Used machinery

[Bob W.]

I have been looking for a used horizontal mill for some time and I have noticed that the same machine might be listed for sale by several different brokers. How does one go about finding the actual seller of the machine? Just curious...

 

Thanks,

Bob

[chris m]

Good luck; if you can, these brokers wouldn't be in business. The only way I can see doing it is to ask for an inspection of the machine so they have to tell you where it is; if you do this, the owner of the machine will be asked not to talk price with you and not to sell the machine to you directly (and won't if they ever want to broker a machine again).

[Joe788]

If it's a less common machine, you can occasionally find the actual seller just by googling the machine make and model, and then scrolling through the results looking for shop's equipment lists.

 

Also, request a quote from all of the different brokers, asking for as many pictures as possible. Usually the guy with the most pictures, is the actual broker. The rest of the time, it's just one guy stealing the pictures and description off another broker's site. I was selling an HMC about 10 years ago, and it was on a dozen websites by the time it sold.

[Sticky]

If it's a less common machine, you can occasionally find the actual seller just by googling the machine make and model, and then scrolling through the results looking for shop's equipment lists.

 

Also, request a quote from all of the different brokers, asking for as many pictures as possible. Usually the guy with the most pictures, is the actual broker. The rest of the time, it's just one guy stealing the pictures and description off another broker's site. I was selling an HMC about 10 years ago, and it was on a dozen websites by the time it sold.

 

To add on your first point, you could also contact a broker, and ask about the location so it can be inspected, and then search for the machine and find the shop in that area that has it... Of course you are SOL if the shop doesn't have an equipment list/website. Going through a broker isn't necessarily a bad thing or even more expensive though.

[Bob W.]

To add on your first point, you could also contact a broker, and ask about the location so it can be inspected, and then search for the machine and find the shop in that area that has it... Of course you are SOL if the shop doesn't have an equipment list/website. Going through a broker isn't necessarily a bad thing or even more expensive though.

 

But it CAN BE much more expensive. I have contacted multiple brokers listing the same machine and got price differences of $85k. That is a chunk of change.

[Sticky]

But it CAN BE much more expensive. I have contacted multiple brokers listing the same machine and got price differences of $85k. That is a chunk of change.

 

No doubt, I saved myself 30k by broker shopping once.

[YoDoug®]

If you have already talked with the broker that is the actual broker for the seller versus a third party "broker network" guy, then you may not be able to buy direct from the seller. When you list a machine with a broker you sign a contract that says many things, one of which is that anyone that contacts the broker first before you, you cannot sell direct to them.