure to balance the condition with the workload the item has experienced
Quality
The quality of the item is usually going to be reflected in the price. There are however bargains to be found, especially at certain times of the year. Thinking outside of the box, really helps, maybe, the seller has inherited equipment from a shop they are looking to convert. There is a chance the seller wants rid, to make space for a new item, or they just want to recoup some expenditure.
The quality of most catering equipment will be very closely tied to the brand and here look for the best you can afford, quality always comes with a price tag.
Workload
Yet again when sourcing your second hand catering equipment think low use, a perfect example would be a school where only one service a day would be the norm. Government surplus is always a good place to look as many of these items may have been sat idle for years.
Its not uncommon for government organisations to include a service contract to ensure the longevity of the equipment and therefore you can be confident the catering equipment has been looked after.
Brand
Starting your research into making a major purchase, chances are you will go straight to the manufacturers web site take one look at the prices they charge and start to look for second hand equipment. Like premium branded cars, high quality, reliability and a proven track record counts when choosing second hand. This list is not exhaustive by any stretch but here’s a list to get you started.
- Winterhalter
- Williams
- Rational
- Angelo Po
- Bakers Pride
- Bartlett
- Hatco
If your still struggling to make the right choice’s visit the UK’s premier supplier of used catering equipment and ask Paul for his advice. In fact you can follow the extremely knowledgeable catering equipment buyers on their travels around the uk and join the early bird list, a chance to get a quality used piece of catering equipment before it even hits the website. They call it The Early Bird Catering Equipment List
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