Saying times are hard in Ghana sounds like an understatement. Prices are soaring everywhere on the globe. No matter how you slice it, inflation is a pest we all have to deal with in our everyday lives. Regardless of where you stand on the economic ladder, price hikes are affecting everything from fuel to ‘mori koko’. The cost of buying tools and equipment is no exception. So how can you save a little dough on your tools?
- Don’t Buy!
Don’t buy? Yes! We’re a hardware shop looking to help customers as much as possible but we’re very much a for-profit business. Selling is what keeps us in business but if you’re looking to save, we recommend holding on till you really really need it.
There are quite a couple of things you can do instead.
Rent. You can rent pumps, power tools, generators and other construction tools to get your work done without paying a high price for owning them.
Buying refurbished or secondhand tools is another viable option. They’re cheaper and readily available on platforms like Jiji. However, sellers are reluctant to offer any warranties.
If you already have some faulty tools at hand, repairing and maintaining them might be something you can look at. You want to squeeze as much juice as you can out of your existing equipment before you retire them.
- Don’t overpay.
Getting the right tool with adequate specifications can be a big money saver. Only pay for the extra wattage, horsepower or accessories if you need it.
We see a lot of customers make such costly mistakes when it comes to buying things like pumps. More horsepower doesn’t necessarily mean a pump will best suit your need.
The concept of ‘Tor papa preko’ can lead you to buy tools and equipment with far more oomph than you’ll ever need.
A couple of months ago, a friend picked me up to hang out. He later disclosed he wanted to go to Accra to buy a pump. I immediately put on my sales hat to appraise and qualify him as a sales prospect.
Upon further probing, I understood his family business, a hostel facility in Cape Coast was trying to find a way to keep up with the water consumption of the resident students.
To supplement the water supply from the tap, they dug a well. What he needed next was a pump to move water from the well to a poly tank reservoir.
A plumber had recommended a deep well pump which was way over his budget.
Now, deep well pumps are best suited for boreholes.
In this instance, for a well that was not up to 30 metres in depth, the 1HP Ingco Submersible water pump could get the work done at less than half the price of the deep well pump and that’s what I recommended. At first, he was sceptical, but he later gave a raving review when the installation was completed.
When looking to buy tools and equipment, inquiring about alternatives will help you make the best decision for your project and budget.
We at Farmline also help by equipping our sales team with the necessary resources to help educate buyers when they reach out.
- Ask for a discount.
Just Ask! You’ll be shocked at how much you can save by just asking for a deal. With business not booming for most shops, this is the best time to ask for discounts whenever you go shopping.
Hardware retailers, unlike appliance shops, make quite a decent markup and they’ll be willing to give a discount on some products if you push hard enough. Ask for the manager if the salesperson is unable to help. Managers are more willing to offer discounts.
So there you have it, if you’re looking to save on buying tools and equipment, we recommend holding on until you absolutely need it. However, if you’re ready now, buy tools and equipment with minimal specs to get the job done and try asking for a discount.
If you’re looking to buy tools, pumps, construction equipment, PPEs, or generators, don’t hesitate to reach Farmline’s sales team on WhatsApp or call 020-237-2972. Our team is on standby to help you make the right choice for your needs and budget.