If you’re reading this, you’ve probably done the math: a new electric scissor lift costs $25,000–$60,000. A refurbished one costs roughly half. That’s a real number — enough to fund another piece of equipment, a year of maintenance, or just stay in your account.
The trade-off is everything in this guide. Refurbished isn’t a single thing. It’s a spectrum, and where the unit you’re buying lands on that spectrum determines whether you’re getting a deal or you’re getting fleeced.
We’ve been refurbishing aerial equipment in Addison, IL for 30+ years. Here’s what we’ve learned, what to ask, and how to walk into a refurb purchase without getting burned.
[Skip the guide and call us — 773-790-7299]
What “refurbished” actually means — the spectrum
Refurbishment is a four-level spectrum. The word gets used at all four levels, often interchangeably, often dishonestly. Here’s the reality:
Level 1 — As-is auction (worst)
The lift sits at IronPlanet, GovPlanet, Ritchie Bros, or eBay. Nobody has looked at it. No inspection. No service history. The seller doesn’t know if it works, and they don’t want to. You bid blind, you pay, you ship it home, and you find out.
What you get: maybe a working lift, maybe not. No warranty. No recourse.
Level 2 — Cosmetic clean-up
Pressure-washed. Maybe a coat of paint over rust. Decals replaced. Listed online with stock photos. Sold as “refurbished.”
What you get: a lift that looks better in pictures. Mechanically you’re still rolling the dice.
Level 3 — Mechanical refurbishment
Components tested. Some replaced. Hydraulic system serviced. Fresh ANSI/OSHA inspection. This is the level where refurbishment starts to mean something.
What you get: a working, inspected lift with most of the original surfaces.
Level 4 — Full refurbishment (Win Win standard)
New batteries, new tires, new charger, rebuilt control box. Hydraulic system inspected and corrected if outside spec. Full ANSI/OSHA inspection with documentation. Paint — fully sanded down, primed, repainted to factory-fresh, decals and ANSI markings replaced.
What you get: a unit that works like new and looks like new. Roughly half the price of a brand-new equivalent.
The cost difference between Level 1 and Level 4 is often only a few thousand dollars. The reliability difference is enormous.
How Win Win sells refurbished lifts (two tiers)
We sell at two distinct tiers. This is unusual in the industry — most dealers sell one product. We sell two because budget and use case vary buyer to buyer.
Tier 1 — Fully Serviced
Starts at $6,000 (19 ft) up to $13,000 (40 ft).
- Tested components (drive, hydraulic, electrical, control system)
- New annual ANSI/OSHA inspection
- Optional new parts à la carte — spec the unit to your budget
Best fit: buyers who’d otherwise be looking at auction sites. We compete on price but you get inspection + ability to visit the shop + the option to add specific new parts.
Tier 2 — Fully Refurbished
Starts at $7,900 (19 ft) up to $16,800 (40 ft Genie GS-4047).
Everything in Fully Serviced, plus:
- New batteries, new tires, new charger
- Rebuilt control box
- Full hydraulic system inspection
- Full sand-down and repaint to factory-fresh
Best fit: buyers who want a unit that looks new, fleet operators standardizing on long-term equipment, anyone who’ll resell down the line.
Refurbished vs new — the 50% rule
For nearly every electric slab scissor lift class, refurbished costs roughly half of new:
- 19 ft new: $25,000–$30,000 · Refurbished: $7,900–$11,000
- 26 ft new: $32,000–$38,000 · Refurbished: $10,800
- 32 ft new: $40,000–$48,000 · Refurbished: $14,500–$17,800
- 40 ft new: $52,000–$62,000 · Refurbished: $15,800–$16,800
You’re saving $15,000 to $45,000 depending on the size. The reliability gap to new on a properly refurbished 5-to-7-year-old unit is small. The cost gap is enormous.
When does new make sense?
