Most of us prefer to buy things new because we believe that new is superior to used.  We like the idea of being the first to own a product.  There’s no guessing as to whether the previous owner took care of the product or not. We know the manufacturer will stand behind the new product if anything should go wrong.  And many of us are willing to pay premium prices just to have that peace of mind.

But maybe it’s time to shift that paradigm.  Buying refurbished products, especially when it comes to IT hardware, actually has several advantages over buying new.

First, and most obvious, is the cost savings.  Like an automobile, IT equipment loses a great deal of value as soon as it is purchased. Is the hardware any less functional on the second day it’s in use than it was before you pulled it out of the box?  Nope. Not at all.  But ‘used’ equipment seems to harbor a stigma that it may be unreliable and provide inferior performance to the same product that’s ‘new.’  Luckily, this is, for the most part, a myth.  Purchasing refurbished equipment from a reliable, long-standing retailer MULTI-LINK Communications Products (MLCP) is just as safe as purchasing from a manufacturer like Cisco itself.  MLCP tests all equipment thoroughly and even covers every refurbished product they sell with a one year warranty.  They don’t sell anything unless it has been refurbished to factory standards, minimizing the risk of buying used hardware.  In addition, the company offers trade-in credits on used equipment that you no longer need, giving you an extra savings.

Second, because computer hardware is actually considered toxic waste due to its lead and Cadmium content, buying refurbished hardware actually keeps these used products out of landfills and extends their lives, reducing consumption and therefore toxic waste.  By selling your old IT hardware to MLCP, and taking advantage of their trade-in credits, you are doing your part to keep the environment clean for future generations.

Third, because the demand is high for ‘new’ products, there can sometimes be long waits until the product becomes available.  Time is money and waiting can cost you dearly.  Refurbished products tend to have fewer waitlists and often, you can get a refurbished product, like a switch or a router, within days of ordering instead of weeks or months.

If you haven’t considered buying refurbished hardware, then maybe it’s time you gave it a try.  Quicker delivery, lower costs, and consumption reduction are all great reasons to make the switch to refurbished.