BEFORE YOU BUY - READ THIS!

Every day I see people in eBay land bidding on expensive garden and other power tools - this worries me! Are you one of them - please read on.

Most responsible manufacturers are, these days, moving away fromallowing their products tobe sold online by installing clear policies, or other trading restrictions.

Why are they doing this? They don't gain anything in the short term, but you, the consumer will gain, and they do not want to to receive shoddy service associated with their machines.

So if you buy online, you should consider the following :

The machine will most likely not be assembled, or pdi'd, or tested, or set up, or safety tested - are you a mechanic? If you are not, and you get stuck, it can cost you dearly at your local repair shop or dealer - especially if you visited previously, and used his knowledge and experience to choose the machine in the first place!
Is the machine CE marked,legal andsafe for use in the UK - some imports are not!
Is it stolen, unsafe, or even the right machine for your job?What protective clothing should you buy as well?
What about warranty? Is there any? Who will doany repairs? Ask the supplier - do they collect and redeliver for free?- most do not evendo repairs, and will send you straight round to your local repair shop. Will they now be happy to do your warranty work? Of course not! You may be turned away, orat least will join the back of the queue behind all 'his' customers. Will he honour the warranty? Your contract is with whom you spent your money - remember that!
Say everybody buys online, your local dealer goes out of business - who does the repairs, servicing and warranty now?

Ah! Its cheaper online I hear you say! But is it really??? You may save a few pounds up front for sure - what if it all goes wrong. Work it out!

Most reputable dealers know they have to do good deals, and will be the same, or close on price - remember that they are doing the job properly and have overheads! Internet sites areoften run froma room in someones house! No experience, no training, no mechanics, no backup - nothing! You may lose all this if you do not buy from an authorised dealer - manufacturers websites will show you where they are.

A man called John Ruskinonce wrote the following wise words :

"It's unwise to pay too much, but it's unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money. That is all. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do.

The common law of business practice balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It cannot be done. if you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better"

Please remember these words when you are making a buying decision. Do yourself a favour, and buy the right machine, from a trusted source, with proper advice and service, and aftercare. Do this and every one wins.