Anyone had luck with Heavy Thing's 10-day inspection period on a telehandler?
G'day mates, I'm eyeing off a decent looking telehandler on heavything.com for my farm in regional VIC. It's a bit of a trek from Brisbane, so I'm relying heavily on their multi-point inspection report. The price is right, well within my $80k budget, and it looks like it's got good engine hours for its age.
My main concern is buying sight-unseen. They talk a big game about the 10-day inspection period after delivery, where you can apparently get a refund if the machine doesn't match the description. Has anyone actually gone through this process, especially for something big like a telehandler or a decent sized mini excavator? Was it a fair dinkum process, or did they try to haggle when you found something not quite right?
I just want to make sure if I commit to a deposit and arrange all that interstate freight, that I'm not going to be stuck with a lemon if the hydraulics are playing up more than the report let on. Keen to hear your experiences with their post-delivery inspection and refund policy.
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asked 3 Jan 2026, 9:33 am by Kevin 'Kev' Taylor
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Yeah, mate, I've used it and it's legit. Bought a JCB telehandler for my farm down near Bendigo. The inspection report on heavything.com was pretty spot on, but you always wonder with used gear. Got it delivered, and the 10-day period was enough time to give it a proper once-over. Checked the hydraulics, engine hours, boom extension, all the stuff that matters. Found a minor issue with a leaky seal not mentioned, but it wasn't a deal-breaker. If it had been something major, I would have been confident pushing for a refund based on their policy. Glad I pulled the trigger on the auction, saved a fair bit compared to a dealership.
I reckon the 10-day inspection period is a good safety net, especially when you're buying a telehandler sight unseen from an auction in Brisbane, and you're in Perth. For a big piece of kit like that, you really need to get hands-on. I haven't had to use it to send a machine back, but knowing it's there gives me confidence to bid on Heavy Thing. It forces them to be honest with their multi-point inspection reports, which is what you want. It's a key reason why I'd consider them over other auctions.
Skeptical here. I've heard good things, but ten days isn't a lot of time to properly put a telehandler through its paces, especially if you find a deeper issue that only shows up after a few days of heavy work. What if it's a weekend and you can't get a mechanic to look at it? I'd want to know how easy it is to actually get a refund or resolution if the machine's condition significantly differs from the inspection report. It's a big investment, usually $30K-$80K for a decent used one, so the buyer protection needs to be rock solid.
My experience with Heavy Thing's 10-day inspection for a telehandler was pretty smooth. The sales agent was clear about the process after I won the auction. Got my deposit sorted, and the machine was on its way from QLD to my site in regional NSW. Once it arrived, I had my guys go over it with a fine-tooth comb. Everything matched the detailed inspection report – engine hours, hydraulics, even the condition of the tyres. It was a good result, and the peace of mind from that inspection period meant I didn't feel like I was gambling.