Should You Buy Closeout Restaurant Supplies?
April 12, 2019As a restaurant owner, you, of course, want to save money in any way possible.
Restaurant margins are known for being razor-thin, so every dollar counts.
Because of this, you might be tempted when you see a closeout deal for restaurant supplies. After all, you can get a number of goods for rock-bottom prices – why not! It’s especially tempting when you’re just setting up your restaurant location when you’re trying to get as much as you can for your money.
Sometimes a closeout is a great idea, and other times it should be avoided. Here are the pros and cons.
Benefits to a Closeout Deal
Obviously, the biggest benefit to any deal is saving money, but make sure that you really are going to save. That is, make sure that the restaurant supplies are the right quality. If you spend even a little for terrible equipment, it’s money wasted. Even disposable items need to stand up to the single use they’re designed for.
Another time a closeout sale can be a great idea is when the items are easy to find and indistinguishable from your current inventory. Do you currently use single-use clear plastic 10” plates, and you just saw a huge sale on them? Dive in!
When you can find closeout deals on restaurant supplies you already use, or items that can seamlessly join your current inventory, it’s a great time to buy. If you’re outfitting a new restaurant, be sure to choose items you can easily resupply when you run out.
Drawbacks to Closeouts
The biggest drawback to a closeout deal is the word “close.” That is, you won’t be able to access these supplies in the future.
When it comes to basics, like napkins or takeout boxes, maybe that doesn’t matter very much. But when it comes to more durable goods like dishware or glassware, it can be a big problem. Yes, maybe you can get 100 plates for a great price. But what about when they break? Will you ever find that pattern again?
If you can’t find the same or similar restaurant supplies in the future, you should stay away from closeout deals no matter how good they are. It’s not with the headache and hassle of having to replace your entire dishware set – or deal with mismatched items – in the future.
You also want to watch out for a closeout deal on cooking equipment. Sometimes these are good, but other times the equipment is in disrepair or is of poor quality. If the store is going out of business, who will service the machine? Or, if the manufacturer is discontinuing the model, where will you get support and parts?
There’s a big difference between buying high-quality used equipment and settling for an end-of-the-line machine. Don’t make a costly mistake trying to save money!
Choose a Great Source for Restaurant Supplies
When you need restaurant supplies, it’s great when you have a reliable source you can ask about specials and deals that might be available. At Tipton Equipment, we can help you source the equipment you need at excellent prices.
Whether you’re looking for smallwares or cooking equipment, we can help. Contact us today!
Don’t Buy a Commercial Refrigerator Before Considering These 4 Things
A commercial refrigerator is an equipment staple of every restaurant. There are several things to consider when acquiring a commercial refrigerator for your kitchen. When searching for the correct type of unit, here are four things to consider to help you choose the...
5 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Dishwasher
Dishwashers are an incredibly helpful timesaver, and in the fast-paced restaurant industry, staff and managers are desperate for even a small amount of extra time. Although simply putting dishes into a machine seems simple, if your dishwasher is not well-maintained...
How to Keep Having Fun while Running your Restaurant
Restaurant owners typically have a passion for cuisine. Opening and running a restaurant is exciting, providing the opportunity to fully explore and develop your vision. However, if you have been in the restaurant business for any length of time, you know that it is...
3 Great Reasons to Maintain Your Restaurant Equipment
As the owner of a restaurant, you want a healthy and clean business. In the hustle of everyday restaurant management, it can be easy to forget to take care of issues that don’t seem as pressing as the customer complaining that they got the wrong order or that their...
Avoid Surprises During an Appraisal of Your Restaurant Equipment
When it comes to time for your restaurant equipment to be appraised, confusion can set in. For the purpose of the appraisal, personal goods are given value, but goods that are classified as ‘real goods’ are considered part of the real estate or the building structure...
Essentials of Cleaning and Preventative Maintenance for Your Restaurant Equipment
When it comes to your restaurant equipment, regular cleaning and maintenance is essential for making sure your equipment lasts for years to come. And it isn’t simply a matter of making your food processors and commercial mixers more efficient. There are considerable...
3 Tips for Maintaining Your Commercial Oven
As a restaurant owner, buying a commercial oven is an enormous investment. You will desperately want this oven to work properly and you need to make sure it does. You are responsible for your restaurant business. But what if your commercial oven stops working on the...
5 Steps to Cutting Food Waste from Your Kitchen
Food waste is a problem around the world. Taking steps to prevent food waste in your kitchen doesn’t just make your restaurant more morally strong; it can also help you save money on ingredients and attract more customers. Here are some steps you can take to reduce...
Planning Your Equipment Needs When Your Restaurant is Expanding
Your restaurant is doing great, guests are coming in, and they’re spreading the word about the culinary masterpieces your restaurant offers, as well as the exceptional service that is provided by the kitchen equipment and staff. But with all the new business, you’ve...
How to Keep Cool in the Restaurant Kitchen
Being in the kitchen, it’s hard not to feel overheated, especially during the summer. The heat of the stoves and ovens will quickly make the restaurant kitchen somewhere you don’t want to be. How do you keep cool in the kitchen? We have brought together some of the...
How and Why to Make Your Restaurant Lead-Free
If you own a restaurant, then you already know how important water is to your operations, and that poor water quality can adversely impact the success of your business. That is why you should ensure a restaurant lead-free environment. Water is an integral part of all...
Can You Handle These 5 Types of Difficult Restaurant Customers?
No matter how much you love it, running a restaurant certainly has its challenges. It is time-consuming, hectic, labor-intensive and competitive. And to cap it all, there are the difficult restaurant customers you often have to deal with. It’s impossible to please...
5 Unique Restaurant Concepts Guaranteed to Thrill Diners
With restaurants on almost every block, having a unique restaurant concept can help set you apart, making your establishment stand out. These concepts may have taken a bit to catch on, but they have quickly become popular sellers. Here are 5 unique restaurant concepts...
How to Run an Energy-Efficient Restaurant
You probably don’t need to be reminded of the high cost of electricity in running a restaurant compared to an energy-efficient restaurant. Right now, many establishments, including restaurants, are going green and adopting eco-friendly strategies to conserve...
Tipping: A Restaurant Controversy
When it comes to tipping or no-tipping policies in restaurants, there are strong feelings on both sides. While many restaurants have implemented no tipping policies, others are strong proponents for tipping. Still others aren’t sure which policy is right for their...