Best Equipment Pricing

My wife and I are in the process of opening a small cafe in our downtown area.  We signed the deal last week!  There are thousands of equipment suppliers nationwide.  Have you found one supplier that just seems to always have the best prices and service?  One that just stands out from the rest?  I'm all for spending money locally, but my local equipment supplier will only get a small fraction of my business.  Apparently, everything they sell is made of gold, and I just don't need anything that good.

Sorry I didn't see this earlier but a couple of thoughts: I buy 99% of everything I buy equipment wise on Ebay. The other 1% I buy local but I find the best price on Ebay and then go to my local guy and show him the printed page from the Ebay ad. Sometimes he will meet the price sometimes he won't. When he won't match the deal I buy it online. I like to take short one day trips so I go pick up a large percentage of what I buy online. I'm not far from Chicago, Indy, and St Louis so I enjoy the drive and save a ton of money. I also go to a lot of auctions.

Good luck on your venture, I know you'll do well. And I look forward to a visit.

Jack

Food Service, Food Retail and Store Supplies at Hubert  I like the one stop shop. This company took care of all my opening needs... The best to you and your wife on the new adventure. Have fun..........Bill

Thanks Fellas!  I'm checking Ebay regularly.  Thanks for the link Billy.  I'll check them out.

Try Craigs List.  I have found it a gold mine and I hardly ever buy new.  Also check for Online Auctions that sell restaurant equipment.  A lot of people don't want to buy something unless they have looked at it and "kicked the tires" but I've bought a lot without seeing it and haven't gotten burnt yet (knock on wood)

Mike S.

Thanks Mike.  I have been scouring Ebay lately.  I need to check Craig's List more often as well.  I have found a restaurant supply house that has great pricing on new equipment.  www.katom.com.  I'm definitely going to purchase all of my refrigeration from them.

PopsDogHouse


Thanks Mike.  I have been scouring Ebay lately.  I need to check Craig's List more often as well.  I have found a restaurant supply house that has great pricing on new equipment.  www.katom.com.  I'm definitely going to purchase all of my refrigeration from them.

Looks like they have a good selection but I just hate to pay new price.  I agree with Jack about Ebay.  I just bout a 4' True prep table that sells for over $2,500 new on Ebay for $405.00.  It was 400 miles away and I didn't want to go get it so I got on Graigs List for that town and put an ad on wanting someone coming my way with a pickup that would haul it.   Had a young man contact me and I paid him $150 to bring it to me and help unload it.  He did, it looks good,  works fine and I've got a prep table for about 20% of new.
 
My wife says someday I'm gonna get burnt buying sight unseen and I may but haven't yet and I buy a ton of stuff on Ebay.   I guess I'm an old farmer that still believes, most people are basically honest. 
 
Mike S.

I agree with you on the new equipment prices Mike. They're nuts!  However, I have a couple of buddies here that own restaurants.  One owns 3 Mexican restaurants.  The other has an Italian place.  Both of them advised me to purchase my refrigeration new.  After listening to a couple of their horror stories, I'm biting the bullet for new refrigeration.  I did just buy a used Robot Coupe off of Ebay.  My next challenge is furniture.  Gonna take a little trip to Atlanta and see what I can find!