- You need a configuration only available current-production
- You have a fleet warranty contract that requires new units
- You have a tax incentive that materially shifts the math
In every other scenario, refurbished wins.
Refurbished vs auction — what the bid sheet doesn’t tell you
Auction sites (IronPlanet, GovPlanet, Ritchie Bros) seem cheaper on the surface. They’re often not — once you account for:
- No inspection. You don’t know if the lift works until it arrives.
- No service history. Hour meter reading is what they tell you it is.
- No warranty. It breaks, you eat it.
- Surprise freight. Shipping costs are quoted separately, often after the bid.
- Unknown remediation. If the unit needs $3,000–$8,000 of work to be safe, you’re paying that on top.
Win Win’s Fully Serviced tier is priced to compete with auction listings on the same height class. The differences:
- We’ve inspected the lift
- It carries a current ANSI/OSHA certificate
- You can come see it in our Addison, IL shop before you commit
- You can add specific new parts at your direction (batteries, tires, charger, etc.)
- Freight is quoted upfront, in an enclosed trailer
Same money. Less risk. Optional upgrades.
The 12-point checklist for evaluating a refurbished unit
Whether you’re looking at a Win Win unit, another refurb dealer’s unit, or an auction listing, run through this checklist before you commit:
Documentation
- Annual ANSI/OSHA inspection certificate — current, dated, signed by a qualified technician. ANSI A92.20-2018 / OSHA 29 CFR 1926.453.
- Service history — hours on the lift, last battery replacement date, any logged repairs.
- Serial number verification — confirm against the manufacturer database (Genie or Skyjack will lookup for free).
Visual / structural
- Frame welds — no cracks, no obvious repair welds in load-bearing areas.
- Pivot pins and scissor stack — minimal wear, no excessive play.
- Hydraulic hoses, cylinders, fittings — no leaks, no weeping seals.
- Tires — non-marking compound for indoor lifts; tread depth adequate; no cracking.
Electrical / power
- Battery condition — voltage and specific gravity if flooded. New batteries on a refurb? Confirm they’re actually new and load-tested.
- Charger output — full cycle test. Confirm proper opening voltage.
- Control box — joystick, function switches, e-stops on platform and ground all functioning.
Functional test
- Lift function under load — full extension under rated capacity. Cycle time within manufacturer spec. Tilt sensor and slope alarm functioning.
- Drive test — proportional control response, brake engagement, steering linkage tight.
If any of these 12 items fail or are unanswered, walk away — or get the dealer to address them in writing before you sign.
[Download the printable checklist (coming soon — PDF)]
10 questions to ask the dealer
Before you commit to any refurbished lift purchase, get straight answers to these:
- What does “refurbished” mean on this unit? (See the four-level spectrum above. Make them tell you which level.)
- What components were replaced vs inspected vs left alone? (Should be specific — not “we went through it.”)
- Does it have a current annual ANSI/OSHA inspection certificate? (Should be yes, with documentation.)
- Can I see the unit in person before I buy? (If no, that’s a flag.)
- Can you send a video walk-around of the specific unit? (Should be yes, same day.)
- What batteries are installed and when? (New on a Fully Refurbished unit. On Fully Serviced or other tiers, ask the date.)
- What’s the warranty after purchase? (Should cover at minimum the rebuilt components.)
- Has the paint been touched up or fully repainted? (Telling — touched-up vs sanded-and-repainted is a major quality differential.)
- What’s the freight quote to my zip code, and what carrier? (Enclosed trailer is the right answer.)
- What’s the lead time from payment to delivery? (Real numbers — not best-case fairy tales.)
If the dealer is evasive on any of these, find another dealer.
Financing a refurbished lift
Most refurbished scissor lift purchases qualify for equipment financing through the same partners that finance new equipment. Typical terms:
- 48-month financing is the standard
- Monthly payments for refurbished units land roughly:
- 19 ft: $200–$280 / month
- 26 ft: $250–$330 / month
- 32 ft: $300–$400 / month
- 40 ft: $400–$500 / month
- Down payment typically 10–20% of purchase price
The Section 179 tax deduction (for U.S. business buyers) can apply to refurbished equipment in the year of purchase. Talk to your accountant.
