PALLET RACKS: TO BUY ONE NEW OR USED...?
Posted by Guy Darienzo on Wed, May 27, 2009 @ 12:23 PM
The agonizing question, business owners struggle with, when buying any type of shelving or pallet rack, is whether to buy new or used equipment. With spending being scrutinized so heavily, the option to save money on used racking or shelving is an attractive one...so let's look at it a little closer.
Rule 1...buying used pallet rack in this market will definitely save you anywhere from 25% to 30%. The condition of the equipment and the guarantees of the capacities are two issues that need to be resolved. Sellers can not always determine correct capacities and manufacturers are not always willing to issue capacities on used equipment because of the atypical way that the rack may have been utilized. So even though the savings may be tempting...the safety factor may outweigh the economical gains.
Rule 2...with the cost of steel at an all time low, the price differential between new and used continues to drop. Manufacturers are hungry for business and the pricing on new equipment, with guaranteed capacities, has become more attractive. Better to pay a little more, and avoid a possible catastrophic collapse, than to save and threaten workplace safety.
So be smart when making a purchasing decision, used and new rack can both be utilized in the correct setting