It is a generally understood fact that the only sure thing is death. On the road to death, however, there is usually a recession. People and things get old and tend to crumble. As sadly, experienced workers are often replaced by younger employees, and sometimes new technology renders older rolling machines obsolete.
At some point, you may need to replace or remove nearly all of the metalworking machinery in your shop, excluding only those that are kept for emotional reasons. Equipment that no longer works is likely to be scrapped or sold as a part, but what about a rolling machine that works? When is the right time for you to sell them? (And just as importantly, how do you sell them?)
6 questions and answers when should I sell my old plate rolling machine?
There are several factors to consider when considering a used plate rolling machine for sale:
Do I need a different plate rolling machine?
If your current plate rolling machine is not suitable for the tasks you perform repeatedly, or if you need a more specialized model for increased efficiency, it may be wise to sell or trade in to offset the price of the new equipment.
Is my plate rolling machine still profitable for me?
Take a close look at the cost of keeping the plate rolling machine running and weigh it against the operating cost of the new equipment. Does your current coiler require expensive maintenance or replacement parts? Can an updated plate bending machine significantly increase the productivity of your shop? These questions can help determine if it’s time to trade.
What is the age and condition of my plate rolling machine?
While the adage “they don’t make like they used to” is often true, it may not be in your best interest financially to keep an old plate rolling machine, no matter its condition. The older the plate rolling machine, the more wear and tear it needs, and the more maintenance it needs. Even if repair costs are low, it can become more difficult over time to find replacement parts, let alone a technician trained to work on old rolling machines. Also, like most other equipment, metalworking machines often depreciate in value with age, reducing their resale value. When your plate rolling machine has the opportunity to deliver a solid price, you’ll want to put it on the market.
How often do I use the plate rolling machine?
Even in good condition, a machine tool won’t do your shop much good if you’re using a different machine for the same function, or if the type of work you’re currently performing doesn’t require its service. If a plate rolling machine sits idle for months on end, it’s worth selling or trading it to free up space, then complete rare tasks that require it to be used.
What is the current demand for my type of plate rolling machine?
It’s always a good idea for shop owners to keep a close eye on the market conditions for the various plate rolling machines they use. This is useful both for finding deals to buy a rolling machine and for knowing when the ideal time to sell is. If you suddenly notice that demand for the equipment you are considering for sale is particularly high, you may want to advance your schedule and take advantage of economic conditions as much as possible.
7 prep suggestions for selling an old plate rolling machine?
Once you’ve decided to sell an old plate rolling machine, it’s not as simple as loading it onto a truck, as you would take it to a scrap yard. Preparing a machine for resale or trade-in takes time. In fact, almost from the moment, you buy a plate rolling machine, you should have your plate rolling machine disposal in your mind.
Keep Your Roller in Good Condition
You might want to believe in a different way when you have a brand new plate rolling machine in your shop, but the obvious truth is that it probably won’t be with you forever. By following all maintenance schedules from day one and keeping it in good running condition, you can not only delay the day it finally retires, but also increase its resale value when it finally arrives. Think twice about making any customizations to an old rolling machine that future owners won’t appreciate, and be sure to document any changes you make, including before and after photos.
Maintain good operating and maintenance records
While it’s important to know the age of your plate rolling machine, it’s also important to keep track of the total number of hours it’s been running, whether it’s for repairs while you’re using an old machine, or in order to eventually sell it. Potential buyers will want to know how much it’s used, and how well it’s been maintained over the years.
Clean and inspect the plate rolling machine
When it’s time to sell, be sure to get your old plate rolling machine repaired. Have a qualified service technician inspect it and make sure it’s still in good enough working order to interest buyers. If the repair costs are too high, you can choose to sell it “as is, as is” or disassemble it in exchange for parts, but a working plate rolling machine will give you better returns. Once running, be sure to clean it thoroughly. A clean, old rolling machine sells better than a dirty one, and sometimes just a fresh coat of paint can catch the eye of a potential buyer. If the device makes a bad first impression on the interested party, it may not matter how well the device works.
