Three ways to sell
| Route | Speed | Price certainty | Your effort | Good when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sell outright to a dealer | Fastest | High: a firm offer | Low | You need a clear answer or the space |
| Consign: a dealer sells it for you | Slower | Lower: price depends on the buyer | Low to medium | You can wait for a better price |
| Auction | Set by the auction date | Lowest: bidders set the price | Low | You are clearing many items or a whole shop |
A dealer who buys outright takes the risk of the resale, so the offer is usually lower than a consigned sale could reach, but you are paid and the machine is gone. A consignment or auction can bring more, but you carry the risk of waiting and of fees. Advantage Products offers all three: see sell your machinery and auction services.
Prepare the machine
- Gather the facts. Make, model, year, serial number, control, options, hours and where the machine is.
- Photograph it well. The whole machine from several angles, the control, the spindle area, the nameplate and any options. Clear photos sell machines.
- Record it running. A short video of a program running is the strongest proof you can give a buyer.
- Back up the control. Save parameters, offsets and macros, and hand them to the buyer.
- Remove programs you shouldn't pass on. Controls can hold customers' part programs and drawings. Delete anything you are not free to share.
- Collect the extras. Manuals, tooling, vises, rotary tables, probes and spare parts, so you can say what is included.
- Clean it. A clean machine suggests a cared-for one.
Be realistic about price
Buyers pay for condition, options and a control they can support, not for the year on the nameplate. Check what comparable machines are asking: see what used CNC machines are asking. Remember that a price you see is an asking price, and that rigging and delivery are real costs for a buyer. See the rigging guide.
Protect yourself
- Overpayment scams. A "buyer" sends a check for more than the price and asks you to refund the difference, or arranges their own shipper. The check bounces after you've paid out. Never refund an overpayment before funds have fully cleared.
- Payment. Use traceable payment, and release the machine only when the funds are confirmed in your account.
- Paperwork. Use a written bill of sale that records the machine, serial number, price and as-is terms. Ask a lawyer to review it if the sale is large.
- Know the buyer. If a machine will leave the country, check who is really receiving it and where. Export rules apply to some machine tools. Ask your lawyer or a licensed freight forwarder.
Read how to avoid used machinery scams for more.
Questions
Should I auction or sell outright?
If you need a firm answer fast, selling outright is the most certain. If you have many items or are closing a shop, an auction can clear everything at once. If you can wait for the right buyer, consignment may bring more. We can walk through your options.
What do dealers want to know about my machine?
Make, model, year, serial number, control, options, hours, condition, location and photos. A short video of it running helps most.
Do I need to clean out the control before selling?
Back up the parameters and offsets for the buyer, and delete part programs or drawings that belong to your customers.