It’s increasingly common these days for businesses and warehouse operatives in general to purchase shelving by way of auction. In many instances when a company goes out of business or simply alters its operational model, it may choose to auction off much or all of its hardware. Which in turn means that warehouse shelving often appears at auction in all manner of shapes, sizes, quantities and specifications.

Needless to say, this has the potential to represent an ideal opportunity for new and existing businesses to grab a bargain. But at the same time, there are many reasons why buying commercial and industrial shelving at auction isn’t always quite the no-brainer it appears to be.

Of course, it’s not to say that it is impossible to pick up an incredible bargain at auction that will prove to be a real asset to your business. Instead, it’s simply a case of taking into account a few potential problems and overlooked issues, which can sometimes transform a bargain buy into a bit of a nightmare.

Examples include the following:

• For one thing, it’s worth remembering that the auction house itself may add a commission/fee to the overall purchase price of whatever it is you buy. These can sometimes be as high as 10% or even 20% of the total purchase price.
• Don’t forget that wherever the auction takes place, this is the location from which it will be necessary for you to transport the shelving back to wherever it needs to be. If you do not have the required transport readily available to you, shipping costs may be extremely high.
• It’s important not to fall into a false sense of security or make blind assumptions, when it comes to the completeness or quality of any shelving that appears at auction. If you don’t carry out a comprehensive inspection and evaluation from top to bottom before placing your bid, you could end up with shelving that is of inferior quality, has important parts missing or is simply useless.
• Also worth bearing in mind is how buying something at auction means purchasing something with absolutely no guarantees, no warranty and no recourse whatsoever if something turns out to be not entirely as it seemed. Just as soon as your bid is successful, you become the official owner of whatever it is you have purchased and that really is pretty much the end of it.
• And then of course there’s the way in which those selling the shelving at the auction house itself may not exactly be what you would call experts in the world of shelving hardware and accessories. Which in turn means that there is every possibility that the description provided may not be accurate or complete. It is up to you and you alone to carry out a full inspection and assess every last inch of the shelving for sale, which for obvious reasons may not be convenient or even possible.
• Last up, it’s worth remembering that given how it is perfectly possible these days to pick up impeccable quality second-hand shelving at incredibly low prices and with the peace of mind that comes with quality guarantees and warranties, you may find that it is easy enough to get a far better deal elsewhere.

For more information on second hand shelving or any of the products listed on our website, get in touch with the Monarch Shelving team today.