You focus on a lot when it comes to making your business run, but have you thought about your forklifts?
Moving inventory in your business’ storage area, as well as your customer service area, is essential. And like any other piece of business equipment, your forklift parts need replacement and maintenance on a regular basis.
Choosing forklift parts is an important part of that process. The wrong choice when replacing forklift parts can result in wasting money, and may even cause safety issues.
In this article, we’re going to go over the six most important factors to consider when choosing forklift parts. We’ll cover the different forklift parts there are to replace and discuss comparing forklift part prices from different forklift providers.
So come along with us as we journey into the wonderful world of forklifts!
1. Know Your Forklift
The first step of the process is to know the forklift you’re dealing with. Being familiar with the exact make and model of your forklift will help you to narrow down your search when choosing forklift parts.
Not all forklift parts are interchangeable. Making sure you are buying the correct parts for your particular forklift will make the replacement process go much more smoothly.
2. Know the Delivery Schedule
Any day that your forklift isn’t operational is a day that you’re losing business. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead when choosing forklift parts. Knowing your forklift provider’s delivery schedule helps you minimize downtime, and get your forklift back to work in no time flat!
3. Ask for Extra Service
Some forklift providers will offer extra service. In addition to offering forklift parts, some companies will even install new forklift parts for you.
Services like this come in handy for small businesses. If you are operating a small business, you may not have an in-house forklift technician or mechanic. Working with a forklift provider that has installation services still allows small businesses to leverage the expertise of a professional installation.
4. Quality Over Price
It’s important to avoid being “penny wise, dollar foolish” when purchasing your new forklift parts. Buying higher-quality parts may cost you more upfront, but it could actually end up saving you money in the long run.
Buying cheap parts for the sake of your company’s “bottom line” usually leads to parts breaking down more often. Breaking down more often means they need to be replaced more often, which winds up costing more money than more expensive, high-quality forklift parts.
5. Know Your Warranty
Most forklift manufacturers will cover your forklift parts under warranty. Different forklift companies provide different warranties. Depending on how your forklift’s warranty is structured, you may have your forklift parts covered when it’s time to replace them.
It’s important to be familiar with what your warranty covers, because using your warranty wisely can save you a lot of money in forklift repairs.
6. Ask About Alternate Parts
Working with a forklift provider who is an expert in their field can really help you to make the right decision when choosing forklift parts. It’s important to ask them questions about the forklift parts you’re purchasing to see if there may be a better option.
Occasionally, forklift providers can guide you to an alternate forklift part that may work better. You may even be able to purchase a rebuilt forklift part for a fraction of the cost.
Choosing Forklift Parts
Considering these factors when choosing forklift parts can help save you time, money, and headaches. Forklifts are an important part of your business, but they should be making your life easier. Not harder.
If you have any more questions about forklift parts and repair, visit us online. You can also contact us anytime. We love to hear from our customers, and look forward to helping you in any way that we can!