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Dealership accountability

Greasyfitting

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
61
Location
Savannah, GA
Im at my first heavy equipment shop and front desk people have no accountability selling machines that are broken down then when the sell they need everything fixed right then and there. I had a skid steer I was looking over that sold with a drum mulcher fixed a quick connect then ran the mulcher bearings shot but the guys picking up tomorrow. It's pretty underhanded imo
 

StevenG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2022
Messages
108
Location
NC
A lot of junk iron gets passed around like that. The dealers know what they're buying and beat the price down, and then wait for a sucker that doesn't know any better = dealer profits! Buyers should always beware.
 

Greasyfitting

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
61
Location
Savannah, GA
These machines are usually around 200-1000 people rent them beat em to death then some poor guy buys it. We had a skid steer in the shop with fuel issues manager comes out says they need it fixed it sold.
 

StevenG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2022
Messages
108
Location
NC
Most rental companies buy new and sell within a few thousand hours before the real problems start. With the lack of inventory on the market people get desperate or buy online site unseen or don't know what they're looking at.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,344
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
What kind of HE shop do you work at? Is it a dealer rental store or individual rental/ re-seller? No names needed just curious.
 

StevenG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2022
Messages
108
Location
NC
It's a dealership that sells brand new units and rents out machines until someone buys them

Reminder to self to not buy anything near Savannah LOL. I bet they say we can't warranty the bearings or do anything for you, you could have hit a a rock or something. Great way for them to keep you busy with additional repair work!
 

Greasyfitting

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
61
Location
Savannah, GA
Reminder to self to not buy anything near Savannah LOL. I bet they say we can't warranty the bearings or do anything for you, you could have hit a a rock or something. Great way for them to keep you busy with additional repair work!
Surprisingly it is under warranty still. But they will sell you a machine and make money off the field calls
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,346
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
I worked for a dealer that auctioned the high hour, used, trade in gear to avoid disappointing their customer base. Especially, the brand x stuff. It wasn’t worth the hassle.
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,534
Location
Mo
I worked several place were things were bought to resale or they sold there used stuff after they got done with it. The problem wasnt dishonesty it was timing . It didnt need fixed tell it was sold. The last place i worked they liked fixing up stuff and we had bought stuff fixed it up sold some of it and kept some. The office gave of the vibe that they would like to do more. It didnt happen i was going to make up a set of rules if we stared do more of it or leave .
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,870
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
The used equipment market is full of unreal expectations. Pricing tells the story and most dealerships have what is know as "whine time." Buy a machine and take it out and something big goes bad. Who's fault is that? You can "whine" that the dealership is the expert and they should have known about the problem. The dealership then points out that the buyer is responsible for anything they purchase. Many will offer to split the repair bill. The curbstone people will just fake sincerity.
When I was the appraiser for a dealership, we revealed all that we knew about the machines we sold and priced them accordingly. The "whiners" still came back but seldom got anywhere.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,333
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
The used equipment market is full of unreal expectations. Pricing tells the story and most dealerships have what is know as "whine time." Buy a machine and take it out and something big goes bad. Who's fault is that? You can "whine" that the dealership is the expert and they should have known about the problem. The dealership then points out that the buyer is responsible for anything they purchase. Many will offer to split the repair bill. The curbstone people will just fake sincerity.
When I was the appraiser for a dealership, we revealed all that we knew about the machines we sold and priced them accordingly. The "whiners" still came back but seldom got anywhere.

There are no doubt occasions when a dealer knows the are selling sh%t. Honestly in my experience, most of that ends up going to auction, just so that they don't have to deal with it. Most times from a reputable dealer, they bring something in on trade, service it, maybe run it to make sure it runs, fix what needs to be fixed and then resell it. If the turbo is going to go out in the next 25 hours, they are not going to realistically know that. Yet some guys think that the seller is some how mystically inclined to know the status on every component on a used machine. The safest thing a buyer can do is negotiate a limited warranty at time of purchase.
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,719
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Father always said there is no such thing as an honest politician, or car salesman... probably transfers to equipment salesman
 
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