Restaurant and catering equipment can often be found at auction including: Tables, Chairs, Coffee Makers, Stainless Steel Kitchen Equipment & Utensils , NSF Racks, Stoves, Ovens, Food Prep Servers, Fridges, Walk In Freezer, Coolers, Ice Maker, Commercial Catering Equipment etc..

Auctions in the catering and restaurant industry normally come about from kitchen upgrades, hotel remodelling, business makeovers and close outs/liquidations. These auctions and sales can be a great way to pick up discount restaurant equipment, supplies, cooking equipment at better than wholesale prices. Sales stemming from restaurant closures can also be a place to acquire the furnishings and fit out for a new establishment at a discounted cost.

When buying used equipment, it is important for the restuaranter to protect their investment as best as possible. No warranties or guarantees will likely be available through auction so due diligence and research needs to be done. Although the situation can be very risky for someone interested in larger items like cooking equipment and refrigeration units with risk comes the possible huge savings, so it’s all about mitigating and allowing for risks.

Once the equipment for auction is found, the savvy buyer will go to the site to make use of the pre-auction inspection. The appliance, if electric, should be plugged in and tested if possible or ask if the vendor is providing any warrant or if the auctioneer has a test report. The manufacturers of some major brands may have online resources that include the original product specifications and packing lists. Printing these and taking them along to check off parts and any flaws may save the buyer a lot of trouble down the road.