There are all kinds of industrial equipment for sale on auction sites. For example, here is an item that could result in a commission of 5 – 10% if you were the seller...
If you are interested in these kinds of transactions, where can you find equipment to auction without having to buy it yourself? Well, remember these possibilities...
1) The Thomas RegisterThe wonderful Thomas Register offers all kinds of opportunity to anyone interested in anything industrial. The Register is gruesomely expensive but is worth its weight in gold. Most likely a library near you that has a copy. If you have any interest whatsoever in selling expensive products that don’t belong to you, you need to become familiar with this wonderful source.
The print version has 47,144 pages of products and services in 23 volumes, three volumes of company profiles and seven volumes of catalogs from its listed members. Or you can get a free membership and use their online services.
Here’s how to use the Thomas Register. Suppose you are interested in backhoes. This seller has one for sale on eBay for $11,900...
When you check the Thomas Register, you will find that there are large numbers of companies that deal with backhoes. You can contact all of those companies and offer to help them to either dispose of inventory they no longer want, or locate equipment they are seeking. You accept a commission for this service and the company doesn’t have to pay you if you don’t sell their equipment.
If you sold the backhoe pictured above, you would make either $595 or $1190 (based on a 5 - 10% commission). Do a couple of such deals a week and create a nice income for yourself. You have no money in merchandise and your only risk is the $3.10 for an ad on eBay. It’s even less on other sites.
2) Become A Manufacturer’s Representative -- There are large numbers of “manufacturer’s reps.” These are people who attempt to sell products for one or more companies that they represent. Some reps already know about Internet auctions but many do not.
Make the acquaintance of some of these folks and offer to help them sell certain items that stump them. In fact, I know two sellers who have become reps themselves and use the auctions for a large part of their inventory.
The following items have all been sold at auctions by either manufacturer’s reps or by auction sellers who work with them... Appliances, Furniture, Building supplies and material, Windows, Heavy garden and lawn statues, Bicycles, Camping equipment, Exercise and gym equipment, Sporting goods, Spas, hot tubs, Stereo, CD, cassette decks, VCRs, TVs and Vending machines
If you decide you might like to try your hand at this, here are some helpful resources...Agricultural and Industrial Manufacturers’ Representatives Association, 5818 Reeds Road, Mission, KS, 66202, 800-759-2467
Business Products Industry Association, 301 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, 80-542-6672
Manufacturer’s Agents National Association, 23016 Mill Creek Road, Laguna Hills, CA, 92654, 949-859-4040
Manufacturer’s Representatives Education Research Foundation, PO Box 247, Geneva, IL, 60134
National Association of General Merchandise Representatives, 401 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611, 312-644-6610
3) Manufacturers Representatives of America http://www.mra-reps.com/
The MRA is an excellent online resource. It is a non-profit organization for both manufacturers and representatives.
4) Trade Magazines and Newspapers --This kind of media is a rich source of expensive equipment. For example, I have on my desk a trade newspaper for the dry cleaning industry with a wide assortment of equipment for sale.
Most of them are perfect for auctioneers because they are small companies that are either going out of business and need to unload their machinery or they are expanding and have bought new equipment.
These listings and prices illustrate the point...i) “Bowe/Permac K-25 55 pound hydrocarbon dry-cleaning machines; never used; still in original wrap. Must sell. Without still is $44,000; with still is $72,000. OBO. Will pay shipping.” (Does this sound like a motivated seller?)
ii) Used plant equipment --13 lines listing various equipment. The ad states OBO. Will negotiate.iii) Unipress shirt cleaner for $17,000. Also dry-cleaning and laundry presses, washers, dryers, air compressors, heat reclaimer systems, water softener and more. “Owner retiring for health reasons.”
