Long-time auction customers Majority Builders now also sell on Marketplace-E

A long-time customer at our live unreserved auctions, Indiana-based construction contractor Majority Builders is now giving a big thumbs up to Marketplace-E as another rewarding selling option.

In business since 1973, Majority Builders’ projects cover a wide gamut of large commercial building construction projects – from schools, factories, and industrial spaces to hospitals, retail developments, office buildings, hotels and more, as well as historic building restoration. And with large, diverse projects on the go, the company’s equipment fleet reflects their capabilities, with excavators, dozers, 40-ton haul trucks, concrete equipment and more.

Expanding their selling options from live auctions to an online marketplace

Over the years, Majority Builders has had great success with both buying and selling at Ritchie Bros. live auctions. “We’ve bought at Ritchie Bros. auctions all over the U.S. We’ve bought a lot of stuff down at your Orlando auctions, and we do very well selling through your Chicago auctions,” says the company’s Used Equipment Manager & Maintenance Coordinator, Tom Einspahr.

Recently, Tom’s Territory Manager suggested he try selling on Marketplace-E, Ritchie Bros.’ 24/7 online marketplace that gives sellers more control over the sale. Initially, Tom was reluctant, saying, “That wasn’t really my style, and we had done really well otherwise selling at the live auctions. I really didn’t know what to expect with Marketplace-E. We had tried selling other ways and buyers want to haggle and you have to deal with that. It was always nice selling at the auction because I could just drop it off and I didn’t have to deal with anything after that – and no one trying to knock me down on price.”

“But we always bring our equipment early to Chicago to have it painted and detailed and ready to be photographed for the early auctions brochures,” Tom says. “So, my Ritchie Bros. rep proposed I bring the equipment to the Chicago site a little earlier, put it on Marketplace-E, and if it doesn’t sell there, I could still sell it at the next live auction.”

Marketplace-E makes selling easy and profitable for Majority Builders

Majority Builders decided to sell two dozers on Marketplace-E – a 2014 John Deere 550K LGP and a 2011 John Deere 850J WLT. To Tom’s delight, the sale on Marketplace-E not only transacted quickly, it brought prices they were very happy with.

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“I was really impressed how Marketplace-E worked and it worked out really good for us,” says Tom. “What I liked about it also was that I could drop the equipment off at the Chicago yard, and still sell it on Marketplace-E. I didn’t have to have it in our yard and deal with people. My involvement in the sale was minimal, and what I like is that if the piece didn’t bring the price we want, we didn’t have to sell it.”

“When the first dozer sold and brought the price it did, we said ‘Wow, that’s unbelievable’ and when the second sold we said ‘Holy cow, this is really good’,” Tom added.

Tom listed both dozers with options to Buy Now (where buyers can purchase at the posted price) and Make Offer (where buyers submit offers and can negotiate). “Ritchie Bros. set the criteria so when people offered a price we wanted I would be contacted, and we got some decent offers.”

Construction contractor likes the convenience and control Marketplace-E provides.

With their recent and new-found success selling on Marketplace-E, Tom and Majority are already getting an excavator ready to sell on the online platform. “Besides getting good pricing, the thing I like about Marketplace-E is that I don’t have to take time out of my day to deal with buyers. Ritchie Bros. manages the people, presents me with their offers, and it’s my choice to say yes or no. I’m in final control of the sale, but Ritchie Bros. does all the footwork.”

If you have equipment to sell, contact Ritchie Bros. today.

See also

A farmer’s checklist for preparing equipment for resale