Where these workshop lots come from
Much workshop equipment comes from company liquidations handled by insolvency administrators, who disperse machine tools, tools, workbenches and stock. Added to this are customs and state sales, which dispose of decommissioned equipment, and seized goods sold by bailiffs and courts. Industrial liquidation platforms and private auction houses complete the offering. Lots are often sold as seen, with terms such as 'betriebsbereit', 'ohne Funktionsprüfung', 'ungeprüft' or 'defekt'. Read each description and the seller's terms before bidding.
Checkpoints before bidding
Check the Baujahr, the power supply voltage (Starkstrom or 400 V) and whether accessories, tools and documents are included. A mention of 'ohne Funktionsprüfung' means the machine has not been tested: expect the risk of reconditioning. For older machines, a machine manufactured before mandatory CE marking may need to be brought into compliance before being used by employees, which can be expensive. For medical equipment, recommissioning may require maintenance or requalification by an approved body. Some lots are 'nur für Gewerbetreibende'.
Collection, delivery and dismantling
Many lots are sold 'nur Abholung', to be collected on site. Dismantling and removal are then your responsibility, within the set deadline (Abholfrist), sometimes with an approved carrier; the mention 'Demontage durch den Käufer' confirms this. Allow for tools, handling and a truck suited to the weight and dimensions. Some sellers ship within Germany or the EU. Between Germany and another EU country, no customs duty applies; only delivery outside the EU incurs duties and import VAT. An EU business with a valid intracommunity VAT number can often buy without German VAT by providing proof of transport, depending on the seller.