Create detailed documentation for your plate rolling machine
Shoot every angle of the plate rolling machine, from close-ups to long shots, some in a different light, some looking inside every accessible place, and more. In the age of digital photography, there is not much to do with photos. Pick the best from the collection for advertising, but keep the others handy in case anyone wants to check out the left rear wing nut on the support assembly or something like that. Take a video of the machine in action to let buyers know what to expect. Prepare a machine description with all possible technical specifications and double-check all measurements. Write down a detailed description of the current condition of the machine. The more information buyers can see, even before they see the machine itself, the better chance you have of not only selling it,
Be transparent about any issues
It’s tempting to cover up problematic issues, but to prevent them from biting you again – whether it’s a dispute with your buyer after a sale or later questioning of your character with a colleague or customer – be completely open to all potential problems Be transparent, especially once the deal has started. Don’t surprise your buyers, whether it’s changes to equipment, funny noises whose source you can’t quite pinpoint, or weird machine crashes that mysteriously happen every few months. Even if you later resolve the issues found to the buyer’s satisfaction, his staff may have complained to their friends in the industry, giving you a damaged reputation that will never fully shake.
Realistically price your plate rolling machine
Research the market value of your plate rolling machine and price your listing accordingly. Listing it on the high end will give you some bargaining leeway, but it might put off those who are quick to scan the ad. Listing on the lower end may sell faster, but you’ll run into more unqualified buyers who will just waste your time. Pricing your machine competitively takes practice, but you can learn where to start by taking the time to do careful research through various markets.
Know your shipping costs
Whether or not you will pass the rigging and loading costs on to the buyer, get a rough idea of what they will run. Do you need to hire outside help or equipment to install it, or can it all be done in-house? What is the approximate shipping cost per mile for a mobile machine? Knowing these costs and arrangements up front may allow you to avoid delays or costly surprises when your equipment is sold.
How do I sell my old plate rolling machine?
When you decide to sell your rolling machine and have it cleaned, documented, and ready to go out, you have several options to get a decent price for it.
Trade on a new device
One of the easiest ways to dispose of an old plate rolling machine and get something for it is to trade it in for a new or used machine that you need to buy from a machinery dealer. Many full-service dealers will trade old rolling machines, even if they only sell new equipment on a regular basis. The salespeople at these companies are eager to make the sale, and if they’re authorized to do a trade-in, you might end up getting a decent amount of credit for your machine to offset your purchase. They usually arrange all the rigging and transportation costs, usually exchanging the old machine for the new one on the same visit using the same transportation.
Contact a Used Machinery Dealer
Even if you don’t need to be able to trade your plate rolling machine for new equipment, it’s a good idea to contact several used machine dealers in your area to see if they are interested. Dealers will often tell customers that they will keep an eye out for a certain machine, so they may already have eager buyers waiting. If you’re not ready to sell but know you’ll be dealing with your machine on the road, it doesn’t hurt to let your machine tool dealer know about it ahead of time so they can offer it to customers. If the timing is right, you may be able to sell your machine to a dealer early for a higher price than you could otherwise get.
Advertise online
You can – and should – advertise your rolling machine online on several different websites, and possibly in trade print publications that offer listing services. If you decide to do a trade-in on a new machine, you won’t want to go overboard with arranging expensive items, but you can easily get a better deal than the trade-in, so it’s worth checking it out, even if it’s just a bargaining tool that can Take it to your dealer. In addition to advertising costs, there are other costs associated with selling your machine privately, such as rigging and shipping at two locations, inspection, insurance, and possible storage costs. Additionally, you may be responsible for collecting and paying sales tax and capital gains tax. While it can be more profitable, by selling your machine privately you run the risk of being scammed, so vetting potential buyers is an essential practice. Scammers have a lot of different tricks to try to separate you from your rolling machine without paying a fee or to try to get money from you to offset a larger amount they promise or possibly pay with a stolen credit card. of overpayment. Other red flags to look out for include buyers who don’t know anything about the type of machine you’re selling, trying to get you to accept a personal check, or asking you to work with a third party on their behalf.
Donate it to a trade school
If the rolling machine works, but you don’t need the money that much, you can always check to see if your local high school or trade college will accept it, either at a good price or just for free, leaving you with a tax— -leave.
Sold at auction
If your rolling machine has serious problems or is simply too old to have little demand, a better option than scrapping it is to arrange for an auction company to sell it as part of a larger joint auction. Your plate rolling machine may not get as much bang for your buck from direct sales, but hopefully, it will bring in more than you can get from your local scrap dealer. Then again, for the right machine, a bidding war could begin, and you might be pleasantly surprised by the results.