As a general rule it is safe to say that air compressors are not “disposable” machines. They are usually built to work for a decent period of time and almost all air compressors have a decent resale value. Therefore air compressors are not usually offered on a discount basis, or if they are the buyer should be wary and investigate the machine and its specifics closely before handing over any money. While air compressors are mass produced, they are not simple machines and they generally have to undergo some rigorous safety testing and a comprehensive approval process before they are allowed to be sold on the open market. After all, air compressors – by definition – dangerous machines.
Contrary to some of the sales rhetoric one may find online or elsewhere, there really is no such thing as “surplus” air compressors. Like cars or riding lawn mowers, even when the company goes out of business or over orders its own stock, they are not sold as “overstock” on a retail basis. Instead they are sold in bulk to other retailers. So forget about the idea of surplus air compressors or “everything must go” types of sales. The one exception to this may be extremely inexpensive little household compressors – the little $19.99 models – and even then it is doubtful they would be sold much below $19.99, though of course the seller may claim they are worth $39.99. For serious air compressors, this is just a nonstarter.
There are, however, at least some air compressors on the open that might be described as being offered on discount. Most commonly, these are refurbished air compressors. That is, they are older air compressors that eventually wore out and were traded in or scrapped. The refurbishing company then comprehensively rebuilds them, replacing all the damaged bits and then offering them for resale: at a discount. A refurbished air compressor may be as good as new or may be a disaster ready happen, depending almost exclusively on the skill of the person or organization that refurbished. Typically refurbished air compressors done by professional refurbishing companies are fairly safe, as their business depends on it and they are directly liable should the refurbished machine fail catastrophically. Air compressors refurbished by small informal outfits or individuals should be viewed more skeptically.
Another place to find air compressors for sale at a discount are simply the classifieds: that is, buying a used air compressor from someone selling one. This is quite common, but it works the same as buying a used car; you never really know exactly what you are getting. Some formal retailers accept trade ins – again like cars – and then sell the old compressors at a discount. These are usually decent deals since once again the company can be held liable, so it has a vested interest in ensuring that it is selling at least a safe product. Buying a used air compressor through the newspaper or elsewhere is completely hit and miss; you may get an astounding deal or you may get taken.
Once upon a time, inexpensive mass produced Chinese clones of name brand air compressors were offered at discount prices, but this is not so true today. While Chinese clones are still available and they are usually at least somewhat cheaper than the name brand version, in the end you save very little. This is primarily because most of these clones do not undergo the national safety testing, so in general they cannot be stockpiled in the Western countries where they are sold. Instead, they have to be shipped directly from China and since air compressors are heavy machinery; the shipping costs usually equal or exceed the savings achieved by buying the clone in the first place.
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