When you consider buying used racking systems or equipments, make sure that the second hand racks and equipments will still meet the minimum standards. Failure to meet standards would mean potential accidents that could cost you and out-weigh your initial savings.
So is it beneficial to buy used racking systems? Yes. This is still the preferred method by business owners venturing out in business. Buying your first forklift and tractor can be very tricky however buying used racking systems, bins and shelves is more straightforward. Make sure that the shelves do not have dents or dings.
Used racking systems are often a result of liquidating a store. Therefore, most of these shelves are structurally sound since these are usually used indoors.
Aside from being cheaper to obtain, second hand racks or shelves also:
It allows the new owner to match and mix different rack sizes and designs thereby creating a customized rack system. The storage facility that you have may not be able to fit in a 40 foot drive-in racking system. When you get hold of a racking ‘piece-meal’, you can easily mix and match. That is, you can mix and match pallet racking used for heavy staff with long-span racks for lighter and smaller boxes or components.
Buying used items comes out much cheaper especially if you do not mind the paint. Liquidators usually slash the initial prices for the items in a hasty attempt to offload bulky racks.
You can readily buy different sizes of shelves and racks from different sources depending on the requirement (width, height and length of beams). Some potential sellers that you can visit are liquidators, hobbyists and retail stores that are going out of business.
Used racks and shelves allow maximum experimentation on your different floor layouts. If you are engaged in a new business and you will be selling a broad range of products, using used racks will enable you to work efficiently without having to shell out a large investment.
During second hand deals, liquidators usually throw in extras and accessories like mesh decking and other safety support equipments to close the deal. These add-ons will get you a complete racking system at a bargain price.
Some important tips when buying used racks or shelves or other equipments:
Buy only from suppliers that have reputation that precedes them with an accessible location. Find out also the original manufacturer of the product.
Inspect for physical wear out of the product which usually occurs if the rack is placed outside the store. Do the “tap test” to check. Hit the middle part of the beam and when there is a “ping” sound, it means there is no rust. However, if you hear the “thud” sound, there is an accumulation of dirt and rust.