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