BRIAN HALL
ASPHALT ANSWERS Are all the bells and whistles worth it ? Only you can answer that question .
THE REAL TRUTH
About Buying New Equipment
BRIAN HALL
Well , we blinked and it ’ s June . Now that we are finally adjusting to live as we used to know it , many contractors are breathing easier and looking at adding to their fleet . With all the good news concerning infrastructure and building , the demand for new equipment is high . While scouring social media , I always seem to come across contractors warning others of the pitfalls of buying machines and what to watch out for . With this in mind , I thought I would give you a look behind the curtain at what we are really doing at the manufacturing and dealer level when it comes to new machines and present 5 myths about the equipment buying process . Ok , they are more like misconceptions than myths , but it sounds more intriguing , right ?
1 ) I can always get a better price by going straight to the factory . Most manufacturers these days see the added value of going to market through an authorized dealer . With all the technology that goes into machines these days , having a trained local service center at your fingertips will save you time and money . The local dealer is in tune with your local market and is trained to assist you in succeeding .
2 ) If I try to trade my machine , the dealer will always under-value its worth . In most cases , the local dealer knows exactly what your machine is worth because he attends auctions and studies used machine sales . The dealer will typically go through steps to make sure that the next owner will receive a job-ready tool , which is an investment . Furthermore , he is assuming all the risk by inventorying the unit until a suitable buyer is found . It ’ s very important to remember the dealer is a for-profit business as well . You will almost always be able to sell your machine to another user outright for more money , but keep in mind , it may take time and money to find the right buyer .
3 ) The sales person is not looking out for my best interests . In the equipment business , loyalty is at an all-time high . When the salesman is talking you through the process , he is not only trying to provide you with a solution today , but tomorrow and next year as well . Our livelihoods depend on repeat business , so any attempts to be less than professional will do nothing but hurt the salesman in his attempts for future business . The paving industry is a tight knit group and word of a raw deal gets around fast .
4 ) Manufacturers just put extras on machines to drive the cost up . In today ’ s world of ready information via the internet , social media and email , the contractor is more informed than ever before , making competition between manufacturers very fierce . At the company I work for , we have an unwritten policy that basically says that we don ’ t add anything to a machine unless it brings more value than cost . My challenge
[ 12 ] www . callape . com 1.800.210.5923