Common Mistakes When Buying Used Hotdog Carts

If you are planning to purchase used hotdog carts it is essential to consider the pitfalls involved. Let’s examine 4 common mistakes when buying used hotdog carts so that you can avoid them in your upcoming purchase.

1. Buying the Wrong Type of Used Hot Dog Carts

There are several distinct types of hot dog carts and each reflects a unique approach to doing business. Here’s a quick primer on the types. See our guide, “Types of Hotdog Carts” for greater detail. The mistake to avoid is buying the wrong style used hotdog carts for the way you plan to conduct business.

Hotdog Pushcarts: These lightweight and compact carts are ideal for a relatively fixed location, since they are mobile but not so easy to push 10 city blocks from one location to the next. They work great when you’ve got a high-traffic, reliable position from which to do a basic hotdogs and buns business, with cold, bottled soda and water for beverages. If you are launching your business on a budget, these are a great choice. They can be high-quality yet cheap hot dog carts for single or multiple locations.

Bicycle Hotdog Carts: These mobile food carts have a built-in bike for getting around. They may offer more space and amenities than a basic hotdog pushcart, but not always. Their strength is that they give you the opportunity to “ride to work” or to hit multiple spots in one day to take advantage of timely opportunities like a factory lunch break followed by an evening at the local athletic fields.

Trailer Hotdog Carts: These larger units have a tongue and wiring harness so they can be pulled behind a truck. They wouldn’t work well in a crowded downtown location but are great for a weekend car show at the fairgrounds on Saturday followed by a Sunday dirt bike racing event 20 miles away.

Walk In Hotdog Carts: These large, expensive units are geared toward supplying a large menu to a large crowd at large events. There’s a theme there. They require a large budget to purchase, but if you’ve got it they can be very profitable.

2. Buying New

Yes, this doesn’t fit the title, but it is a common mistake that is well-worth mentioning often. You’ve heard it said that when you drive a new car off the dealer’s lot it drops in value by 25%. Add 10-15% to that figure for used hotdog carts for sale and you’ve got it about right. There’s no good reason to buy new. High-quality used hotdog carts are a much better value.

3. Buying Junk

Buying used hotdog carts for sale doesn’t mean you have to buy junk. Some fixer-upper houses are a bargain; others houses are just dumps that will be nothing but money pits. It’s not that different with buying hotdog carts for sale used. Cheap hot dog carts with value are an excellent buying choice, but buying inexpensive junk is still buying junk. Educate yourself enough about the value of used hotdog carts for sale so that you know the difference and stay away from used hot dog cart beaters.

4. Not Buying from a Reliable Seller or Site

Horror stories abound of people who found a “great bargain” on Craig’s list, met a stranger in a parking lot somewhere, paid cash for a used hotdog cart for sale and ended up with junk and no way to recover their money. Only buy from a respected, reliable seller or site. This principle is what makes eBay the go-to site for buying quality used hot dog carts for sale. EBay’s standards and safeguards are in place to make your purchase a secure one, and if the used hotdog cart you buy does not perform as advertised you have recourse to be reimbursed. It is this effective system that keeps hotdog cart junk off the site; most used hotdog carts for sale on eBay are in good working condition and are sold by reliable sellers.

Conclusion

Keep these common mistakes in mind when buying used hot dog carts for sale and you’ll end up with a quality cart that will enhance your ability to attract and keep customers and maximize your business success!