Buying forklifts from unauthorised sources

Trucks Direct UK Ltd, one of the UK's largest suppliers of quality used forklift trucks for sale and hire, comment as industry leaders from the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) have voiced their concerns over online forklift sales after the discovery of a forklift being sold via an auction site that was in poor condition.

Three months after advising the forklift’s owner that the machine was beyond economical repair, a UK dealer was surprised to receive a call from the counterbalance truck’s new owner.

Having bought the truck online without warranty or documentation, the new owner turned to his local dealer, a member of the FLTA, after spotting its service sticker on the truck.

The dealer and FLTA member commented: "The customer was distressed as his ‘new’ truck had stopped working. You can imagine his reaction when he discovered that the truck that he purchased in ‘as new condition’ had been written off just weeks earlier.

"Worse still, he faced a bill for several thousand pounds - nearly as high as the purchase price itself - to get this ‘refurbished’ truck back into working condition."

FLTA chairman Martyn Fletcher says such stories are not common, but the association is aware of a small number of rogue traders operating online that consistently sell trucks of poor quality.

He commented: "The decision to purchase a forklift should not be taken lightly. You should approach purchasing a forklift online in the same way you would a car - with caution."

Simon Watkins of Trucks Direct commented: “As part of our efforts to ensure that these unfortunate incidents do not occur with our customers, all of our forklifts are HPI-checked and only supplied from main dealers, so their heritage is guaranteed.

“We hope that our ongoing commitment to providing only well-maintained, high-quality forklifts will encourage more buyers to purchase trucks solely from authorised dealers.”

For more information on Trucks Direct UK’s products and services, visit trucksdirectuk.co.uk.