At CXtec, we always have great advice for you on what to look for when buying used network hardware. There are always telltale signs to look for in order to ensure you’re getting quality equipment.

But there’s another side to that coin. Once you’re ready to sell your used equipment, there are certain factors that should help guide your decision. Keep these things in mind when it’s time to sell your hardware.

Protect your sensitive information on your network hardware

When you’ve sold your hardware to a vendor, what do they do with it? That’s really the first question to ask yourself. Because regardless of how much money they give you, there could be potential repercussions down the road.

Think about it. That vendor will probably look to resell your equipment if it still has industry worth. Which is great, it extends the life cycle of the hardware. But a lot of that hardware has private information stored on it. What would happen if it fell into the wrong hands or was made public because the vendor you sold it to didn’t properly erase your info?

Seek out a vendor that can assure you that the equipment you sell them undergoes a full data cleansing and is returned to factory defaults. That’s the only way to be certain your sensitive information isn’t in danger of being leaked.

Protect your reputation

So what happens if the equipment you’re selling no longer has industry worth and is ready to be recycled? Do you know the vendor you’re working with will recycle that hardware through the proper channels? What happens if they don’t?

Unfortunately for you, if your hardware winds up improperly disposed in a landfill somewhere, you’re still legally liable. That could cost you big in legal fees, and just as important, your reputation could take a pretty bad hit.

It’s imperative that your vendor can prove that they use the proper means of recycling your equipment. They better have downstream partners that do things the right way; otherwise you’re taking a huge risk with your organization’s good name.

Shipping your network hardware isn’t cheap

If you have to pay to ship the equipment you’re selling to that vendor, it will take a huge chunk out of your profit margin. A reputable vendor will provide pre-paid shipping labels so that the expense is taken off your hands. It’s a sound business practice and it ensures you get the best return on your investment as possible.

How much is a vendor really worth if they saddle you with the expense of getting your hardware to them?

Get the maximum value for your network hardware

How can you ensure you’re getting the best price for your hardware? It’s not easy; both sides are going to try to get the best deal they can. But here’s a clue: how financially stable is the company you’re doing business with?

If the company is debt-free and has a good rating, that means the way they do business is sound and they’re able to offer maximum value for the equipment they buy. On the other hand, if they can’t prove that they’re fiscally sound, chances are they’re going to be fleecing you on price to make up the difference.

Look for a vendor that can prove their fiscal solvency. That’s just a fancy way of saying they’re not in debt or have a terrible credit rating! Then you know that the offers they make are based on true value, rather than them trying to bilk you.

Don’t look for a network hardware vendor – find a partner

It’s something we say often here at CXtec. A vendor is one thing, but finding a technology partner who’s there with you every step of the way is vital. It makes all your decisions easier. A lot rides on your asset recovery strategies. Make sure who you’re working with is reputable, and has your interests in mind as well as their own.

Are you someone who has ruled out using Cisco in your network because you think the costs are too high?

Hey, we can sympathize. You’ll find no judgment here. Cisco technology has numerous merits and it’s the most popular choice around the world. But as a manufacturer, they’re always pushing the latest and greatest products, and the costs involved with that can really add up on you.

However, there are so many people out there who can afford Cisco and they just don’t know it.

So what are you to do?

Well, have you thought about top quality used Cisco? Wait. Before you fall back on the tired old knee-jerk reactions and myths about pre-owned network hardware, just read on.

What if you could get used Cisco products that are as good as new and have a reliability rating better than new hardware?

Sounds a little better, doesn’t it?

Here are a few reasons why we recommend using high quality pre-owned Cisco hardware  and how it makes Cisco  affordable for you.

Don’t think used Cisco, think as good as new

Answer this question.

What do you really get when you buy brand new Cisco hardware?

Now imagine that all of those positive things you get from new product can also come from buying used Cisco.

Yes, it’s possible.

If you thought about high reliability, a great warranty, and the peace of mind of SMARTnet maintenance coverage, then we have good news. High quality used Cisco can rival those, with a few little bonuses thrown in.

High Quality Used Cisco vs New Cisco

Better than new reliability

For instance, the reliability rating CXtec backs its equal2new hardware with is a robust 99.51%. You might not realize it, but that rating is actually just as good as new products. Now you won’t find manufacturers, Cisco included, routinely telling you what their failure rate is, but most new product failures happen with DOA items or devices that fail within the first 30 days.

The nice thing about high quality pre-owned equipment is that most devices will work nearly flawlessly once burned in. And unlike manufacturers, CXtec tests absolutely every piece of equal2new hardware that goes out our doors. Manufacturers tend to just do spot-checks on every 50^th or 100^th device leaving their doors.

Warranty for a lifetime

It’s hard to see an advantage for new Cisco products in this regard when most come with the standard 90-day warranty. In contrast, you don’t have to look very hard to find top quality pre-owned Cisco hardware with a lifetime warranty and first year advance replacement.

Affordable peace of mind

People often point to SMARTnet as being one of their prime reasons for preferring new Cisco hardware. There’s no arguing that SMARTnet is a quality program.

However, what if you could get next business day advance replacement for your Cisco gear, but it would cost as much as 60% less than SMARTnet?

There are some great amazing Cisco SMARTnet alternatives that allow people to save a bunch of money. You will get a quick, simple, reliable option to guarantee your hardware is up and running in a flash, at a fraction of the cost.

And the best part…

Save from 50% to 90% List! Can You Afford That?

Now that you know you can find top quality used Cisco equipment, what would be the icing on the cake? Well, consider the fact that equal2new certified pre-owned Cisco equipment routinely costs upwards of 70% or more off list price, then you really have something to take note of.

