This guide will give you a few tips to purchasing used restaurant equipment online and in person.  As dealers of new and used restaurant equipment from our brick and mortar store in Sanford, FL (just north of Orlando and the mouse) we know a thing or two about used restaurant equipment.  If I were a buyer, here is the stuff I would ask:

• does it work?  Can I send a friend by to look at it working?
• are you a dealer?  Do you sell new equipment?  (Manufacturers don't just let anyone sell equipment)
• do you have a store or do you sell from your home or a mini-storage?  Obviously folks selling from their home or a mini-storage have a lot less to lose by making fast deals.  Also refrigeration that has been stored for a while may not work or need a charge.  At our store we have a refrigeration tech who checks for these things.
• did the unit belong to you?  Do you know its history?  Do you have other equipment from the same restaurant?  Look at the other equipment from the same restaurant- that will tell you if they kept a clean house or bea tup their equipment.

All in all, buying used restaurant equipment should be an excellent experience for all parties involved.  Look at the terms of sale, be familiar with guarantees- if any, and get to know your seller.  If you can't call them before the sale chances are ... well you know what chances are.