Questions we are asked
What buyers ask when they are weighing an auction against buying direct.
Where to buy
Where can I buy a used excavator without auction fees?+
From a yard that owns its machines and publishes its prices. Ours are in Mohammedia and Qingdao, and the figure on the page is the figure you pay.
Where can I buy used equipment at a fixed price?+
Here. Every machine on this website carries its price, its hours and its engine, so there is no bidding, no premium and nothing added at the end.
Where is the cheapest place to buy used heavy equipment?+
China, bought directly from the yard. That removes the dealer margin and the auction premium at the same time, which are the two largest additions to any used machine price.
Where do dealers buy their used equipment?+
Mostly from exporters and yards rather than from auctions, because a dealer cannot afford a ten percent premium on top of a machine he still has to resell.
Can I buy an excavator direct from the owner?+
Yes. We own the machines we sell, so you are buying from the owner rather than through an agent, a broker or an auction house.
Is there an alternative to buying equipment at auction?+
Buying direct from a yard. You lose the chance of a lucky bid and you gain a fixed price, a machine that has been checked, and somebody who arranges the shipping.
Instead of the auction houses
Where else can I buy excavators apart from Ritchie Bros?+
From exporters who own their stock. We publish prices, hours and photographs on every machine, and there is no premium added to the number you see.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Purple Wave?+
Buying at a fixed price avoids the ten percent buyer premium they publish. On a USD 20,000 machine that premium alone is USD 2,000 before tax.
Are auction prices really cheaper than buying direct?+
Sometimes the hammer price is. The total rarely is. Add the premium, the documentation fees, the tax and the collection and compare that number with a fixed price.
How do I buy a machine with no buyer premium?+
Buy from a seller who prices the machine rather than auctions it. We charge no premium, no transaction fee and no administration fee of any kind.
How much can I save buying direct instead of at auction?+
On a machine in the thirty to eighty thousand dollar range, the published minimum auction fee alone is USD 3,000. That is before tax, documentation and getting the machine off the site.
A machine that works
Where can I buy a used excavator that is ready to work?+
From a yard that runs the machine before listing it. Ours are started, run and tested, with faults repaired and worn parts replaced before they go on the site.
Where can I buy a serviced used excavator?+
Here. Every machine is gone over before it is offered, which is the opposite of an auction lot sold exactly as it was driven in.
Where can I buy a used machine that has been checked and repaired?+
From us. We do not list a machine that does not work, and anything worn or faulty is put right before the machine reaches this website.
How do I avoid buying a machine that needs repairs?+
Buy from somebody who has run it, ask for video of it working, and send an inspector if the value justifies it. An auction lot offers none of those three as standard.
Can I see the machine working before I pay for it?+
Yes. Tell us what you want to see and we will film it for you, cold start included if that helps.
Inspection and export
Can I send an inspector before I buy?+
Yes, to either yard, and we give them full access. At auction you normally get a viewing window and no opportunity to test anything.
Where can I buy a machine with the shipping included?+
From us. Tell us your destination port and we will quote the machine and the sea freight as a single figure rather than leaving you to arrange it.
Who will handle the export paperwork for me?+
We do. The commercial invoice, the packing list and the bill of lading are prepared before the machine sails and sent to you for your clearing agent.
Can I buy a machine and have it delivered to my port?+
Yes. We handle inland transport in China, loading and securing, and you take over at your own port with the documents already in hand.
Can I export a machine I buy at auction?+
You can, but everything after the hammer is yours to arrange, including collection within a short window, inland haulage, the vessel and all the paperwork.
Buying properly
Where can I buy used equipment from a yard that owns it?+
Ours are in Mohammedia and Qingdao and we own what we list. Ask any seller whether the machine is theirs, and ask for a photograph taken today if you want to be sure.
Can I buy more than one machine from the same seller?+
Yes, and it works out better. One shipment, one set of documents, one clearance, a lower freight cost per machine and usually a better price.
Where can I buy a used excavator with the hours published?+
Every machine on this site shows its hours on the page before you contact anybody. We will also photograph the meter on request.
