Company Information, Management & Operation

Why You Should Buy Heavy Equipment Online

Last updated on Jul 26, 2023
Janine Jones

When opening a restaurant, most business owners rely on dealerships or cash and carry stores to purchase new equipment or supplies. While this has been the norm, purchasing large and expensive equipment online can be extremely cost-effective and time efficient. Simply shop for restaurant equipment like refrigerators, ovens, and ranges right from your computer or mobile device and have them delivered straight to the doors of your business. We’ll outline the advantages of buying restaurant equipment and supplies online and explain why choosing WebstaurantStore as your preferred option surpasses the benefits of going to a dealership, cash and carry store, or any other online store.

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Nervous about shopping for restaurant equipment online? Check out these testimonials from business owners, Customer Solutions representatives, and distributors to see how WebstaurantStore makes it easy to buy heavy equipment online:


Benefits of Buying Restaurant Equipment Online

Buying heavy equipment online doesn’t have to be intimidating. Below we have listed how this method can be beneficial to you and your business:

  • Convenience: With just a few clicks, you can browse through a wide variety of heavy equipment options from the comfort of your own office or home. This eliminates the need to visit multiple physical stores, saving you time and effort.
  • Specification and Price Comparison: Most online retailers provide detailed product descriptions, specifications, and customer reviews, enabling you to make an informed decision. This transparency ensures that you are getting the best value for your money.
  • Broader Selection: Online retailers often have a larger inventory compared to brick-and-mortar stores. This means you have access to a wider range of options, including different brands, models, and price points. With more choices available, you can find the equipment that best suits your specific needs and budget.
  • Cost Savings: Online retailers often offer competitive prices due to reduced overhead costs. They don't have to maintain physical stores or employ as many staff members, allowing them to pass on these savings to customers. Additionally, online retailers may offer discounts, promotions, or bundle deals, further reducing the overall cost of your purchase.
  • Direct Delivery: This eliminates the need for transportation or hiring a moving company to transport the equipment from a physical store to your location. Online retailers typically offer shipping options, like parcel and common carrier delivery, and provide estimated delivery times, ensuring that you can plan accordingly.

Buying Restaurant Equipment Online vs Traditional Dealerships

When buying heavy restaurant equipment like ovens, ranges, and fryers, the restaurant dealership is the place that comes to mind for many people in the foodservice industry. A salesperson at a dealership might come to your business and take measurements, but, for restaurant operators that are looking for a more convenient and independent shopping experience, online shopping may be a better fit. Here are some great reasons to shop with WebstaurantStore instead:

forklift removing order from truck
  • No Commission-Based Suggestions: Salespeople who work on commission may try to upsell you because their commission is based on the total amount of your purchase. Shopping online can help you avoid being guided to buying products you don’t really need in order to boost the bottom-line.
  • Cut Out the Middleman: When purchasing from a dealership, there are more people involved in the process, increasing the chances of mistakes occurring along the way. With multiple individuals handling your purchase, there is a higher risk of errors being made, which can waste valuable time for your business.
  • Shop on Your Time: Buying online offers the convenience of fitting into your own schedule. Dealerships have set business hours that may not align with your restaurant's operating hours. However, when shopping online, you have the flexibility to browse and place orders at your convenience.

Buying Restaurant Equipment Online vs Cash and Carry Stores

Cash and carry stores can be a convenient option for many restaurant owners and managers, because they can quickly stop in to pick up supplies, replacement components, or place orders. And while cash and carry stores are convenient, ordering on WebstaurantStore gives you a wider range of products and convenience. Below are some of the benefits of buying equipment with Webstaurant rather than at cash and carry stores:

packages on a hand truck
  • No Required Memberships: Some cash and carry stores may require customers to pay a club fee to shop at their location. At WebstaurantStore, we do not require a membership to make purchases. In fact, creating an account with us is completely free of charge!
  • Avoid Overhead Costs: Maintaining physical storefronts comes with overhead costs, including building maintenance fees. These costs are eventually passed on to the customers, resulting in potentially higher prices.
  • No Capacity Restraints: Physical stores have limited capacity and stock due to their size constraints. This means that they may only have a limited selection of a few thousand products available at any given time. In contrast, WebstaurantStore boasts an impressive inventory of over 400,000 products in warehouses across the nation. This vast selection provides our customers with a multitude of options to choose from.

