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You are starting a seamless gutterbusiness. You have carefully analyzed the market in which you are going tocompete. You have decided what type of gutter you want to market. You have identified the companies that manufacture the seamless you want to buy. You have researched theirweb sites, talked to the dealers, and gotten quotes. The costs are a bithigher than you expected, but you are not deterred. Whatnext? Somewhere in the back of your mind a question arises: ?Can't I savesome money by buying a used machine??
New Gutter Machine : A shiny new gutter machine includes all the latesttechnologies and improvements, which can help make your business productive andprofitable. It has up-to-the-minute everything. It is new and has100% of its useful life, waiting for you to use it. It has the advantageof having just been assembled, run, and tested by the skilled technicians ofthe company that designed it, those who know best how it is supposed towork. There are no skeletons in its closet, no worn-out parts, no hiddendamage. In addition, assistance is available from the factory or dealer ingetting it going. Operating and maintenance manuals are available to assist youin training your personnel in mounting, loading, adjustment, operation, andmaintenance. And, like those guys in the cell phone ads who are ?theNetwork? behind the cell phone service, you have the dealer and the factorystanding there, behind the product, and they want you to be a satisfiedcustomer. And there is the warranty, the factory's guarantee that there isnothing wrong, and promise that, if there is, they will fix it: 2-3 yearson parts, 1 year on labor, lifetime warranty on selected parts. But, allthis comes at a price. Even if they have a sale, the price tag looksbig?and you wonder?
Used Gutter Machines : You check theInternet and discover a number of listings for used , a couple of them are the kind of machineyou want. And the prices are definitely less than what a new machinecosts. What can you get, and what do you risk? Do you have the knowledge, experience, andskill necessary to evaluate a used seamless gutter machine? If not, do you haveaccess to someone whom you trust who does? Will they help you (either asa favor or as a paid consultant)? The used machine may not have the currentlevel of technology that the new machines are offering. If the usedmachine is fairly new, the difference may be small. The older the machinemay mean fewer bells and whistles. This gap may not be meaningful in yourintended business'or it may. In addition to inherent productivity issues, themachine has undoubtedly suffered some wear and lost some amount of its totallife potential'no one knows how much. However, a good machine that isgiven careful maintenance, cleaning, and service is capable of operating forwell over thirty years. Much of its life may still be there, waiting to serveyou.
Maintenance and service are described by many as the keystone of machine lifeand continuing successful operation. However, if the current (or someprevious) owner has not been rigorous in these areas, there may be hiddendamage. Some people seriously abuse their machines, significantlyshortening the machine's total life capability. You don't know. When yourused machine requires service, repair, or parts you are still dependent on theservices of the original manufacturer or his local dealer. So, even inselecting a used machine, you must be aware of the accessibility and reputationof the original equipment manufacturer. It is crucial to run some stock throughthe machine and inspect the resulting gutter very carefully. This mayreveal problems. Various kinds of hidden problems with adjustments orroller damage may lead to an improper gutter shape, damage to the paint on thematerial stock or other visible defects on the gutter.
On the other hand, if parts have been damaged, but not yet to the breakingpoint, the fault may not be detectable. A current owner/user is unlikelyto agree to any kind of warranty for his used machine. Manuals may (or may not)be available. If the machine is quite old there may even be problemsobtaining parts. Clearly there is an increased risk in buying a usedmachine. There may be hidden damage the owner does not disclose. There may even be hidden damage of which the current owner is unaware. And the risk is with the buyer. So it is extremely important to have theequipment examined by a competent expert before buying. Still, there are alwaysused gutter machines that come on the market that still have much useful lifein them and that represent good value to the knowledgeable buyer. It isparticularly valuable if you know the seller well and know him or her to bereliable, honest, and forthright in their business dealings. Another possibleroute is to purchase a used machine that has been refurbished by themanufacturer or a qualified repair and maintenance shop. They representsome middle ground, with a higher assurance of condition and functionality andlower risk to the buyer. In the end, the decision is still yours. You haveto evaluate the factors and decide how you will spend your money. New orused or reconditioned? The risk is yours, as are the profits.
Sock Woodruff is founder and partner of GutterSupply.com,the leading manufacturer and distributor of gutter supplies, , and related tools and equipment.
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