leo238•2mo ago

Spent $800 on a used walk-in cooler and it's been a headache

I bought it from a restaurant that was closing, thinking I'd finally have proper storage for bulk flowers. It worked for about a week before the compressor started making a grinding noise. A repair guy said it needs a new part that could cost another $300, and it's been down for three days now. I've had to turn away two big event orders because I can't keep the stock cool. Honestly, I'm starting to think I should have just saved up for a new, smaller unit. Has anyone else had a bad experience with second-hand commercial coolers?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_scott442mo ago

My buddy got a used glass door fridge for his deli. It ran fine for a month, then the seal went. Everything inside was sweating and the motor never shut off. His power bill that month was insane, like double. He ended up junking it and leasing a new one just to stop the bleeding.

wendy67429d ago

My buddy runs a little BBQ joint and grabbed a used two-door prep table off Facebook Marketplace for cheap. It worked for about six weeks, then the compressor started sounding like a lawnmower and it couldn't keep cold. He lost a whole case of pulled pork and ribs before he caught it, and the health inspector did a walkthrough the next day.

james_clark2mo ago

It's the classic trap of trying to save money up front... you end up paying more in the long run with stress and extra costs. I see it all the time with used cars and appliances. That initial deal just never seems to hold up.