Komatsu Customers Discover Value of ReMarketed Machine

Sat April 28, 2001
Aggregate Equipment Guide

Last year, Komatsu ReMarketing introduced “Distributor Qualified Used Equipment” as a way to bring certain standards and assurances to the used equipment marketplace. A distributor-qualified machine is one that has been thoroughly inspected by a trained Komatsu technician and graded according to specific standardized criteria.

Equipment users said they like the distributor-qualified program because they know exactly what they’re getting. The guesswork and fear factor of buying used have been eliminated.

“We purchased a distributor-qualified Komatsu WA500 wheel loader about six months ago,” said Trey Brown, vice president of Big City Crushed Concrete, Dallas, TX. “It’s been going strong ever since.”

Big City uses the loader to charge a crusher. “Obviously, if it were to go down, we’d be in trouble,” said Brown. “But that hasn’t happened. We’ve experienced virtually no downtime, and if the loader keeps performing like this, I’m sure we’ll be buying more distributor-qualified machines in the future.”

Mark Vallencourt, owner of Machinery Suppliers Inc. of Orlando, FL, purchased nine distributor-qualified machines to build up his rental fleet.

“We couldn’t ask for more from these machines,” he said. “They’ve worked very well and have been extremely reliable. In fact, they’re the best machines I’ve owned, really. I feel like Komatsu has brought a whole new level of quality to used equipment.”

Great Value

The cost of the machines is another aspect of the program that appeals to Vallencourt. “I bought a Komatsu PC400 excavator for about 55 percent of the cost of a new machine. It’s only three years old and it’s earning the same money a new one would be earning. Not only that, I also used Komatsu financing, which gave me an excellent deal. The whole thing is a great value and we’re very satisfied with it.”

Chuck Perron, vice president of Komatsu ReMarketing, said comments like that are exactly what he expected to hear about distributor-qualified equipment. “Our goal was to establish a new standard in used equipment. We believe that’s what we’ve done and now the word is getting out.”

Komatsu ReMarketing held several distributor-qualified used equipment sales last year and will hold additional sale events this year. “We’ll let customers know when there’s a sale in their area,” said Perron. “But what we want equipment owners to realize is that we’re offering distributor-qualified used equipment day-in and day-out through our distributors. Top-rated machines may be purchased with a warranty. With distributor-qualified used equipment there’s no risk and no surprises, and since it’s a nationwide program, there’s a tremendous selection of machines to choose from.”

For more information, contact a local Komatsu distributor or visit www.equipmentcentral.com.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.