Pre-owned machines don't have to be

You can find new or nearly mint condition equipment from bankruptcies, repossessions, plant liquidations, and over-stocked inventory.

I recommend: Industrial Machinery.com lists more than 500 clearing-house machines in multiple categories.

Check out auctions for additional savings

Many sellers place machinery in online or live auctions where equipment often sells at a fraction of the original price. You usually must buy "as is", but in most cases you can either inspect the machine or ask questions about usage and what repairs, if any, are necessary.

I recommend: Go to Bid On Equipment.com for online auctions. TheMachineryFinder.com lists live auctions across the country. Ebay.com also offers used equipment for sale from independent sellers.

Buy straight from the dealer

Find bargains by contacting individual machinery dealers. Before you buy, ask for referrals from other used equipment buyers. Request references and check them out. Also visit the dealers' Web sites.

I recommend: At LocatorOnline.com you can find national dealers by company name or state location.

Let sellers help you find what you need

You can post what specific used equipment you're seeking on many online sites. This can expedite your search efforts and encourage bidding competition between sellers, which can increase your savings.

I recommend: At MachineTools.com you can post free wanted ads for sellers around the world, or specify a country.