| If your computer network keeps expanding and the | | | | offer, such as a short term rental program, trade-ins, |
| associated networking equipment costs keep | | | | an integrated solution with mixed vendors and initial set |
| increasing, you might want to consider buying | | | | up services |
| equipment in the secondary market. This is a place | | | | If you are a newbie in purchasing equipment on the |
| where you can purchase used or unused brand name | | | | secondary market there are some very good |
| equipment; such as, servers, routers, LAN switches | | | | questions you need to ask before buying from a |
| and more at substantial savings. Savings of 50-70% of | | | | dealer. Getting the right answers will make it a pleasant |
| list price are not unusual. | | | | experience. Here are the questions you need to ask? |
| The secondary market for computer equipment was | | | | How long has the dealer been in business? Try to deal |
| born in the early 1970s when the Federal Government | | | | with someone who has been around a good number |
| forced IBM to sell equipment and not just rent it. Since | | | | of years and can provide references |
| that time it is estimated that the secondary market for | | | | Is the equipment tested and how thoroughly? This is a |
| equipment like computers and WAN and LAN | | | | must and a printout of test results is very desirable |
| equipment exceeds $20 billion. A few examples of the | | | | What is the warranty on the equipment? There should |
| brands that are readily available on the secondary | | | | be a minimum of a 90 day warranty |
| market are: IBM, Dell, Cisco Systems, Nortel and many | | | | If your require on site maintenance can they provide it? |
| more. | | | | Can the dealer put this equipment on the |
| In a survey conducted by CIO magazine, which caters | | | | manufacturerfs maintenance program or on a third |
| to IT executives, found that 77% of companies | | | | party maintenance plan What is the companyfs return |
| surveyed buy secondhand or used IT equipment. | | | | policy? |
| Surprisingly, the reasons why so many companies are | | | | Will this equipment look like new? Ask the dealer what |
| purchasing used equipment go beyond just saving | | | | they do to make the equipment look as close to new |
| money. Here are some of the reasons that have been | | | | as possible |
| mentioned: | | | | What kind of technical support is available? If you |
| Maximize IT Equipment Investment You can save | | | | need, can you receive pre-sale and post-sale support |
| 50-70% on previously owned equipment | | | | if you need it. It is not unreasonable for a dealer to |
| Convert Surplus Equipment into Cash You can sell | | | | charge for applications support, though. |
| your un-needed equipment or trade it in towards other | | | | Manufacturers can sometimes be touchy about |
| equipment | | | | maintenance and software issues on previously |
| Quick Delivery for Emergency Needs Dealers in the | | | | owned equipment, so make sure all your concerns are |
| secondary market can typically provide equipment | | | | dealt with in writing. If you get all the right answers to |
| much faster than the manufacturer | | | | the above questions and deal with someone who has |
| More Personalized Service Dealers, being smaller | | | | been in this business for a good many years your |
| companies than the Manufacturer, are more flexible | | | | experience in the secondary market should be a |
| and responsive | | | | pleasant one. |
| More Services Available Secondary market dealers | | | | Copyright 2006 Warwick Data Systems,Inc. |
| will offer services that the manufacturer may not | | | | |