Acquiring used t-shirt screen printing equipment is a hit and miss proposition. There is a fine chance that this purchase will be a steal and serve you for an extended time. But there is also a decent chance that this equipment will break down later considering that it is already used. With this in mind, I have several tips to share with you that you need to follow to ensure avoiding this purchase from becoming a mistake you will regret later.
What are the tips on buying used t-shirt screen printing equipment? These tips are sequenced chronologically:
- Research on the equipment that you will be buying.
- Consider the brand of the equipment.
- Ask a lot of questions about the equipment, how old is it, are they the original owner.
- See the equipment in action.
- Check out the equipment very thoroughly.
Basically, you will have to invest plenty of time and effort in researching extensively and comprehensively examining this equipment. I will go more in detail about these steps in the succeeding sections.
Research On The Equipment That You Will Be Buying
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First things first ask yourself whether you will really need to get this equipment for your shop.
Does the demand really justify this acquisition? Will you be saving anything because you are acquiring this equipment? If the answer is yes to any or both of these questions, then you may proceed.
You can now work on setting a budget for this purchase. From online sources and your industry acquaintances, you should obtain an idea as to how this equipment will cost.
I would assume that by this time, you have the exact screen printing equipment model in mind. If not, then this needs to be completed first on all research that you will be doing since there are similarities with this equipment type.
Please stick with the more popular brands in the industry instead of going for one that has less of a track record.
Size, print stations, flashes, model, and capabilities are important things to consider here. You will need to have a minimum acceptable equipment specification defined.
Now that you have pinned down the equipment model to be purchased, you can start your research by going through its performance reviews from the internet. There should be several that are available considering that this is not new.
Read about these reviews and take notes. This will be used later when you are in front of the actual equipment itself.
Check out also the price being asked for this equipment. Craigslist and eBay are certifiable sources of this information. This should be within your budget.
From a wide perspective, consider if this same equipment you are considering to buy will be around within the near future. Consider its longevity and usefulness.
This is important for the technology might make this obsolete and also, there might not be any parts and supplies available come the time you need it. You might discover soon that you are left with an outdated piece of equipment.
Consider The Source Of The Equipment
By this time, you would have narrowed down the possible sources of this desired equipment. You would need to now review these sellers.
Shops that have not operated a long time or have closed shop are a good source of this equipment. This means that this equipment was not used extensively.
Some people jump into screen printing without any knowing anything about it and the process and the learning curve was too much and the equipment just sits because life got in the way. Another good source of this equipment is the local supplier of this equipment.
They may have in their inventory this particular type under consignment. Reconditioned and certified equipment also fall under this category.
They will not sell you equipment that is simply not working for they wouldn’t risk their reputation with this sale.
Another plus for this is that they will give you expert advice on this equipment and may even add a limited warranty on this equipment to convince you to purchase this equipment. You can also get your supplies from this same company.
Ask A Lot Of Questions About The Screen Printing Equipment
Now, you are about to go check out the equipment yourself. I would strongly suggest that you bring along a friend or an acquaintance who is knowledgeable with this equipment. Or, even an experienced technician would be quite handy here. This person would also serve as someone you can ask for advice.
Ask the seller as to why he is selling this equipment. Also, how long was this equipment used and if they did encounter problems using it?
There is a more than average chance that you will not be getting a straight answer to these questions so it is important to trust your gut on this. If you don’t believe the seller, then just simply walk away.
See The Screen Printing Equipment In Action
If you believe that the equipment you are seeing is worth buying, then ask that this equipment is subjected to a test run.
A seller who is trying to hide something about this would immediately hesitate in performing this test. As mentioned earlier, you can simply walk away if this is so.
When it does run, you or your companion can immediately gauge if it is in the right working condition. Also, both of will be able to point any part that is not properly working right away.
Also, by simply observing how the machine is running will tell you if the current owner properly maintained it.
This test run will give you a proper assessment as to how this equipment will fit into your shop. Things like the noise generated and the working area it needs would be vital information to consider in deciding.
Check Out The Equipment Very Thoroughly
You are now almost finished with your search for this particular piece of screen printing equipment. At this time, you should be convinced that the seller is genuine and the equipment is running properly.
Now, you and your companion should check very thoroughly the equipment.
Check to see if there are rust and corrosion underneath the fresh paint. Be cautious if you see excessive ink and lint buildup.
See if there dents or obvious damage to the exterior of the machine. The screen printing machine’s arms should not be bent or placed at an odd angle.
Examine the moving parts and see if they are worn out or not. You can move or rotate these parts slowly to see if there are wobbles or unusual movements that is a sign of poorly centered bearings. Watch out for grease on these same bearings.
Do not go through with this purchase if you see a lot of these warning signs on the equipment.
However, if you think that this equipment, even with issues seen, is workable and its problems, fixable, you can use this as a bargaining tool come the time for discussing its purchase price.
If there is no odometer present, a documented proof of its existence should tell you the number of prints it had generated in its lifetime.
Ask for the owners manual, schematics, service records, and other documentation regarding its use. These documents would be critical for you to have.
By this time, all that is left is to finalize the price for this screen printing equipment.
One thing you can negotiate for is if the seller would consider standing by this purchase by giving you a limited warranty for a short amount of time. A decent and reputable person would have no issue at all with this request.
Pros And Cons Of Buying Used Screen Printing Equipment
Congratulations for going through with this search and purchase of a used screen printing equipment.
I just would like to share with you the advantages and the disadvantages of getting this equipment to complete the picture.
Advantages Of Buying Used Screen Printing Equipment
Definitely, this equipment is less expensive compared to purchasing new screen printing equipment. For a startup shop, this would be a big help since there are budget limitations and smaller revenue coming in at this time. The revenue that this equipment will generate should be able to cover for its acquisition cost very quickly.
A piece of well-maintained equipment can be a good value for the money. Even when the shop is making a profit and has acquired newer equipment, this particular one can serve as a backup or an additional piece to cope with demand.
Disadvantages Of Buying Used Screen Printing Equipment
Unless you bargained hard for this, chances are you will get no warranty with this type of purchase. And believe me, this will be costly because used equipment is easily prone to breakdowns and malfunctions compared to new ones.
Aside from this, you will not get any technical support for this same equipment. You will also have to install this equipment when moved to your shop.
Also, you have to account for costs of equipment downtimes, lost business, labor, and spare parts.
However, there could be situations that you can purchase for a limited warranty from its manufacturer or any other service company. These service companies can offer you limited technical assistance that goes along with this warranty purchase. It is essential that you have a good relationship with these service people.
If your screen printing equipment is really old, there is a good chance that it is not even supported by the manufacturer. This could well mean that spare parts are no longer available. You may have to go to specialty, fabricators, and machine shops to have your equipment maintained.
