Undoubtedly, buying a new chiropractic table can take a large chunk of money out of your bottom line.
So, whether you don’t have the extra money to spare or you simply don’t want to spend more than you need to, sometimes it makes sense to buy a used table instead. Before you do, here are three easy-to-follow tips that can help you get the best used chiropractic table possible, providing more bang for your hard earned buck.
1. Take the time to see the table in person
“When buying a used chiropractic table, the most important thing to do is almost too obvious: see it first,” says Andrew Schafer, DC, of Schafer Chiropractic and Healing Spa. “Do not buy over the internet or over the phone sight unseen.”
Craigslist, one of the largest and most well-known sites when it comes to buying used items echoes Schafer’s suggestion as a way to avoid being victimized by dishonest or untrustworthy sellers. In fact, their website says specifically that if you buy from local sellers in face-to-face interactions, you will “avoid 99% of scam attempts.”
Schafer goes on to say that, when looking at the table, “checking to see if the headpiece tilts and locks, checking drop pieces, and any other gadgetry is essential. Do not take anyone’s word that it ‘works fine.’ The DC who is selling it might possibly have never used these tools, and wouldn’t even know if they work.” Additionally, “Hi-lo tables are particularly notorious for malfunctioning,” says Schafer. “Just remember the more machinery there is with a table, the more likely it is to break on you.”
Viewing the table in person prior to making the purchase is also important as it gives you the opportunity to look at the fabric. “The fabric covering may also be excessively worn, stained, or have outdated colors,” says Schafer. It also enables you to get a close-up look at the exact color as “a maroon red table might look good in your office, but a blood red color will be disconcerting to your patients.”
2. Pay attention to how old the table is
Darren K. Pollack, DC, Director of Medical Services and independent client provider for DASHA, shares, “I’ve personally had good and bad experiences with buying used chiropractic tables. I’ve had $10,000 tables that have busted versus $200-400 tables that have lasted for a long time.” His advice?
“The first thing to inquire about when buying a used chiropractor table is which distributor it comes from and how old the table is,” says Pollack. The reason this is so important, according to Pollack is, “The older the table, the less likely it is that you can find the correct parts to repair it.”
Pollack also recommends “buying newer, but less expensive models as, usually, tables with more gadgetry tend to be the ones that break down easier.” So you might want to keep this in mind before buying a used table for your chiropractic practice.
“It’s important to keep the cost factor down to get the best ROI for the chiropractic table,” says Pollack. “This is especially important if you’re a solo practitioner working out of one room. Anything to keep that cost factor down will benefit you in the long run.”
3. Ask about the return policy and warranty
Finally, while most individual sellers don’t offer any type of return policy, Schafer says that “if you’re buying from a dealer who refurbishes, check the return policy.” This way you’ll know before you buy what your rights are should you purchase the table and it not work as expected or as promised.
Pollack expands on this by stating, “Obviously, you want to check if the table is still under any warranty.” This could potentially save you a lot of money and frustration, both of which no healthcare practitioner needs more of.
