I believe that in any purchase, the customer should make an informed decision.
Working for major retailers I always had a full sales team to advise and inform people, backed up by service teams and delivery associates. However, when a customer goes to purchase something “used” or “previously enjoyed” quite often they have zero information available to them and make decisions based simply on price alone.
Today’s blog is an attempt to “level the field” and provide some insider’s insight that might just help.
BUYING USED APPLIANCES
- Is it clean and well taken care of? While a general rule, something is more likely to work better if it has been taken care of.
- Look for a serial number, if the serial number is missing or scratched off it is not a good sign. If a manufacturer writes off an appliance, the serial tags (plate) has to be turned back into them. There is no other reason for some one to remove the serial number and my advice is not to buy anything that doesn’t have a serial number. On fridges, it is typically on the inside of the unit on the left side panel; on ranges on the left side of the drawer; on washers and dryers, inside the doors; on the back of freezers; and inside the door on microwaves.
- Keep in mind, appliances are built better than they have ever been; however, they do not last forever: Most appliances should give you 8-10 years; however, try to look at the use: for example, a family with 6 kids will do a lot of laundry, a senior couple will not and these are all factors in how long something “used” will last.
- When pricing something, consider using a prorated scale: If a $1000 fridge has a life of 10 years, and the people selling it after 9 years want $500 for it, you are overpaying; consider offering $100 because the odds are it will not last for another 10 years. This is not scientific; this is just simple experience.
Refrigerators:
- Ask them to plug it in and make sure the compressor runs and that the fridge starts to cool down immediately.
- If it has “Ice and Water” check the filters, make sure that you clean and replace the filters and flush out the lines.
- Power Consumption: Newer fridges are mostly all energy-star models and will use significantly less power than older fridges, if you are on a budget, never buy a fridge that is more than 10 years old.
Ranges:
- Ask the seller to plug it in and make sure the clock works. If the clock doesn’t work on a range, then nothing else will.
- Expect that you will likely need to replace the baking element at some point, which is an easy job with basic tools.
- Check and make sure all of the elements work
- Look for any scorch marks on the unit.
Washers & Dryers:
- Ask the seller to plug it in and let it run through a full cycle.
- If you purchase the washer, replace the hoses. Hoses are inexpensive and do not last forever.
- Typically, washers and dryers should last for 8-10 years, if they are older than that don’t expect them to last as long as the ones your grandparents had.
- Dryers are pretty simple and last for a long time. Ask them to run it and listen for squeals and thumping noises, none of which are good things. If you get it home and the drum turns but there is no heat, check your electrical panel, you likely tripped the breaker.
Freezers:
- Be careful, old freezers are usually inexpensive, but like old fridges, they will kill you with horrible energy consumption.
- Usually, people have them in their basements, if you buy one, make sure it is thawed out as they are much easier to move.
- Consider using 2 straps to remove the unit from the basement (old seat belts work the best with the connectors cut off, loop them under the unit and wrap the ends around your wrists to move the freezer, it works [use this to move anything])
Microwaves:
- Plug in, test, and check the serial tag on the back, it will have the manufacture date, beware of microwaves that are old. Make sure the door closes properly as the microwaves generated by the unit can escape if the doors do not close properly.
BUYING USED FURNITURE
- Does the seller have pets or do they smoke? If the answer is yes, then you may want to get the upholstery cleaned. It is likely a good idea anyway.
- Just a note about “bed bugs”. These pests can just as easily be in a neat house as a messy house, they do not discriminate. They are also not just in beds; they can be on anything.
- Is the house clean and neat? There is nothing wrong with buying used upholstery and furniture; however, as will appliances, the neater the home, the more likely the furniture has been looked after.
- Bonded leather: Will crack and peel after about 5 years, do not over pay.
Upholstery:
- Sit on each seat, watch for anything that feels unusual, if springs are broken then you will sink in further than other spots on the set.
- Listen for creaking or grinding, it could indicate broken boards or frames, which are not easy to fix.
- If you are looking at motion furniture, it is worth flipping the set upside down and tightening all of the bolts every once in a while, as just general maintenance.
Mattresses:
- Be very careful buying used mattresses, it is better if the seller used a mattresses protector than if not.
- Today’s gross fact: For a mattress that is not kept in a mattress protector, 25% of its weight after 4 years will be dead skin and other assorted residue from the people who sleep on it.
- Never buy a mattress that has the manufacturer’s name tag ripped off. This is not the “law tag” that says not to remove, the name tag is sewn into the cover of the bed, if it is missing, it means the bed was written off by the manufacturer for a construction defect.
- If possible, lay on the bed and feel or broken coils or wires.
Case Goods (Bedroom furniture, dining room/dinettes, coffee and end tables, wall units):
- All of these types of items are relatively straight forward to purchase and you really can see what you are buying second hand.
- Make sure you get all of the hardware to re-assemble everything, bring some tools and baggies with you to disassemble and re-assemble.
- Also bring cardboard, straps and blankets with you to protect the items, I’ve seen many people purchase good items and then almost wreck them because they did not protect them on the drive home.
Electronics:
- MAKE SURE THEY WORK! Before you purchase them.
- Don’t over pay, these two points are likely the biggest issues. Electronics are one of the few categories where the “race to zero” is very evident. A new TV that sold for $2,000 last year, might sell this year for $1200, next year for $600; keep this in mind if someone is trying to sell you a used TV. If you want to know the value of anything, check online and either “google” the item or use website’s like BEST PRICE CANADA.
Reusing and recycling is something that more people should be doing, like anything else there are risks and the danger of over-paying and being disappointed. Research items online before purchasing, if someone applies too much pressure and you feel uncomfortable, let the deal go, there will always be another one. “Deal fever” can strike anyone, including me on more occasions than I care to think about.
Regardless of whether you buy new or used, always try to make an informed decision.
PS.
This post is a little different than my others, and some of you might wonder what this has to do with operating a small or medium sized business?
For businesses, this post is about the importance of informing your customers and opportunities that might be going unfulfilled. Many businesses have the opportunity to service the “used” market and should look at it, regardless of whichever market they are in.