Shipping & delivery
Most refurb dealers ship via 3rd-party carriers. Things to confirm:
- Enclosed vs open trailer. Enclosed protects from road grit, rain, and curious bystanders. Open is cheaper but exposes the unit. Win Win ships exclusively enclosed.
- Quoted freight upfront. No surprises at the loading dock.
- Insurance on transit. Confirm coverage if anything happens en route.
- Delivery timing. Typical Addison, IL to most U.S. zip codes is 7–14 business days.
If you’re within driving distance of the dealer, pickup is usually free — Win Win offers free pickup at our Addison yard regardless of where you’re driving from.
After purchase — what to expect
A properly refurbished lift should give you 5–10 years of reliable service before requiring meaningful intervention. Standard ongoing costs:
- Annual ANSI/OSHA inspection: $225 at our shop or $350 on-site
- Battery replacement: every 4–5 years; ~$1,200–$1,800 for a 24V flooded set with installation
- Routine service: $150/hr labor + parts at Win Win
Your service interval depends on hours and conditions. Heavy daily use accelerates wear; intermittent facility-maintenance use stretches it.
Red flags — when to walk away
If any of these come up in your conversation with a refurb dealer, walk:
- They won’t tell you the actual model year of the unit
- They can’t produce an ANSI/OSHA inspection certificate
- They refuse video walk-arounds
- The price is dramatically below refurb-market norms (cheap is suspicious)
- They quote freight only “after purchase”
- They use phrases like “you’ll have to take our word for it”
- They have no physical address you can visit
- They have no service shop
- They sell only — they don’t service
A real refurb shop has a real shop. A real shop services lifts. A real shop will let you walk through it.
Frequently asked questions
Is buying a refurbished scissor lift safe?
Yes — if you buy from a real refurb shop that performs ANSI/OSHA inspections and stands behind the work. Auction sites and “cosmetic refurb” sellers are a different question. Verify the level of refurbishment, inspect the documentation, and you’re fine.
How long does a refurbished lift last?
A properly refurbished electric slab scissor lift should give you 5–10 years of reliable service. Batteries are the most common wear item; expect to replace them every 4–5 years.
What’s the difference between Fully Serviced and Fully Refurbished?
Fully Serviced (Win Win Tier 1): tested + ANSI inspected, new parts optional à la carte. Fully Refurbished (Tier 2): everything in Tier 1 plus new batteries, tires, charger, rebuilt control box, and full sand-down + repaint.
Should I buy from a local dealer or ship from far?
Local dealers let you visit and inspect in person. Distant dealers offer wider inventory selection. Win Win ships nationwide via enclosed trailer and offers free pickup at our Addison shop — you can do either.
Can I trade in my old lift?
Sometimes. Depends on the unit’s condition and our current acquisition needs. Tell us what you have — we’ll let you know.
What’s the typical lead time on a refurbished lift?
1–2 weeks for ready-to-ship. 3 weeks from time of payment if we’re refurbishing for you. Real numbers.
Get a quote
If you’re ready to buy, or just want to talk through a specific unit, call or email. Win Win’s family-owned, Addison-IL based, and we’ve been doing this for 30+ years.
[Call 773-790-7299] [Email Win Win Equipment] Get a quote →
— Win Win Equipment
Related pages
- Scissor lift price guide — both tiers, all sizes
- All scissor lifts for sale — current inventory
- Buy vs rent — when ownership wins
- How to inspect a used scissor lift — pre-purchase checklist
- Genie vs Skyjack — brand comparison
- Our refurbishment process — what we do, step by step
- Financing — monthly payment options
- Every model hub — Genie GS-1930 through GS-4047, Skyjack SJIII series, and JLG E300 AJP