5 Reasons to Buy Refurbished

No matter what, you are going to need new tech at some point. Maybe you need replacement parts for your server system at work; maybe you need to replace your servers or office computers altogether; maybe you just need to replace your own personal computer. Whether business or personal

, the need arises sooner or later. When that time comes, the big question is always, "Should I buy refurbished or just go with something brand new?" The right answer, my friend, is Refurbished.

Cheaper!

Let's just start with the most obvious and the most appealing. Of course it is cheaper to go with used and refurbished equipment, and of course saving money is important, particularly if you are the business side. So, naturally, refurbished should be a no-brainer. And no, the lower costs are not because of lower quality. Engineering and manufacturing costs for new equipment, new and original designs, as well as the multi-million dollar marketing campaigns companies will put into moving their new equipment all contribute to the higher prices of new and lower dollar points of refurbished gear.

In almost every case when you buy refurbished, you will be saving quite a bit of money. 10% to 15% is very common when buying something that has been refurbished, and even 20% to 30% and beyond isn't impossible. Naturally, it all depends on vendor and product, but the savings are always there.

And the deals; oh, the deals that you can find on refurbished products. Whether from simple overstock or the grueling task of trying to get rid of the old to make room for the new, great deals are always in abundance when it comes to refurbished equipment.

But, is it really worth going with used over new?

More Reliability

Yes, it is. You may be surprised to find that, when it comes to refurbished equipment, companies are usually quite rigorous when it comes to testing and diagnostics. Companies will often guarantee their products, and most will even give a generous warranty if anything should go wrong. In fact, refurbished is often seen as far more reliable than investing in something brand new.

Anytime new equipment is rolled out, you can bet that there will be a few bugs that will need to get worked out. Once the tech hits the real world, errors are found, updates have to be made, and frustration will often times ensue. With older equipment, the bugs and errors were found and cleared out long ago, leaving you with an older, but more assuredly functional machine.

Get More for So Much Less

Remember when we talked about how much cheaper it was to buy refurbished instead of new? A few paragraphs back. Well, it turns out that not only are you getting your equipment for a much lower price, but you are also getting more bang for your buck. How much? Quite a bit, actually.

When companies come out with brand new tech, be it desktops, laptops, servers, what have you, they will often roll out a few different tiers of these products, usually from the entry level version with the least amount of features to their "top-of-the-line, gotta have it, fully loaded" version. When you go refurbished, you can more often than not get the top-of-the-line version from one or two generations ago for the price of the entry level versions of newer models. Yes, it may have Windows 7 or 8 instead of 10, and it might weigh 2.5lbs instead of 2.4lbs, but the higher tier versions almost always have more memory, a better hard drive (or drives), and, if you go with a desktop or laptop, a bigger screen.

Save With Software

Speaking of Windows whatever number, buying refurbished can also help you save money or get more for it when it comes to software, particularly operating systems.

Say you want to upgrade your OS. Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars for the latest Windows version, you could quite possibly spend the same amount to a refurbished system with an operating system already installed, and it will probably be an updated version, depending on how long you waited to upgrade. You may not be able to get Windows 10, but you can certainly upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit or to Windows 8.1. And you will have a new server or laptop to use it.

The same can sometimes be said with other software. Depending on what comes installed in the refurbished product you buy, you may get slightly older versions of software for far cheaper than the newest ones.

Environmentally Friendly

That's right. Buying refurbished equipment is even better for the environment. See, doing your part can also benefit you and your business.

Many know that computer equipment, when thrown out, ends up in landfills. There they stay as the hazardous material and chemicals seep out and into the soil, polluting the area around the landfill and creating health-hazards for nearby populations. This is known as e-waste, and it is a big deal. When you purchase refurbished, and especially if you continue to do so, you make sure that computer equipment stays in circulation and out of landfills. It may not seem like much, but it adds up.

Buy Refurbished!

The point is, buying refurbished tech has a number of benefits for you, for your business, for you employees, and even for the environment around you. So, save some money, get more for what you pay, and even make a difference.

Buy refurbished.

And if you are going to buy refurbished, give us a look at AltaTechnologies and see if we can help you out.