Mid-Rise Lift Comparison

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PRODUCT COMPARISON

BendPak® MD-6XP* vs. Value Brands*

*Design features and specifications are subject to change. Please consult factories for updates. BENDPAK® and RANGER PRODUCTS® are registered trademarks of BendPak Inc.

The BendPak® MD6-XP mid-rise lift has long topped the most-wanted list for auto professionals and DIY'ers alike. But with the recent rush of knock-offs, you might be tempted to shrug off your
better judgment and make like your birthday came early. Don’t give in. We had our team of researchers buy up one of these wannabes to see if we’re truly dealing with similar products.

After exhaustively reviewing the merits of both BendPak® and off-brand lift mid-rise lifts, the BendPak® team released the following report. In it, critical design features are compared, evaluated and illustrated in broad detail.

THE TRUTH BEHIND CHEAP LIFTS

Established lift manufacturing companies will proudly place their brand name on their product. Unfortunately, many lift “brands” are just labels fabricated by dealers supplying these products as their own. If you find an auto lift that interests you, be sure to search for an informative and detailed manufacturing company website or at least a brochure. Also check to see if there are multiple dealers offering the same brand for sale. Some dealers may bill themselves as exclusive suppliers, but only for their brand that they created. If you can’t find solid, verifiable information relating to the actual manufacturer of any given automotive lift or if only a very limited number of dealers even sell the lift, you are probably best off searching for alternative options.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHEAPEST LIFT AND BEST VALUE

Value is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days, especially with the economy the way it is. Everyone is looking for the best value whenever they purchase something. Equipment retailers have latched on to this idea and try to position themselves as value leaders by offering cheap prices.

But when you think about the true meaning of value, two primary things should be considered. How much you’re paying and what you’re getting for that amount. Discount lift retailers want you to forget about the second part of the equation. They claim to provide the best value but they are only providing you the best price. Business owners know that they need to consider the overall cost of the automotive lift throughout its entire life of service. The criteria is slightly different for home users that don’t plan on earning revenue off of the purchase, but trying to save a couple hundred bucks can still mean the difference between enjoying your time in the garage and a total service nightmare.

While an expensive car lift will not always mean high-quality materials, an exceptionally low-priced automotive lift will almost certainly be cheaply made. That means no engineering to speak of, compromised safety systems and thinner steel. These are the kinds of things that can cost a business owner untold thousands of dollars in damage or downtime.

MAKE SURE YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Car enthusiasts are willing to spend thousands of dollars on their beautiful automobiles, but then senselessly cut corners on the very thing that holds them up. There’s nothing wrong with shopping around for a good price, but make sure you are willing to at least pay for the value that you hope to get out of your new auto lift.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

At BendPak, we believe the customer should always get what he or she wants. The best way to do that is for the customer to have all the information available. But it’s difficult for the average consumer to do their own lift comparison, particularly when the true manufacturer of many lifts is kept somewhat of a secret by the reseller.

THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN

We purchased one of the most popular no-name mid-rise lifts on the market today. These and similar lifts are sold under a variety of different names, but once you know the key features, you’ll know one when you see one. Check out this side-by-side comparison and determine for yourself who’s got the most value.