“An Online Auction with Troostwijk Works So Much Better Than Dealers or Classified Platforms”
Seller Nils van Praet from Van Praet Transport
How can a company easily find a buyer for its surplus business equipment and machinery?
And where can professional buyers find the widest selection and the best deals?
The Belgian transport company Transport Van Praet and a Romanian sector peer found each other through an online auction at the B2B platform Troostwijk Auctions.
After all, what is surplus for one is a new beginning for another.
Finding the Right Buyer
Nils Van Praet is the General Manager of Transport Van Praet, a family business from Vilvoorde specializing in refrigerated transport of pharmaceuticals.
The company owns 150 trailers, and every day, over 100 drivers are on the road.
Recently, Transport Van Praet offered a trailer for sale:
“In principle, our refrigerated trailers remain in circulation in the fleet for 10 years, while standard box trailers or curtain-sided trailers can stay for 15 years. After that, we sell them on the second-hand market.”
A Vast Network
To do this, Nils Van Praet turned to Troostwijk Auctions:
“We decided to try it about two years ago because we noticed a decline in the sale of second-hand equipment. It was a bullseye. Thanks to Troostwijk’s international network, we now have far more potential buyers than through our own network of dealers.
Moreover, the traditional process was very time-consuming, involving lots of phone calls and visits, and even then, there was no guarantee of a market-conform price.”
Clear Agreements
Going once, going twice, sold:
An online auction with Troostwijk Auctions clearly works better for industrial machines and goods than classified ads.
The trailer was sold to a Romanian transport company that placed the highest bid.
Nils Van Praet:
“The highest bidder wins the lot and contacts you personally after the winning bid to arrange pickup.
Via Troostwijk, there’s never any discussion afterward about the price — no one tries to haggle.
That was a pleasant surprise.
Troostwijk’s rules make everything very clear and transparent for all parties.”
Fast and Reliable
The buyer paid on time, and the money was quickly transferred to Van Praet’s account via Troostwijk.
“Afterward, we even had a few more contacts with the buyer, asking if we had more for sale,” smiles Nils.
Sales through Troostwijk Auctions are much more efficient and reliable, he finds:
“Your material is sold as presented and at the agreed price. If a minimum price isn’t reached, it’s up to us as sellers to decide whether to accept a lower offer or re-list the item when market conditions improve.”
Great Support
As a seller, you manage the auction online yourself. Uploading lots and placing photos is all supported by Troostwijk Auctions.
At any moment, you can monitor the progress of your auction.
“You can tell they have experience and expertise,” says Nils Van Praet.
“Thanks to the tips they provide, and when they strategically group your lots into larger collections. Sometimes even items you thought would never sell are auctioned off — a nice, sustainable way to avoid sending them to the scrapyard.
On the other side, we — and many buyers with us — find very interesting deals.
The system works phenomenally well.”
2.8 Million Followers
“Troostwijk Auctions is especially attractive to sellers and buyers because of its huge network, broad offering, user-friendliness, and transparency,” says Marc Bonny, account manager for Troostwijk Auctions in Belgium.
Marc knows Nils Van Praet and his business well and saw him gradually become firmly convinced of the power of online auctions.
“We’re the largest pan-European online auction house,” Marc continues,
“but at the same time, I am closely and personally involved with customers at the local level.
Besides transport, we’re also auction experts in sectors like agriculture, metal, construction, food, and earthmoving — and many more.
We only focus on B2B.
Troostwijk has 2,800,000 followers from 175 countries, who spend at least 15 minutes browsing auctions each month.
Each auction stays open for at least a week and up to two weeks, attracting an average of 150 active bidders.”
No Surprises
The deal between Nils Van Praet and the Romanian buyer was a success:
both parties were satisfied — and that’s usually the case.
“An online auction with Troostwijk works so much better than dealing with traders or classified platforms,”
nods Marc Bonny.
“It’s accessible and transparent. You never face surprises.
As a seller, you have a broad and user-friendly platform to market your business equipment while staying in control.
And as a buyer, you can quickly and easily place your best bid through our app and secure a great deal.”