Get all of the benefits you are looking for from new Cisco and a ton of savings? Why not give it shot? With a lifetime warranty backing up the product and NBD hardware replacement, you have nothing to lose.

Still not convinced on used hardware being a smart choice?  Well, we are going to continue providing reasons you should be.

Here are 3 more reasons you should be buying used network hardware

Used Network Hardware  =  Reduce Maintenance Costs

Forget the cost of purchasing the equipment for a second, on average, about how much are you spending just to maintain it? When you turn to an equipment manufacturer or distributor, don’t you expect them to provide you with a full service solution and do the work for you? Most providers of used equipment offer warranties so rather than going out and buying new equipment or enlisting in a third party to come fix it, your provider will either repair your used router or switch or swap the product for an alternative device.

Used Network Hardware Supports Your Company’s Go Green Initiative

Whether your system has gone paperless, or you’ve invested in a solar powered roof to keep the electricity bill down, the latest and most efficient way of supporting green efforts for a company is to buy high quality pre-owned equipment. Re-used hardware is the highest form of going green.  Consider how fast technology changes and how each piece of equipment becomes obsolete before it has the chance to acquire a layer of dust on its surface. By re-using network hardware, your company is ultimately lowering the demand for devices and decreasing the amount of equipment they have to produce.

Quality Used Network Hardware Products are Guaranteed… and Then Some

When researching any product or service, it’s always reassuring to know that you are completely covered with a reliable warranty plan. To understand the process of refurbished equipment, you have to first understand the stringent process and requirements each piece of used network hardware must first endure to become certified as usable. Some might say that used equipment has to go through the ringer even more to prove its efficiency to go back out into the market.

Recently, we’ve been going to great lengths to let you know the benefits you get when you know your source for networking equipment. We talked about how you get added value, ease, assurance, ability and stability – and today we’d like to discuss how to get unrivaled reliability.

Doing business with a proven partner means you can rely on their equipment to work. But there’s more involved than just a guarantee and a wink, what proof can a vendor provide to show that their equipment is truly reliable?

Here are a few key questions to ask in order to get reliable equipment and work with a partner you can depend on:

1. Do they account for ESD?

So what is ESD? It stands for electrostatic discharge, and it’s that little electric shock you get when you contact a surface that is charged. Now when we say “little” please understand that even tiny shocks can do significant damage to sensitive electronic technology.

Think about this: a mere 100 volt electrostatic discharge can damage technology to a point where it is rendered defective, yet a human being can’t even detect an ESD spark until the charge is at least 3,000 volts. Knowing this, it’s pretty obvious your technology vendor better have a strategy to avoid this kind of potential damage.

It’s not enough for them to just say they do testing. You’ll need to know about their protective measures. If they haven’t gone to exhaustive lengths to protect the hardware they’re selling you, it’s possible you could get products that will malfunction on you.

2. What are their shipping procedures?

Many times we hear about vendors that claim they have these great testing and refurbishing processes, and hey, that very well may be true. But what happens when they ship their products to you?

Do they package them well? If they just throw them in a box with some packing peanuts, how confident can you really be that they will arrive at you facility undamaged and ready to work?

For reference, CXtec take a great deal of pride in our shipping process. We secure all networking hardware using Foam-in-Place packaging that creates a protective cushion around the technology. For phones, we stabilize each phone in its own box with an elastomeric film that keeps the phone safe and jostle-free during shipping.

Make sure you ask your vendor what they do with their packaging. Otherwise, you might not get very reliable hardware from them.

3. Is their quality management system backed by a third-party source like ISO?

Bottom line is it’s easy for a vendor to say they do all sorts of wonderful, magical things with their hardware. But can they really back up their claims?

Look for a vendor whose quality management system has been certified as sound by a third-party source that specializes in this type of appraisal. When a source comes in and scrutinizes your vendor’s processes, you know that they conduct business in accordance with higher quality principles.

Preferably, your best bet is to work with a vendor that is ISO 9001:2008-certified. This way you can be absolutely sure that a reliable, proven third party source has endorsed their processes and commitment to providing quality equipment.

How does CXtec provide the best value with our equal2new equipment? The equation is simple. We buy quality hardware from end-users; certify it as equal2new using the industry’s finest refurbishing process, then sell it at fantastic discounts off list to our customers.

Simple right? It is, but it mandates that the first step in the process is really the most important. It’s imperative we get our hands on quality used networking equipment and phones, so that we can relay that value on to our customers. That’s why we pay top dollar for all the used networking hardware we buy.

We need phones

As you can tell by the title of this blog, right now we’re looking especially for Nortel 1140E phones. But this certainly isn’t all we’re looking for. Here are few other models we’re out searching for right now:

• 3Com 102PE
• Avaya 1603SW
• Cisco 7941G
• Mitel Superset 4025

These are just a few. To see a more complete list of our most wanted phones, just click here.

We need networking equipment

We’re also always looking for used networking hardware to buy. Here are some of the models we’re looking for now:

• 3Com 3300 8P FX
• Cisco Catalyst 3750X 48 Port Full PoE IP Base
• HP ProCurve 2848
• Nortel Baystack 5520
• Aruba AP-105 Dual Access Wireless Access Point

We’re looking for lots more. Check out a complete list of our most wanted networking equipment by going here.

Don’t see the equipment on our lists that you’re looking to sell? Hey, that doesn’t mean we don’t want it. Give us a call anytime at 800.767.3282 and we’ll offer you cash, credit or trade for your used networking hardware and phones!