The online survey conducted by forklift manufacturer TCM shows that a significant majority of forklift buyers are now looking beyond the upfront ‘forecourt price’ and making tactical evaluations of total cost of ownership.
Explains TCM brand manager Ashley-Kate McCann (pictured): “We have always known that savvy buyers understand total lifecycle costs and factor this into their buying strategy. But what this evidence strongly suggests is that now the overwhelming majority of buyers are thinking this way”.
The research shows that 81% of respondents thought that lifetime operating costs were more important than the truck purchase price, with less than half of respondents agreeing that purchase price was a deciding factor.
TCM say the interim findings reveal an important rise in the discerning buyer population who are asking all the right questions about running costs and extras like damage charges linked to lease deals.
Adds McCann: “Reliability, service response capability and product durability are clearly at the top of truck buyers’ agenda as these can really impact on cost and performance, but closely followed by the key questions on energy consumption, maintenance and other service contract details which all compute to total lifetime costs that make a business case stand up to scrutiny.”
The National Forklift Survey is on-going until the end of the year. There is time to participate and those that have a forklift fleet are encouraged to share their views via the tcm.eu website. The conclusive results will be shared later this year.
Forklift buyers now looking beyond the upfront ‘forecourt price’
1 min read
Businesses that run forklift truck (FLT) fleets are taking a long-term view on acquisition and operating costs, interim findings of a national survey have found.