Buying Restaurant Equipment on WebstaurantStore vs Other Online Stores

commercial kitchen work tables

Purchasing heavy restaurant equipment online can help your business save time and money, and is much more convenient than traditional brick-and-mortar stores. But, how does WebstaurantStore compare to other online restaurant suppliers? Here's a few reasons that WebstaurantStore stands out from the rest:

  • Low Prices: We offer highly competitive prices on restaurant equipment and supplies. Many sites will hike their prices to make it appear like they are offering free shipping. At WebstaurantStore, we give you the base price, so the more you buy, the better the bargain when it comes to your shipping cost.
  • Vast Selection: With over 400,000 products on the site and distribution centers across the nation, we're sure to have exactly what your business needs.
  • Quick Lead Times: Supply chain shortages have caused extensive lead times in the foodservice industry. WebstaurantStore invested in dedicated warehouse space to house more inventory and reduce lead times caused by dropship orders.
  • Customization Options: Along with a larger catalog of products, we have the option to customize your order to fit your unique needs.
  • Customer Reviews: Our products have thousands of reviews. Don't just take our word for it, you can read through reviews left by other customers.
  • Auto-Reorder: Reordering is simple with our auto-reorder feature. WebstaurantStore auto reorder lets you conveniently schedule orders at regular intervals, so you can have essentials like paper towels, disposable cups and containers, and food items shipped to your business regularly.
  • Scratch and Dent: We offer deals on fully-functional equipment with minor damages to help you save money. Visit the Scratch and Dent Outlet to find discounted prices on items with minor superficial flaws that won't affect performance.
  • Optional Membership to Save More: A WebstaurantPlus membership helps your business save on shipping. Helping you cut costs even further, our WebstaurantPlus program offers free shipping for a low membership fee. Additionally, many large equipment items ship free whether you're a Plus member or not.

While many restaurant owners and managers are used to ordering their restaurant equipment from traditional businesses like cash and carry stores and dealerships, ordering heavy equipment online is more convenient and can help you save money.

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Related Resources

  • Why You Should Sign Up for WebstaurantPlus

    Foodservice establishments operate with razor-thin margins, and shipping costs can quickly start cutting into profits. Fortunately, we created the WebstaurantPlus program, which is a subscription service that offers free shipping on hundreds of products. Keep reading to learn how a WebstaurantPlus subscription can benefit your business, what types of products are eligible with the Plus program, and what real WebstaurantPlus members have to say about the service. What Is WebstaurantPlus? WebstaurantPlus is a subscription service that gives subscribers access to priority order processing and free standard ground and common carrier shipping on thousands of products. We offer this service for a fee of $99 a month. Additionally, for an order to qualify for free shipping, the subtotal must include over $29 worth of eligible products. Who Is Eligible for a WebstaurantPlus Subscription? All registered customers with a saved credit card that are shipping within the contiguous United States are eligible. WebstaurantPlus Refund Program Starting on August 31, 2022, WebstaurantPlus customers whose total account subscription costs exceeded their total account subscription savings in the preceding 12-month period will be eligible for a refund of the difference in the form of store credit. Subscription savings refer to shipping costs, subscription savings on select items, and other associated subscription savings. A store credit will be issued to eligible customers for the difference, and it can be used on merchandise or services offered online at WebstaurantStore. The store credit will expire one year after it has been issued. For more information, please visit our policies page. To learn more about the benefits of WebstaurantPlus and to answer any questions you may have, be sure to check out our WebstaurantPlus FAQ by using the button below. WebstaurantPlus FAQ Popular Products Eligible for WebstaurantPlus There are thousands of products that are eligible for the Plus program. This selection encompasses many different categories, ranging from large equipment to smallwares and disposables, so you can be sure to find the items you need. Any product that has the blue Plus box next to the item price is eligible for priority order processing and free shipping! Most Popular Items on WebstaurantPlus Here are some of the great products that are popular with our WebstaurantPlus customers: Disposable Gloves Paper Cups Paper Napkins Glassware Receipt Paper Take-Out Containers Who Would Benefit from a WebstaurantPlus Subscription? A WebstaurantPlus subscription is beneficial for most foodservice establishments, especially restaurants that order their equipment and disposables online. This service is also ideal for the following types of establishments: Businesses that use the auto reorder tool. If you're ordering regularly from WebstaurantStore, a Plus membership is essential, so you can maximize your savings. Use the WebstaurantStore app to make reordering your favorite Plus-eligible items even quicker. Restaurants that are constantly running out of disposables. Rather than sending one of your employees off to the grocery store to pick up more napkins, straws, or paper plates and paying a premium, you can order wholesale options on WebstaurantStore with Plus. Then you can sit back and relax knowing that your order will get priority processing and free shipping. New restaurants that have to order lots of equipment and supplies to stock their kitchen. Purchasing lots of equipment for your new business can lead to a lot of upfront costs, but a WebstaurantPlus membership can help cut costs. Establishments that need their order to arrive quickly. If one of your appliances breaks during the week and you need a replacement, a WebstaurantPlus subscription ensures priority processing so your business can continue flourishing as quickly as possible. Praise for WebstaurantPlus from Customers But, don't just take our word for it! Read what several WebstaurantPlus members have to say about the service. MJ Stone is the co-owner of Agora Downtown Coffee Shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and has benefitted from her WebstaurantPlus subscription. She said, "In addition to not being able to find another place that beats the prices that Webstaurant has, it's wonderful not having to worry about shipping on top of that." John Serock, the owner of John Serock Catering expressed a similar statement: "So many of the items that we purchase are part of the Plus program that we've moved over products from other suppliers because of the savings in the shipping." He also added that, "At $99 a month, it paid for itself literally in the first week that we had it." In addition to the cost savings, WebstaurantPlus members benefit from our expedited shipping, so you get your orders faster. The Director of Kitchen Operations for Barley Creek Brewing Company, Bobby Fluegel, said, "Favorite thing from WebstaurantStore is probably the fact that once I purchase something, I know it's going to be here in a few days." Check out the video below to see what else our customers have to say about WebstaurantPlus! <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5dTR6u5iNe0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Subscribe to WebstaurantPlus for Free Shipping A WebstaurantPlus subscription can help your business save on shipping costs and get your shipments faster, so you have to spend less time waiting and can spend more time serving your customers. If your restaurant is ready to sign up and start saving money on shipping, you can use the button below: Enroll in WebstaurantPlus

