Used Equip. Experience

I am interested in hearing about people's experiences with buying used pick and place and stencil printing equipment. For example, was the cost saving worth the experience, was technical support available before and after the sale, did you deal direct with the manufacturer or thru a broker, any other comments you care to relate? Thanks in advance for all help. Bob

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| I am interested in hearing about people's experiences with buying used pick and place and stencil printing equipment. For example, was the cost saving worth the experience, was technical support available before and after the sale, did you deal direct with the manufacturer or thru a broker, any other comments you care to relate? Thanks in advance for all help. | Bob I have had good experiences and bad, the bad ones were a result of note doing my homework and inspecting the equipment before hand. Here are a few rules or guidelines I use when buying used equipment 1) Travel and see the stuff, even if it's a 3k conveyor. Unless you can swing a deal where you hold the money until delivery and acceptance (Yea right). Test the equipment and run product on them. If you are not familiar with the equipment find someone who is and take them with you. 2) Call the manufacturer and tell them you are buying used equipment and get in writing what they will and will not support. 3) Try to stay with the larger more reputable brokers, or ask around about the broker. Some of these guys are out for the fast buck and will stick it to you if given the opportunity. 4) Make sure the equipment is still supported by the manufacturer and for how long. Nothing worse than buying equipment and not being able to get parts for it. Good luck Mike C

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All we've bought is used equipment...and since the start I've learned alot about the inner workings of FUJI equipment. The first set of machines were bought from a re-seller, they were all functional but far from being in good shape. At the time, the support we were offered was in the line of parts and a consultant theat we paid to help set the line up and train our first round of personell. During the first few months of operation, the line suffered massive amounts of downtime do to mechanical failures of the machines. but the knowledge gained on the repairs of the machines was invaluable. Our second set of machines were complete refurbished by an approved re-seller and so far they've been running without a hitch. My advice to anyone buying or leasing used equipment, If you don't have a maintenance tech who really knows his stuff. Buy or lease completely refurbed equipment from a manufacturers aproved shop. this will save you alot of time and headache in the long run. -Ben just my two cents

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| I am interested in hearing about people's experiences with buying used pick and place and stencil printing equipment. For example, was the cost saving worth the experience, was technical support available before and after the sale, did you deal direct with the manufacturer or thru a broker, any other comments you care to relate? Thanks in advance for all help. | Bob BOB, IT'S A CRAPS SHOOT. SOMETIMES YOU GET LUCKY, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T. SERVICE IS ALWAYS LACKING. THINK ABOUT IT. YOU DIDN'T PAY US THE 100K+ ON OUR EQUIPMENT BUT YOU WANT HELP OUR HELP WITH IT? IT'S AN AWKWARD SITUATION. YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW THE EQUIPMENT YOU ARE BUYING IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY IT USED. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF JUNK OUT THERE FOR SOME PRETTY TALL MONEY. BE CAREFUL. BEST ADVISE I CAN GIVE IS TO NOT BUY ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH. LOOK FOR LIMITED PLACEMENT COUNTS AND THAT SORT OF THING AND FIND OUT WHO THE PREVIOUS USER WAS. TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT. FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE REGULAR PM SCHEDULES ETC. REGARDS, JUSTIN MEDERNACH

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| I am interested in hearing about people's experiences with buying used pick and place and stencil printing equipment. For example, was the cost saving worth the experience, was technical support available before and after the sale, did you deal direct with the manufacturer or thru a broker, any other comments you care to relate? Thanks in advance for all help. | Bob Bob, Purchasing used equipment has both it's risks and it's rewards. You can save substantial amounts of money with used equipment, but you can have problems if you approach it blindly. My advice: 1. Check out the equipment. It should be powered up, and demonstrated to OEM specifications. 2. Negotiate a warrantee. This implies that the company selling the equipment has the where-with-all to stand behind the warrantee that is agreed upon. 3. If it is the first piece of the particular type/mfg. of equipment in your factory, you will want to sign up for a maintenance/programming class(es) from the OEM. This frequently helps prevent problems, and establishes good communications with the OEM, prior to requiring any "emergency support" for a piece of equipment that they did not sell. Good Luck, Dana Wentworth VP Operations Comdisco Electronics Assembly Group www.comdisco.com

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Good Luck either way. I think the broker must be a good one, but more importantly you need to look at where your service is going to come from after the sale. Are you looking at anything in particualar? I may know of some inexpensive pick and place equipment available in San Jose. Bill. | I am interested in hearing about people's experiences with buying used pick and place and stencil printing equipment. For example, was the cost saving worth the experience, was technical support available before and after the sale, did you deal direct with the manufacturer or thru a broker, any other comments you care to relate? Thanks in advance for all help. | Bob

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