If you’ve recently upgraded (or downgraded) and now have some used networking hardware that you no longer need, what should you do with it?  Sure, it’s probably depreciated but throwing it out not only means tossing money away, but it’s also harmful to the environment.

Recycle it? Yes, of course you could do that but you might be able to sell it and make a little cash.

How? On ebay? In a classified? You know you wouldn’t drop hundreds to thousands on equipment from some source you didn’t know was reliable and risk not only harming your network but also being scammed.  Neither will anyone else. So how do you unload it?

The best way is to find a reputable alternative hardware provider like MULTI-LINK Communications Products. Trusted by thousands of customers who buy new and refurbished networking hardware from them every year, they have a pool of people ready to buy. They also guarantee anything they sell– including used components– for one full year, sometimes more. This is actually better, in some cases, than what the manufacturer will guarantee the same part new.

But will they give you a good deal? You have a couple of options.  You can straight sell them your equipment, or you can trade it in for a credit toward something else.  Trading equipment in is usually the better way to go. Because they’ll also get you as a sales customer, companies often give better deals on equipment traded in than equipment simply purchased.

What if you don’t need new (or used) equipment?

Save the credit for when you do need it. Be sure to check with the company and see how long the credit will be good. Some companies will offer it indefinitely. You never know when you’re going to want to buy some surplus transceivers or fan trays to have handy in case the one installed goes out.  Or watch for specials on the components you’d really like to have– a new telephony system, a security appliance, etc.– and when the right product comes up at the right discount, jump on it.

The worst thing you can do is simply toss the equipment out. Talk to MLCP, or a similar company, about any non-profit organizations they sell to and see if you can donate your used equipment to that company for a tax write off. Most companies will be more than willing to be the liaison because it helps their non-profit customer.

You know exactly what you need, but unfortunately, Cisco no longer manufactures it. That’s a problem. Especially if you need the component immediately and you don’t have the cash to migrate to the new replacement product.  The good news is that you don’t need to.  You just need to think outside the box.

The component you need is most likely out there, and can be located by one of the few alternative Cisco providers like MULTI-LINK Communications Products. This company, along with a couple others, specializes in providing their customers with new, used, and hard to find Cisco products, including those which the manufacturer deems as obsolete. Because these companies have access to components all over the globe, they can find exactly what you need.  They also maintain large inventories of hard to find networking hardware which allows them to ship same day much of the time.

Will used equipment be a problem?

No. A reputable company will test refurbished equipment to factory specifications and use an equally reputable shipping company to ensure your component arrives safely.  In addition, a reputable provider like MLCP will warrant the new or used component for one year or more, which in most cases, is actually longer than the manufacturer will guarantee the same product new.

Will buying from someone other than Cisco negate my service contract?

You should check your agreement, but in most cases no.  Cisco will obviously not cover repair to the component you didn’t purchase from them, but it won’t negate the contract or service to the rest of the components.  If it’s deemed that a network problem stems from the used equipment, you would simply call the provider from which you purchased the component and they would send you a replacement if it’s still under warranty.

Should I just bite the bullet and migrate to the newer replacement?

Honestly, it depends on your future needs and your pocketbook. More often than not, the replacement component is ready for upgrades or has a higher functionality than its predecessor. But if your needs are limited to the obsolete component, there’s no real reason to spend the additional money for something you don’t need if you weren’t already considering an upgrade. On top of that, used equipment, or even new equipment through an alternative provider, can save thousands of dollars in initial costs.

You need a network upgrade and you know it’s going to be expensive. You dread hearing how much it’ll cost to buy and install the hardware, but you know your company really needs it to run effectively.  Here are some ways to minimize your out of pocket costs when upgrading your network hardware:

1. Know how much money you’ll save at the end of the first year by doing the upgrade. How much at the end of the second year? Fifth year? Does the savings outweigh your initial investment?  Not sure? Then consider leasing the equipment with an option to buy it.  This allows you to ‘try out’ the equipment without making a real commitment and pay over time. Ultimately, if you do buy, you’ll pay more than if you’d bought it outright, but if it turns out you don’t need it, you’ll have saved yourself a lot of money and kept cash in your pockets.

2. Buy pre-owned.  There are several reputable alternative dealers out there that can get you used (and new) equipment much lower than you’d pay through the distribution chain.  Some even offer better warranties than the manufacturer and because they’re smaller than the manufacturer, they’ll be a lot more flexible in working with you and making sure you’re happy.  In most cases, purchasing equipment by an alternative provider won’t have any negative effect on your service contract with the manufacturer as long as the product is third party OEM. Check your service contract first, but more often than not, the manufacturer will still provide maintenance and repair service, but won’t repair or replace the part you didn’t purchase from them. In that case, you simply go back to the dealer you purchased the component from and they’ll replace the part.

3. Trade in surplus equipment for a discount on anything new.  This is a second reason to consider an alternative provider.  The manufacturer probably won’t buy your equipment back, meaning you’ll have to go to an alternative provider (or some other source) to sell you used equipment.  If you’re also buying from the source, they’re more likely to give you a better deal– higher trade in credit than they would simply buying your used equipment when they won’t be making any money from you.

With literally hundreds of routers on the market, how do you know which one is right for your business?  You should choose a Cisco router, or Foundry, or AdTran? Which one will best fit your needs? Buying one with too many features means paying for something you’ll never use. Don’t buy a horse trailer to transport a dog. Buying one without enough features, or that isn’t upgradeable, means you might buy something that in a year or two, needs to be replaced. So what should you consider before committing to a router? We came up with three criteria we feel are the most important:

Is it Upgradeable?

Companies typically grow. Those that don’t, don’t stay in business for long. So the question becomes, how fast will you grow and how soon will your router stop meeting your needs?  If you aren’t sure or think that growth may be in your near future, be sure to get a router that has enough RAM and FLASH to meet your needs now, but you can upgrade it at any time. Not all routers are upgradeable. Buying one now that meets your current requirements but that can be upgraded later, is ideal.

Is it Expandable?

Pay attention to the number of WAN and LAN interfaces that the router you’re considering will support.  The number will vary and there are some routers that don’t have any.  If interfaces are available, then you’ve got a more versatile router to add to later.

Is it Warranted?

Regardless of which router you buy, the most important thing to look at is whether the manufacturer, distributor, or alternate distributor is guaranteeing the product. Most warranties from the manufacturer cover the item for about 90 days. This is standard.  It covers anything that could be wrong upon initial installation, but it’s short enough that it entices people into paying for long term service agreements.  If you’re buying from an alternate provider to take advantage of the large discounts that they can often provide on both new and refurbished routers, be sure to see what the warranty is. Some are up to a year which is actually a better warranty than the manufacturer.  The can offer these longer, more comprehensive warranties because they’re not trying to sell you a service agreement and if they need to replace your router, they can refurbish your old one and resell it– the manufacturer can’t.