How to Buy Catering Equipment from Closing Businesses

Kitchen equipment is expensive. If you want to outfit a commercial kitchen from scratch with brand new equipment, you can expect to pay thousands of pounds to do it. It is no surprise to see businesses looking for an alternative means of getting what they need. Thankfully, there are other options available.

One of these options is closing sales. Businesses that have closed down for whatever reason need a way of getting rid of equipment quickly. To do this, they hold a public sale where other businesses can come in and make offers on what they have.

Here is how you can go about making a purchase.

Find the Sale

You will not find closing sales widely advertised. It is a case of latching on to various rumours and making sure you turn up on the correct day. The easiest way of finding a sale is to actually drive past a business and see a sign in the window. Obviously, this is not a practical way of doing things. Instead, browse local online community boards. Businesses will normally advertise a closing sale on a local basis so they can get enough buyers.

What is the Sale Type?

Determine the type of sale before you start to splash your cash. It does not always work the same way as conventional kitchen suppliers. You cannot always walk in, make an offer, and walk out again. Some sales are conducted in the form of an auction where you must bid against fellow buyers in an attempt to win.

If it’s not an auction, it’s just like going into any store and taking something of the shelf. An auction, however, throws up a whole host of problems. Primarily, you have to avoid overpaying. It is easy to get carried away with the desire to beat someone out of an item. Focus on yourself and nobody else.

Auction Tips

1) Inspect the item before buying. Do not buy what you have not seen.

2) Set a strict spending limit on an item. Avoid going over this limit.

3) Do not build the auction up in your mind. It is easy to overspend when you believe this is your one and only chance of buying something. It’s not your only chance.

Establish the Terms of Sale

Prior to handing over any money, you need to know about the terms of sale. Closing sales do not always work the same way as conventional catering equipment suppliers. You will never have the same buyer protections in place. This is a closing sale. You will not have anyone to complain to when the business selling the items drops off the face of the earth.

Work out what they will and will not take responsibility for. Even at closing sales, businesses will offer some form of temporary warranty for the first few weeks. If the item breaks, they will take responsibility. What you will not have is the option to ask for a refund. Once you buy the item, the item is yours to keep.

Every closing sale works differently. When you are happy with the terms of sale and the price, hand the money over and take your new equipment back with you.