Do you do 'new' or 'second hand'?
A touch of paint here – a tap of a hammer there and your second hand racking is as good as new.
Or is it?
Storage systems are expensive and during these days of a tight and ever tightening economy it is unfortunate that it is in this seeming basic working facet of commerce and industry that many operators find it easier to ‘save’ on their immediate start up or maintenance costs than considering the future. It is unfortunate – and we repeat in capital letters, UNFORTUNATE – that this may be the case in a few lucky occasions but, in the main, using second hand racking or shelving can be the start of a chain of expenses. These range from low, normally necessary maintenance costs, through to high repair costs, stock losses or even major staff injuries or death. All of these contributing to higher insurance costs, operating costs and even replacement costs. The one word that seems to repeat itself throughout the life span of a second hand installation of this nature is COST.
There are reputable resellers of second hand racking but the dangers are still there – just a little better controlled. Storage systems are not a waste of money but rather an important aspect of a profitable business. It is therefore very important that a reputable supplier is used to purchase your new second hand system and the installation is managed and monitored to the exacting national safety regulations.
Too often an operator will visit an auction or second hand dealer and purchase racking that has not been designed for the purpose it is going to be put to, does not have a qualified certificated history of the system and certainly no inspection report from a reliable and reputable racking and shelving expert.
Too often one hears of a ‘bundle of racking’ being sold at an auction – no history of its life, the uses it was put to, the reason the previous owner put it to – etc etc – so we go on. As we know, nothing is ever given for free and therefore the lower price differential, between new and second hand, will more often than not match the increased operational and maintenance costs expected from a second hand installation.
Every year thousands of rands worth of stock is lost because of poor house maintenance and or operator management. Racks and shelves are replaced in part or in total because an operator clipped it with the truck or the like. Damaged, the replaced part is often subsidised with a quick ‘second hand part’ sale.
Can you afford not to err on the side of being over cautious in the purchase of your racking? Be a good operator and call in the assistance of a recognised specialist supplier or inspector – don’t put future profits and lives into the hands of those who do not know.
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