BARGAIN CORNER

Lots on offer

NOTTINGHAM-based Arthur Johnson & Sons holds its catering auctions on one Monday of every month. Many of the 1000 or so lots originate from closures and bankruptcies. "You often get restaurants closing down after only 18 months, so the equipment is virtually unused at prices which are 50 per cent or less than the new item," comments Ray Hammersley, who is in charge of specialist sales. "The snag is that you don't get the same guarantee period."

Sales at Arthur Johnson can also include new equipment being disposed of at bargain prices by large wholesalers, which typically carry full manufacturers' warranty. Most popular items tend to be six-burner cookers, fryers and bains-maries.

Arthur Johnson &Sons

Half-price deals

SELLS Caterers Market aims to bring second-hand up to "as new" condition, selling it with a three-month guarantee. Most popular items are ovens, fryers, refrigeration, serveries and combination cookers. "They are usually about half the price of an equivalent new piece of equipment," says director Michael Webb.

He believes that "value engineering" practices at manufacturers mean that latest models can be flimsy. Some caterers favour earlier versions of equipment because they are tougher.

Sells Caterers Market Specialist kit

SIX catering auctions take place each year at Lyme Bay Auctions in Seaton. The company also regularly conducts on-site auctions at hotels and restaurants which are being closed down, are in the hands of the receivers or being refurbished. Owner Roger Wooland says there are plentiful opportunities to pick up real bargains - and specialist kit.

"We had something the other day which I could not initially identify at all," he says. It turned out to be a very large industrial cream whipper.

Wooland usually turns away anything older than 10-15 years.

Lyme Bay Auctions

New or used

ABOUT 25 per cent of the catering equipment sold by London-based Catering Equipment Centre is second-hand. It stopped its twice-weekly catering equipment auctions last year.

"Money is more readily available now and people are more inclined to buy new," comments director John Morrison. This arises, he believes, because there is a much bigger choice of imported equipment, particularly from Italy and Spain, plus greater choice of CE-approved equipment from the US.

However, new items like dishwashers and combi-ovens can still be pricey new, so the reconditioned option may be worth considering.

Catering Equipment Centre

Web-based auctions are a winner

THE internet-based Business Exchange auction site operated by eBay (www.ebay.co.uk) handles a wide range of equipment for business including restaurant equipment.

Bidding for items on offer is open for a three, five, seven or 10-day time scale, as chosen by the seller. Sellers can, if required, set a starting price and a reserve price.

eBay