Pallet racking can help you free up floor space in your warehouse. Instead of storing pallets of merchandise on the ground, you can get racks with multiple shelves, allowing you to store these pallets vertically. When you are looking to purchase pallet racks, you have three options. You can buy the racks new, buy them refurbished, or buy them in as-is used condition. Learning about the pros and cons of buying refurbished pallet racking will help you decide if this is the right option for your business. Here are some of those advantages and disadvantages.

Cons of Buying Refurbished Pallet Racking

You May Not Get Everything You Want

One of the downsides to buying a refurbished or even used pallet racking system is that you may not get everything that you were hoping to get in one. When you buy a pallet racking system new, you get to customize the system to fit your warehouse, including the height and width of the racks, the amount of weight they need to hold and possibly even the color of the fixture.

When you buy used, you may need to settle one what's most important if you can't find exactly what you want. Think of it like buying a new versus used car. When you buy new, you can pick your exterior and interior colors and the features you want. When you buy used, you may not be able to find the car you want with the exact features you want, so you find a car with most of the features and let go of the rest. The same is true when buying used pallet racks.

You're Getting an Older System and Parts May Be Hard to Come By

The other disadvantage to buying a used or refurbished pallet rack system is that you are buying an older system. Some of the parts may have since been discontinued or may be hard to come by if you need repairs or spare parts. Always do your homework before selecting a used or refurbished rack to see how hard it will be to buy the parts you may need in the future.

Pros of Buying Refurbished Pallet Racking

You Will Pay Less

One of the biggest benefits to buying refurbished pallet racking instead of new pallet racking is the cost. Refurbished pallet racks are cheaper than brand new ones. If you are on a budget or looking to keep your costs low, buying refurbished may be a great option for you.

You Are Getting a Like-New Racking System

The other advantage to buying a refurbished pallet racking system is that you are essentially getting a like-new racking system. As mentioned, you don't really know the condition of the item you are getting. It may need repairs, it may be missing pieces, or it may be rusted. However, a refurbished system is cleaned up, repaired and repainted before it's sold to you. The company refurbishing it ensures everything is in working order and that it is not missing any parts or pieces. It is free of rust and then cleaned up and painted so that it looks new. You don't have to worry about the condition when you buy a refurbished pallet racking system because even though it isn't new, it looks and works like new.

If you have decided to maximize the floor space in your warehouse, you may be looking into buying pallet racking. This can help you store items vertically. Taking the time to learn about used, refurbished and new pallet racks will help you decide which is the best option for your warehouse.