Warning Buyers!
Don't Get Ripped Off!
If you have spent much time in minilab forums and websites you will find
a number of disgruntled minilab purchasers. There are minilab
brokers and resellers that rip off unsuspecting minilab buyers. Some
notorious sellers go as far as knowingly putting junk parts in a machine
before they send it to you. They also may improperly ship a machine so it is
ruined in transport. You may think you are getting a great deal on a used machine but
you actually receive a machine in need of a major repair that will
cost you more in the long run and delay your use of the machine. Be sure
you know the condition of the minilab you are buying.
Here is a checklist of things to do when you buy a minilab.
- Ask for references. Talk to
people who have purchased machines from the place you are buying from.
The seller should be able to provide a list of previous customers.
Find out if there is one near by and visit their location. Contact the
Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org
about the seller and see if there are problems pending with them.
- View the machine you are buying
with your own two eyes. Pictures can be easily manipulated. It is
best to view the minilab yourself. If you cant do that, hire a third
party technician to view it for you and give you a report of its
condition. IPTS technicians often work as third-party inspectors for
machines being sold out of the Midwest US.
- Know if the person you are buying
from is a Broker or a Seller. A Broker is a person who sells
minilabs for other people and takes a cut on the final sale. This
person doesn't have possession of the machine and often times never
actually sees the machine they are selling. A Seller is either a photo
lab or an equipment warehouse that owns the lab and is selling it
directly.
- Get detailed. If the seller
says a machine is "refurbished" ask them for a list of replaced parts,
or if they have repainted the machine. Ask specifically how they plan
to ship the minilab and what type of crating or insurance they will
use. If the machine is sold with a warranty find out what it
does and does not cover.
- Pay upon delivery not in advance.
A 10% to 20% deposit is reasonable since the seller is incurring cost
to get the machine to you and they need to know you are serious.
However protect yourself from getting stuck with a busted-up piece of
junk.
- Pay for professional
installation. Minilabs are complicated machines and every brand
and make is different. A technician will ensure your machine is
installed and working properly. You don't want to burn out a board by
hooking up to wrong voltage or receive a fine from the DNR for
draining chemical into your sink you are not suppose to drain. A good
installation technician can teach you what you need to know about your
minilab.
- Get it all in writing. Have a
detailed invoice from the seller of the cost of the machine and all
the items included (including border kits, paper magazines, negative
carriers, etc.) as well as the warranty. Have the conditions of sale
clearly laid out. Make sure you and the seller both sign the invoice
with prices and warranties listed.
- Don't be in a rush. People
get cheated when they need to act fast. This is a major purchase for
your business, so take your time and do your homework.
- You get what you pay for.
This is an old rule and especially true with minilabs. If a lab is
selling super cheap there is always a reason. It is usually because
the seller has to liquidate quickly or it is a piece of junk. Then
again just because a lab is selling for a high price doesn't mean it
is good, so do your homework.
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