  • How to Use WebstaurantStore's Rapid Reorder Tool

    Running a restaurant is no easy feat - the constant hustle and bustle of the kitchen, managing staff, and ensuring customer satisfaction can quickly consume your day. As a busy restaurant owner, staying organized and efficient is key to keeping your operation running smoothly. At WebstaurantStore, we want to help you achieve success. That's why we offer helpful tools like Rapid Reorder to save you time when every precious second counts. Keep reading to learn more about our Rapid Reorder tool and its benefits. What Is Rapid Reorder? Rapid Reorder is an option on your account dashboard that allows you to view all of your past purchases from WebstaurantStore. We created this feature to save you time and give you immediate access to the products you order the most. Instead of searching for the same products over and over, just click Rapid Reorder to simplify your shopping experience. To gain access to features like Rapid Reorder, make sure to set up an account with WebstaurantStore. Benefits of Rapid Reorder Make the most of the Rapid Reorder tool by taking advantage of these benefits: Gain access to a log of all your past purchases No more wasted time searching for products Filter your past purchases by date, product name, and item number for easy navigation Easily navigate to product pages to see full details about an item How to Use Rapid Reorder Using the Rapid Reorder tool is quick and easy. Follow our steps below to navigate to your Rapid Reorder page: Step 1. Login to your account and navigate to the Rapid Reorder tab on the left side of your screen. Step 2. Browse the list that includes all items you’ve purchased from WebstaurantStore to find the item you’d like to reorder. Step 3. Adjust the quantities of the items you like to reorder. Step 4. Click "Add to Cart" and continue the normal checkout process. What's the Difference between Rapid Reorder and Auto Reorder? Rapid reorder allows you to see past purchases for the quickest shopping experience while Auto Reorder gives you the ability to set up automatic orders of your most frequently purchased items. Both of these features can be accessed through your account dashboard. Learn more about Auto Reorder and how it can streamline your ordering process and save you money on shipping. Whether you're running a busy restaurant, catering business, or any other commercial kitchen operation, the Rapid Reorder Tool is designed to simplify your ordering experience. Say goodbye to searching through your purchase history or adding items to your cart one by one - with this tool, you can easily restock your essential supplies in no time.

