Connect the identity records to the same machine
Request a readable serial plate, current full-machine photographs, the claimed year and any available ownership or service documents. Ask for one continuous walk-around showing the identification and the whole machine. Model names and repainted decals are not enough to establish the exact variant, history or condition. RUICHI is an independent sourcing business, not the original manufacturer.
Treat operating hours as a claim to verify
A photograph of an hour meter records what it displays; it does not independently prove total lifetime use. Compare the reading with available service history and an inspector’s assessment of controls, joints and undercarriage. If history cannot be substantiated, retain that uncertainty in the quotation rather than advertising verified low hours.
Ask for undercarriage measurements, not just a clean photo
Request close-ups of both tracks, rollers, sprockets and idlers. Ask the inspector to measure wear and record damaged or replaced components. A freshly washed machine can still need expensive running-gear work.
Caterpillar describes dealer undercarriage inspections that measure wear and provide a report. That is useful evidence to ask for; it does not mean a machine offered by an independent seller has received a Cat inspection or certification.
Agree the inspection scope before payment
Have a qualified inspector agree and carry out suitable tests. Request cold-start evidence, operation after warming up, hydraulic-function observations and records of visible defects. This is a procurement checklist, not a safe operating procedure or a certification that any listed machine has passed.
- Engine start, smoke, visible leaks and cooling condition
- Boom, arm, bucket, swing and travel functions
- Hydraulic hoses, cylinders and accessible leak points
- Pins, bushings, track components and undercarriage wear
- Cab controls, instruments and safety equipment
- Written defects, required repairs and retest evidence
Separate the machine price from preparation and attachments
The offer should identify the machine, included bucket and attachments, agreed repairs and what remains in its inspected used condition. If a component is described as replaced or overhauled, ask for supporting records and define the acceptance evidence. New paint or a cleaned engine bay is not evidence of mechanical repair.
Which used CAT 320D price should you compare?
Compare offers for identified machines, not the lowest number beside a model name. A quote with repairs and a bucket included is different from an as-is machine-only offer. Ask what is worn, what will be repaired and what remains your responsibility.
Keep the machine price, agreed preparation, attachments and freight on separate lines. Have your destination agent check port charges, clearance, taxes and inland delivery. Without the same scope, two prices are not a fair comparison.
Confirm transport and acceptance terms
State the destination port and final location, actual shipping dimensions and weight, and whether attachments need to be removed. Separate the machine, agreed preparation, freight, insurance when applicable and destination exclusions. Ask your importer to check current local requirements before ordering. No fixed stock, year, hours, price or delivery date is established by this guide.