Farm Equipment: New Or Used?
Agriculture is a foundational industry in our economy, and having the right equipment can mean greater yields with less time, effort, and money spent than ever before. But picking that equipment can be a pain. Even if you know the exact machine you need, what brand you prefer, and all the other bits and pieces that go into a purchase like this, there’s a fundamental question you need to ask yourself. Do you want to buy new equipment, or used?
To lay out the pros and cons of each, we here at High Plains Equipment have put together this handy guide. If you have more questions about the benefits of new or used farm equipment, or you’re ready to browse our selection, contact one of our stores in Devils Lake or Harvey, North Dakota. Our friendly and experienced staff can guide you to whatever you need at the prices you want!
New Farming Equipment: Benefits
New farm equipment seems like an obvious choice—after all, who doesn’t like a shiny new toy? There are a number of serious advantages to new equipment that can make it worth the extra price.
Peak Performance
A new machine is one that purrs rather than stutters. Never-before-owned vehicles and equipment are essentially factory-fresh, meaning no one has used or abused them yet. There will be no time-worn parts or hazards created by poor maintenance, keeping you from the frustrations of slow engine startups and sticky handling. These machines are at the height of their performance, and you’ll know the difference.
High-Tech
Any vehicle or machine market is highly competitive, with brands jockeying for position and upgrades. That results in new models being released every year, packed with up-to-date and cutting-edge technology. New farm equipment will enjoy better fuel efficiency, increased safety, and all-around higher performance thanks to the gadgets and gizmos inside them.
Experience
If you’ve purchased or otherwise owned farm equipment before, chances are you know what you’re doing. That experience makes you better able to understand exactly what you need. New equipment can be expensive, and it’s not something you want to gamble with. But with your past experience, there’s a good chance you’ll know what to buy, making your investment a much more certain thing.
Used Farm Equipment: Benefits
Before you go writing off pre-owned equipment, remember that not all that glitters is gold. A shiny new toy might catch your interest, but buying used farm equipment has more than enough advantages to make it worth consideration.
Cash Money
The biggest and most obvious advantage of used farm equipment is the cost. Vehicles in general, and agricultural equipment in particular, depreciate immensely after only a little bit of use—particularly after the first year. That means that anything that’s been bought before is going to get a massive discount. And just because it’s used doesn’t mean it’s ancient or run-down. Like we said, one year after purchase, farm equipment loses immense value, even if it’s barely been used. You might scoop up a barely-touched machine for a fraction of its original cost!
Fact-Finding
The second biggest advantage to buying used is how much more information will be available about any particular make or model. A year-old model will have dozens or hundreds of reviews online from fellow farmers, describing in detail the machine’s various strengths and weaknesses. A manufacturer, no matter how honest and forthcoming they might be, can’t tell you everything about the machine because they test and sell them. Fellow consumers know how machines react to unique conditions and how they perform out in the real world. A used model is going to have way more available info than a new one.
Experience Continued
If you’re relatively new to a type of machine or a specific task, you may not know exactly what you need out of a piece of equipment. With used farm equipment, that’s less of an issue. You’re putting a much smaller investment into your new vehicle or tool, meaning that if you end up wanting something different, you’ve wasted less money on it. Used equipment will also have more of a history, so you can get the perspective of previous owners or other reviewers online.
We hope this guide helped you out! If you need more information on the benefits of new or used farm equipment, reach out to us at High Plains Equipment. We proudly serve the people of Devils Lake, Minot, and Grand Forks, North Dakota—let us serve you today!