Why buy your equipment local?

In a world of online shopping and global marketplaces, it's easy to overlook the value of local businesses, especially when it comes to purchasing and servicing equipment. However, there are compelling reasons why choosing a local company for your equipment purchase is not just a good idea but also a decision that benefits you and your community. Let’s explore the numerous advantages of supporting a local company for equipment sales and service, highlighting why it's a smart choice for both personal and business needs.

Personalized Service
As a local business owner, you understand what your community needs. You have worked hard to create a space that your community needs that has been customized to meet those expectations. When you work with a local equipment sales and service company, you are choosing to work with people who have the same vested interest in your success. Frequently, an equipment sale is seen as the beginning of a relationship to a local service tech. That tech will be performing maintenance on that machine, and supporting it for the life of the equipment. They can also get a great understanding of your goals, and help to choose the equipment that will best meet those needs.

Online marketplaces almost always see the sale as the beginning, and the end of the transaction. The online sellers do not have techs to do the install, or to continue maintaining the equipment. The equipment you purchased may not be the best option for your unique situation, and there is no one knowledgeable of your market to help guide that decision with the internet resellers.

Installing a fully loaded custom LineaPB ABR for Collage Coffee in Grove City, PA.

Warranty Coverage
When you are being new equipment, you should expect to have a factory warranty that covers both parts, and labor for a certain period of time. Usually, the sales person is responsible for covering this warranty for you. If something were to go wrong, you must first contact the sales person before any warranty work can be completed. Would you rather call some 800-number and deal with virtual assistants, or would you rather get your tech on the phone for an immediate response? We have dealt with a good number of warranty issues from online sellers to know that it is never a clean and simple process, and often it ends up causing unnecessary down time. That’s not a great way to start off with your new equipment.

Install Process
Another often overlooked part of an equipment purchase is the install. The seller is responsible for making sure that your equipment is installed properly to avoid voiding any warranties, as well as to ensure proper function of your equipment. Online resellers don’t have a tech on the ground to do the install for you, and to protect their profit they look for the least-expensive option to get that install done. This means that someone you didn’t choose will show up to install your equipment. You have no idea what their credentials are like, or what their work is like.

When purchasing from a local service company, you can be certain that the installation is being done exactly to manufacturers specifications. Further, the local tech will often insist on working alongside your architect, and trades people to ensure that the utilities are exactly what is required for the equipment to function perfectly. This can save a lot of money by avoiding costly work-order changes.

Expertise and Knowledge
Service what you sell. This is what should be at the heart of every good local service company. It should be expected that your sales company will also be able to tackle the long-term needs of your machine. Equipment sales people should be specially trained by the manufacturer, or have deep understanding of the electronics, hydraulics, and common failure points of all equipment on their sales sheets. Anything short of this should not be considered as a reasonable choice for your cafe.

An online seller may have had some training with manufacturers, but unless their company is based nearby your cafe, they will rely on your local service techs to take care of your maintenance, and repairs. If you didn't buy from the local service company, you will likely pay higher rates, and often you will not be one of their priority customers. Any warranty work will likely be sent to the lowest bidder. Would you prefer the least expensive, or the most experienced tech show up when you are down?

A client trains with their team using their own equipment in our training lab prior to opening.

Profits are invested back into YOU
An equipment sale does have some profit margin for the sales person. What happens to this profit is drastically different between online sales and your local service tech.

When you purchase your equipment online, that profit is used to pay for expensive online SEO and advertisement to sell more units, with the balance being used to pay off owners, private equity investors, and executives.

Alternatively, when you purchase through your local service company those profits are likely spent very differently. Your service company will often purchase parts for your new equipment, and in training for the tech staffing. The local service company knows how important having spare parts is, and they are the one who answers when you need the help. What better service than to have the part on hand in case of need?

Fringe benefits
The final consideration in purchasing your equipment through a local service company is some of the fringe benefits that may be available for you. Many times, these benefits can act as an insurance policy for your business, offsetting any cost advantage that online sellers may have.

For instance, your local service company likely has at least one “loaner” machine that can be switched out with your equipment in the event of failure that can’t be immediately repaired. Instead of waiting up to a week for a part to arrive, you are still able to keep your business open without interruption.

Many times, local service companies have vast experience in the coffee world. Some local service companies will have training programs for your staff, and the ability to understand brewing issues and how to solve them for a barista. Having highly experienced techs behind your team is a recipe for success.

Final thoughts
Online resellers often have a financial edge over local service companies because they have so little responsibility beyond securing the sale. These financial advantages dry up very quickly when you begin to consider all of the things that a local sales and service company are able to offer. We encourage you to make the smart decision and invest in those companies that will be directly responsible for your equipment’s success. Often times, the cheapest option can end up costing the most in the end.