Business Expenses: When It Pays To Get Used Equipment

By Author: Tony Farinholt
Total Articles: 12
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Any way a business owner can save money is good, from cutting back on utility bills to purchasing cheaper items. Most business owners skip the trouble and hefty cost of getting from the manufacturer and instead purchase straight from a vendor, cutting the cost of an item by 20%. A company owner may save a few dollars ordering a refurbished item, but it may not be in their best interest to do so. You can purchase modules, hard drives and servers used, but some products, like software used for network security, may not be the best things to get at a discount because of the server implications they may have if they wind up failing.

Server

Say you’re a large startup company looking for new hard drive space or a CPU component, and you search around and find that the best investment would be to purchase larger servers to handle the workload. Purchasing one of these bad boys is a big blow to your bottom line, and aside from that, you have to get a number of different servers to fit all of your business needs, from hard drive space to speed. If you decide to skip the new server and order a refurbished one, make sure ...
... you get the item from a trusted dealer to ensure that the few hundred or so dollars you do spend will not be a complete waste.

Modules

In order to send and receive data rapidly, servers rely on sophisticated items called modules; from basic GLC T devices to the more advanced products, modules are relied upon by both tiny and large companies to ensure information is broadcasted right. Modules are great refurbished devices to order, and buying these expensive items at half the cost could be worthwhile, but always be sure your investment comes with a warranty if you are ordering one from a vendor. Sure, many of these products are built to last for a few years, but when an item is used on a daily basis, having a guarantee greatly improves your investment if the day comes that it does break.

Security Networking Equipment

Say you order used, Cisco brand SFP modules; chances are the dealer has checked these items to ensure they work properly. Unlike modules, buying the used security networking equipment is not in your best interest because the likelihood of a virus or worm entering your system is very high. In the end, you could wind up paying more with that old, outmoded item you ended up getting than if you had just ordered new equipment. Don’t look to buy the equipment used; spend the extra money and buy all new items.