A Test Run Refusal Is the Most Serious Warning Sign
Over the past years, Hutnia has conducted dozens of machine inspections in Germany. Experience has taught us one thing: a legitimate seller never refuses a test run. If the machine works properly, the test run confirms its value and justifies the price. A refusal means the seller knows about problems they do not want you to see.
That does not mean every refusal is fraud. But in 100% of cases, it demands extra caution and specific questions. Below, we analyze six common excuses — and what lies behind them.
Excuse 1: "The Machine Is Not Connected to Power"
What the seller says: "The machine is on the yard / in storage, we have no power connection. But you can see, the condition is good."
What it really means:
- Best case: factory liquidation, machine moved to storage. Normal situation.
- Worst case: the machine will not start due to a controller, drive, or power supply defect.
How to respond:
1. Ask for the machine to be connected before your visit. Give the seller 5-7 days to organize.
2. If they refuse: demand a video of the last operation. Every facility records these before dismantling.
3. Request a 15-25% price reduction to cover the risk of untested components.
4. Hire an electrician to connect the machine on site (cost: 300-800 EUR). Cheaper than buying blind.
Walk-away point: If the seller refuses connection and has no proof the machine ran in the last 6 months — leave.
Excuse 2: "No Time, the Machine Must Ship This Week"
What the seller says: "We have a buyer who will pay immediately. If you want it, you must decide now."
What it really means:
- Time pressure tactic. Classic sales move.
- If the machine is genuinely good, the seller does not fear one day for a test run.
- Urgency usually conceals problems that testing would reveal.
How to respond:
1. Do not get pulled into the rush. Say: "I understand the pressure, but I do not buy without a test run. If the machine is good, one day will not change the deal."
2. Offer a conditional deposit: "I will pay 5% deposit, balance after test run within 5 business days."
3. If the seller refuses a conditional deposit — they are looking for a buyer who does not check. That is not your role.
Walk-away point: Never pay the full amount without a test run, regardless of time pressure.
Excuse 3: "The Test Run Was Last Week, I Have Video"
What the seller says: "We started the machine for another prospect. I have the recording, you can see everything works."
What it really means:
- The video may be authentic — but it does not replace your own test.
- Video does not show vibrations, temperature, bearing noise, or guide play.
- The video could be months or years old.
How to respond:
1. Ask for the video — it is supplementary information, not a substitute.
2. Check the date and file metadata (if digital).
3. Say clearly: "I am happy to watch the video, but I need the machine running in my presence."
4. If the seller agrees to your test run — good. If not — treat it as a refusal.
Excuse 4: "The Machine Is Too Large / Too Heavy to Run on the Yard"
What the seller says: "This is a 200-ton press, sitting on the yard without a foundation. We cannot start it without anchoring."
What it really means:
- For large machines (presses, extruders, large vertical lathes), this can be legitimate.
- A machine without a foundation may genuinely be unsuitable for operation under load.
How to respond:
1. Ask for an idle test (no-load run). Even without a foundation, you can check: controller, hydraulics, axis movements, tool changes.
2. Review documentation — protocols from the last installation site, alarm history on USB.
3. Hire an independent inspector for mechanical condition assessment without operation (visual inspection, geometry measurements, oil samples).
4. Negotiate a return clause in the contract: "If the machine after installation does not meet documented specifications — the seller covers repair costs up to X EUR."
Walk-away point: No operation even at idle means risk that must be reflected in the price (20-30% discount).
Excuse 5: "You Can Look, but No Cutting / No Loading"
What the seller says: "We will turn the machine on, the axes will move, the spindle will spin. But do not cut — we have no material / no tools / no coolant."
What it really means:
- The machine may function at idle but not under load.
- Typical hidden faults: spindle overheats under load, Z axis loses position during cutting, coolant pump is defective.
How to respond:
1. Bring your own tools and test material. An HSS end mill 20 mm plus an aluminum block 100x100x50 mm costs 15 EUR.
2. Bring your own coolant (5 liters of concentrate is enough for a test).
3. If the seller still refuses cutting — they are hiding a problem under load.
Walk-away point: A CNC machine you are not allowed to test under load is like a car you are not allowed to drive — the evaluation is worthless.
Excuse 6: "You Buy As Seen — No Warranty"
What the seller says: "The price is low because I sell without warranty. I will not start it, inspect visually."
What it really means:
- The seller shifts 100% of risk to the buyer.
- The "low price" is usually inflated relative to the actual machine condition.
- Without a test run, you do not know whether the machine is worth 10% or 100% of the asking price.
How to respond:
1. Drop your offer by 40-50% of the asking price. If the seller will not start the machine — the price must reflect the risk.
2. Factor in potential repair costs in your calculation.
3. Secure a written statement: "The seller declares that the machine was in operation until date X and no defects affecting functionality are known."
Walk-away point: If the seller refuses even a written condition statement — do not buy.
When to Buy Without a Test Run Anyway
There are situations where purchasing without a full test run is justifiable:
- The price is 10-20% of market value — at that discount, even a major repair pays off.
- You are buying for parts — spindle, controller, or drives have value regardless of machine condition.
- You have access to affordable service — if your mechanic can overhaul the machine for 5,000 EUR, the risk is manageable.
In all other cases, insist on the test run. If the seller refuses, Hutnia will help you assess the risk and negotiate an appropriate price.
Before you even travel to the viewing, familiarize yourself with the basics: the spindle check in 5 minutes and spotting hydraulic leaks are tests you can perform even when the seller makes a full test run difficult.
Book an initial consultation Step 0 for 49 EUR — fully deductible from the 500 EUR mandate. Schedule now
