Red Flags to Look For When Buying a Used Generator

Many people are reluctant to purchase used generators because they fear the fact that they can end up with a broken machine due to its intense use in the past.

While this may be the case for some used generators, all of the used generators at Swift Equipment Solutions have been closely vetted by a team of industry experts.

However, if you are planning to purchase used generators elsewhere, it is important to keep an eye out for red flags. It can be tempting to scroll through Craigslist or the Facebook marketplace to find a used generator for sale, but you need to keep an eye out for red flags.

What to look out for to ensure that you don’t get scammed when purchasing a used generator?

1. The generator has been heavily used, or you don’t know how much it was used

Used generators typically have a much lower price than new generators due to their usage.

When shopping for used generators, it is important to check how many hours have been logged on the generator. Typically, generators have odometers that display their usage, so you can estimate how much life is left in the machine.

However, some generators do not have odometers, meaning you will have to take the seller’s word on the machine’s usage. This can be dangerous, because not all sellers will be truthful with you — if this is the case, it is best to walk away and find a different seller.

2. The brand is unfamiliar to you

When purchasing a used generator, it is important to look for brands that you trust, proven performers that can be easily repaired if needed.

If a seller is offering a brand of generator that is unfamiliar to you or has negative reviews online, it will likely be a hassle in the future, especially if it needs to be serviced. Always do research before online shopping. If you want to know more about reputable generator brands, give a call to Swift Equipment Solutions to help you.

3. The generator looks like it is in bad shape.

Used equipment, especially generators, show their wear. If the generator looks in bad physical condition in the seller’s ad, probably was heavly used, and this is a sign for you to move on and keep looking for other offers.

Additionally, if the seller does not include many pictures, they may be trying to hide the true appearance of the generator, so you should be cautious moving forward.

4. The seller seems inexperienced

Purchasing a used generator is not that easy, so if you want to learn as many things as you can about the machine’s history such as: age, run time, how often and when it was the last service for it, you can see that the seller cannot answer all your questions.

The seller can also be less experienced and educated about generators, which is a signal for you to search elsewhere. Feel free to contact Swift Equipment Solutions to received in-depth backgrounds for all of the used generators, backed with the experience of the industry experts.