FAQ: Where to Sell Used Restaurant Equipment? A Comprehensive Guide
Selling your used restaurant and food service equipment can be a straightforward process if you know the right avenues. Whether you have a single countertop mixer or an entire restaurant's worth of equipment, this guide will provide you with useful tips on how to sell your commercial kitchen equipment effectively. Our goal is to help you navigate the selling process and achieve the maximum possible value for your items.
Selling Single, High Demand Equipment
If you have individual pieces of equipment, especially smaller or more common items like a KitchenAid mixer, several online platforms can be useful.
- Facebook Marketplace: This is a great option for local sales, allowing you to set your own price and connect with buyers in your area. Simply search "Facebook Marketplace sell used restaurant equipment" to find local marketplaces. Consider also listing in local buy/sell Facebook groups.
- Craigslist: Similar to Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist is an open marketplace for local buyers. While it can be more unpredictable, it's another avenue to explore.
- eBay Restaurant and Food Service Section: eBay offers a more organized online selling environment with a dedicated section for restaurant and food service equipment. This platform allows for bidding from buyers across the country and even worldwide.
- OfferUp and NextDoor: As suggested in a Reddit discussion, these local apps can also be effective for reaching potential buyers in your neighborhood.
How to Price Single Pieces of Equipment
When pricing your equipment on these platforms, aim for a fair value while maximizing your return. A helpful strategy is to research what similar items have sold for in the past or are currently listed for. On our site, you can use the search icon to look up keywords like 'Kitchen Aid' to see current and past listings and their selling prices. This research will give you a good understanding of the competitive market value.
Selling Multiple Pieces or a Large Number of Pieces of Used Restaurant Equipment
If you are dealing with larger equipment or a significant quantity of items, the options mentioned above can still work if you have the time and resources to manage multiple listings and transactions. However, several services can streamline this process for you.
- Sell Directly to a Restaurant Equipment Dealer: This is often the quickest way to get cash for your used equipment. Dealers are constantly buying and selling used equipment to restock their inventory. While this might not always yield the absolute highest price, it offers speed and convenience.
- Sell Directly to a Similar Business: This option can potentially give you some of the highest prices, as you are targeting businesses that can directly use your equipment. However, it requires time to identify suitable businesses that use similar equipment and negotiate a sale. Businesses may not always need large amounts of used equipment, and you might be left with less desirable items
- Sell at Auction: Restaurant equipment auctions can often generate one of the highest returns with minimal effort on your part. While it takes some time (typically 10-14 days) before sales are finalized and involves some costs like commissions and marketing fees, auctions can achieve the fair market value for your items in a single event and provide complete closure.
Practical Advice for Selling: Setting Expectations and Prepping Your Equipment
Drawing from insights from the Burkett Blog, it's crucial to have realistic expectations and prepare your equipment properly for sale.
Setting Expectations: Understand that used restaurant equipment is similar to a used car in terms of depreciation. Generally, you can expect to sell used equipment for around 10-30% of its original price. Factors like the appearance, maintenance history, and cleanliness of the unit will significantly impact its resale value. As Mike Burkett, Founder of Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies, advises, a well-maintained older item can sometimes fetch a better price than a newer one that has been heavily used.
Prepping Your Equipment: To maximize your chances of a successful sale and a better price, consider the following:
- Is It Clean? Thoroughly clean each piece of equipment. Cleanliness indicates that the equipment has been cared for and can significantly improve its perceived value.
- Is It in Normal Working Condition? Ensure that your equipment is in good working order. While items with minor issues might still sell, they will likely be valued lower. Keep any maintenance records to demonstrate that the equipment has been well taken care of.
- Can You Find the Model and Serial Numbers? When listing your equipment or contacting potential buyers, always include the model and serial numbers. This information helps determine the unit's age and specifications, allowing for a more accurate valuation.
Selling Through Grafe Auction
At Grafe Auction, we understand the intricacies of the used restaurant equipment market. Selling through us offers several advantages:
- Potential for High Returns: Our auction process is designed to reach a wide network of motivated buyers, increasing the likelihood of achieving fair market value for your equipment.
- Minimal Work for You: We handle many aspects of the auction process, including marketing campaigns tailored to your equipment, item cataloging with professional photography, and managing bids during the auction event. This reduces the workload on your part.
- Complete Closure: An auction provides a definitive end to the selling process for all items included. Once the auction concludes, we assist with payment processing and ensure buyers have clear instructions for item removal or shipping arrangements.
To Get Started with Grafe Auction
Follow these steps to begin selling your equipment:
- Contact Us: Reach out to discuss your goals and receive an appraisal for your items.
- Choose Sale Method: Decide whether you prefer an online auction, or direct sale based on your needs.
- Prepare Your Equipment: Our team will visit your site to catalog and photograph each item professionally, ensuring transparency and buyer interest.
- Auction Event: We execute the auction with precision, managing bids and providing technical support throughout.
- Post-Auction Process: Receive payment promptly, and buyers are guided through item removal or shipping logistics.
Partnering with Grafe Auction ensures a seamless and efficient selling experience backed by decades of expertise in commercial equipment auctions.
Selling Entire Restaurant Contents or Dealing with Liquidators
In situations where you need to sell the entire contents of a restaurant quickly, such as due to a lease ending, you might consider contacting a liquidator. Liquidators specialize in buying out entire inventories. While they will typically take a cut for their services, they can expedite the process of emptying the space. You can also try a hybrid approach: sell what you can on your own initially and then work with a liquidator for any remaining items.
Ready to sell your used restaurant equipment?
Contact Grafe Auction today for a consultation and let us help you get the best possible return on your investment!
By understanding these different selling avenues and preparing your equipment effectively, you can navigate the process of selling used restaurant equipment with greater confidence and achieve successful outcomes.
Not ready? Learn more about selling with Grafe Auction.