  • Returns, Damages, and Restocking Fees

    Ordering restaurant supplies and equipment online is quick and convenient, but what happens if you need to return something? WebstaurantStore wants the return process to be as painless as possible. Check out our tips for the easiest way to handle your returns. Click below to skip to the returns info that most interests you: Return Process Return Labels Return Policies Refunds Restocking Fees Damages Setting Up a Return If you already have a WebstaurantStore account, it’s very easy to set up a return from your desktop or in the WebstaurantStore mobile app. Just follow the steps below. Log in to your WebstaurantStore account Click your name at the top right of the screen Choose "Orders" from the dropdown Select “Return Items” from the right of the screen Click View Orders to return to your complete list of orders at any time Check the boxes on the items you want to return Click "Submit Returns" Return Labels After your return has been set up, our Customer Solutions team will email you a return label. All you have to do is print out your label, attach it to the original box, and mail the package to a FedEx drop box or shipping center. Make sure to cover or remove the original shipping label. Instead of using the label from Customer Solutions, you could choose to pay your preferred carrier directly upon dropping off the return package. If so, please speak to the Customer Solutions team for the proper return address information. Return Policies WebstaurantStore will accept returns on all regularly stocked items, except consumables, as long as they are unused, in the original packaging, and returned within 30 days of receipt. If you set up a return that has any of the special considerations below, Customer Solutions will follow up with you. Drop Ship Items Drop ship items that are not regularly stocked by WebstaurantStore may not be eligible for a return. This is entirely dependent on the manufacturer’s policies. Customer Solutions will contact the manufacturer and verify their return policy before taking any action. Special Order Items Special order items or items that were made to order may not be eligible for a return. Customer Solutions will inform you if this is the case. Consumables Consumable items are not eligible for returns because they have a strict timeline for shipment due to their shelf life. To ensure that all consumables are safely within their shelf life and have not been opened, we cannot accept returns for these items. Common Carrier Shipments For larger items and equipment that are shipped by common carrier, Customer Solutions will work with you to schedule a pickup time instead of sending you a shipping label. Refunds Refunds are issued after the returned item has been received and inspected. A return credit will be issued back to the original payment method. The total amount of your refund will be affected by the following costs. Shipping Charges You are responsible for all shipping charges, including the original shipping cost and the cost of shipping the item back to WebstaurantStore. This includes any brokerage fees, duties, and taxes for international returns. The return shipping cost will be deducted from your refund. Restocking Fees WebstaurantStore will also deduct a restocking fee from your total refund to cover the cost of processing the item back into stock. What Are Restocking Fees? Restocking fees are charged for all returned items to make up for additional costs that are incurred during the return process. The fee is 20% of the returned item's total cost for commercial customers and 30% of the total cost for residential customers. Why Do We Charge Restocking Fees? WebstaurantStore charges a restocking fee for the following reasons: Returned items are handled and inspected by our warehouse team, which takes time away from their daily tasks. WebstaurantStore offers wholesale prices, and restocking fees to allow us to keep those prices as low as possible. Companies that don't charge restocking fees cover return costs by raising prices. Many items that are returned cannot be resold and companies end up taking a loss. What If My Item Is Damaged? It's very important to inspect your order when you receive it to check for damages or missing items. Items that shipped by common carrier will have different considerations than items that shipped ground. Our Customer Solutions team will be able to walk you through the process and find a solution that works for you. Ground Shipments If you have damaged or missing items, contact Customer Solutions within 5 days of receipt. We may request pictures that help show the damages. Common Carrier Shipments Common carrier shipments are larger and more expensive than ground shipments, so they require special handling. Inspect your shipment for damages before the carrier leaves. Make note of the damages on the delivery receipt before signing. Contact our Customer Solutions team within 1 business day. Keep any damaged packing materials. Take pictures of the damaged packaging and equipment. Refrigerated Foods Check the temperature of refrigerated or frozen foods upon arrival. If you have any concerns, contact us within 1 business day of receipt. Once the products are signed for, you are responsible for safe storage and handling. How to Package Items for Common Carrier Returns Learn how to securely prepare your items for a common carrier return with the step-by-step guide below: <iframe itemprop="embedURL" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d81Jed_oixY?si=uDxmIMpzNEwPlKDIrel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Now that you know how the return process works, you'll be able to handle making returns on your own. If you have special circumstances or need help with your return, our Customer Solutions team is available to assist you.