Expert Guide for Buying New or Used Restaurant Equipment

If you do not have the right restaurant equipment in place, you might risk losing your customers to other businesses that have the perfect appliances and know how to use them.

However, one catch about restaurant equipment is that they often cost a substantial amount of revenue to get the right ones. Thus, restaurant owners are often faced with the challenge of deciding whether to go for new or second-hand appliances for their business.

While second-hand equipment such as commercial freezers, commercial dishwashers or catering equipment might not be as durable as new ones, they are often less expensive. Each of the two choices has benefits and disadvantages that are unique to them, making the decision even more difficult. If you are currently stuck in this decision-making stage, this article is for you. We will reveal some vital information about new and fairly used equipment to help make the decision more seamless for you. Enjoy the read.

Benefits of new restaurant equipment

• They are easier to find: finding new kitchen equipment for your restaurant can be very easy. You just have to visit a store or browse online to get the one with the specifications you want.
• They offer better performance: it shouldn't be news anymore that new appliances offer higher performance rates than already used ones. When you go for new restaurant equipment, you will be less likely to experience delays and other troubles in its functionality. This means that their essential functions, like preserving raw materials, preparing dishes, etc., will be done faster and more effectively for you. Ultimately, this will help you serve customers better.
• They come with warranties: another fantastic thing about new restaurant equipment is that they often carry warranties, ranging from six months to one year, or even more. This means that you can take them to the manufacturers for fixing if they fail or break down for free or at a discounted rate.
• They are more energy efficient: most new restaurant equipment is star certified. This means that they will consume less energy and help reduce your bills. This is also good for the environment.

Drawbacks of new restaurant equipment

The major disadvantage of buying new kitchen appliances for your restaurant is that they are very capital intensive and might affect your budget for your business's other aspects.

Benefits of secondhand restaurant equipment

• They are more pocket-friendly: this is, perhaps, the most pronounced benefit of opting for second-hand appliances. They are often cheaper than new ones, and their pricing system is not too rigid. So, you can always negotiate to pay less.
• They can come with complimentary items: if you are buying multiple pieces of used equipment, you can ask the seller to add an extra item as a demonstration of good faith. Of course, this will save costs for you.
• You might get reconditioned items: some second-hand equipment retailers often recognize their used items before selling them. This will help to improve the item's functionality for you.

Drawbacks of used restaurant equipment

The major disadvantage of opting for old appliances is that their performance levels might not be as high as new ones. Also, they might not be as durable as new appliances.

Conclusion

If you are confused about whether to buy new kitchen appliances for your restaurant business or go for fairly used ones, this article has provided some information to help you decide.