| Many companies show a great reluctance to even | | | | many years and need to reap some of the |
| think about buying used survey equipment even | | | | benefits of using more up to date equipment. |
| though there is a great deal of used equipment | | | | |
| for sale these days at very competitive prices. | | | | - There are those in say the construction industry |
| This strong availability is partly because of the | | | | or building trades who require mid to low end |
| economic downturn forcing firms to downsize and | | | | equipment like laser levels as an essential piece of |
| strip assets. But also because, the used | | | | kit these days. There is a healthy demand from |
| equipment market is continually being fueled by | | | | developing countries like India, Iran, Iraq and |
| the quick technical advances being rolled out into | | | | Afghanistan where the level of construction |
| the market place by many of the top suppliers. | | | | projects is increasing rapidly. This high level of |
| There has always been a healthy supply of used | | | | construction increases the demand for surveyors |
| surveying equipment which is fed by the rental | | | | and surveying equipment. However the economics |
| hire business. People expect rental/hire companies | | | | of these countries is such that new survey |
| to carry the very latest survey equipment. So | | | | equipment is expensive. This drives the need for |
| rental companies are forced to keep buying the | | | | secondhand equipment. |
| latest models which then in turn forces them to | | | | |
| sell off the older models so that they can keep | | | | - There is a network of buyers agents looking for |
| the stock levels to the bare minimum. | | | | used surveying equipments and construction |
| So the dynamic nature of the new survey | | | | related kit to sell on. |
| equipment market actually feeds the secondhand | | | | It is fair to say that the market for used survey |
| market. The benefit to buyers is that a lot of the | | | | equipment is bouyant at the the moment with a |
| secondhand equipment is actually relatively new. | | | | good turnaround of stock. |
| So who is buying all this second hand equipment? | | | | It is worth noting that you need to have a good |
| There are a number of distinct markets for used | | | | industry background and be able to offer technical |
| surveying instruments. | | | | support if you are to stand up as a viable supplier |
| - There are one off mid range buyers looking to | | | | of used equipment. Not many will want to buy |
| upgrade/replace their current equipment. They | | | | from someone who does not carry credibility in |
| have probably been using the same bit of kit for | | | | the surveying world. |