Ritchie Bros auctions

[mikewhite85]

http://www.rbauction.com/

Do any of you guys have any experience buying from them? Does most of the equipment go pretty cheap? I need to buy a smaller chipper...

 

[D&B Mack]

http://www.rbauction.com/

Do any of you guys have any experience buying from them? Does most of the equipment go pretty cheap? I need to buy a smaller chipper...

I have purchased from them for years, but to answer your question...depends. A lot of auction buying from bigger auctioneers is timing. Typically, best prices are in the late fall. Also, you get better buys when the item you are looking for is not "common industry" for the balance of the auction. For your example, you want to look for chippers selling at auctions where there is not much tree equipment available. The more tree equipment for sale, the more buyers for that industry will watch or attend the auction and they will be more likely to pay what the piece is actually worth. One rule of thumb, don't buy at auction out of immediate need. You should be able to watch auction sale amounts for at least 3 months to get a good idea for what you should be paying and to wait for the piece that best fits your needs. That way, you don't get "auction fever". If you are in immediate need, your better bet would be to get in touch with an equipment broker. I have a machinery/equipment appraisal and brokerage company and that is my approach to things, it has worked for me.

 

[DavidBrown1212]

try before you buy, they will let some stuff go. I buy/del with them quite a bit, should be an easy transaction.