* Readers share their experiences with buying used gear
A recent newsletter about buying used network equipment https://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/itlead/2004/0531itlead2.html spurred lots of feedback. Many of you have had positive experiences, while others passed along sentiments regarding caveat emptor.
One IT pro who asked not to be named began buying used equipment several years ago, and has amassed Cisco Content Switches, 6509’s, 3548’s and other miscellaneous gear. Most are deployed in test and demo environments.
“My experience with both eBay and Network Hardware Resale has been excellent, we’ve gotten good equipment that in some cases was in better condition than the equipment we have in production,” he says.
He follows Cisco’s requirements for re-certification and re-licensing of equipment, “even though it is quite clear to us that this is simply a ploy on Cisco’s part to try and make the used equipment less viable,” he says.
This IT pros says the used gear costs half or even less than the new gear, and so he will continue to evaluate used, refurbished and new options anytime the company makes a large IT purchase. “Since I’m expected to reduce my equipment budget year over year, used equipment remains a viable option,” he says.
Stephen Smith, a systems analyst consultant for Teleplan Videocom Solutions, has had good experiences in purchasing used Cisco routers and Nortel Layer 3 switches, including a Nortel Accellar 1200 Layer 3 switch. In fact, some of the equipment he bought three years ago has been in constant operation since then without any problems. “The cost to benefit ratio was incredibly high,” he says.
Smith suggests choosing a reputable company that offers a 90-day warranty and get a support contract in case something goes wrong after the initial 90 days. “The company I purchased from even had great after-sales support when some of the equipment didn’t have the latest firmware installed,” he says.
G&T Conveyor Company has purchased a few things on e-Bay with good results, says Orin Owen, IT director. However, he notes that these are non-critical components rather than infrastructure items.
Another IT pro who didn’t wish to be named has purchased a lot of used Cisco gear for personal use in a lab. He notes that while many resellers are knowledgeable, there are a few bad apples. The buyer suggests knowing exactly what you need and doing research on pricing. “Checking the ‘completed’ auctions on eBay is a good yardstick,” he says.
But a pretty price tag isn’t enough to entice Bob Linden to purchase used equipment again. Linden, and engineering and project manager for Pittsburgh International Telecommunications, bought some used Cisco routers a year or so ago from a company he does not wish to name. He says the boxes dumped their code more than once and have had hardware problems with interface cards.
“Without very rigorous testing and some type of certification of quality, you’re taking a chance that there could be hidden problems lurking in any used gear. The hassles of repair and maintenance don’t seem be outweighed by a discounted price,” Linden says.
Neil Hennessy, Principal-CIO of TelAdvisor Group, says the downside of buying used Cisco phones is not the hardware. It’s the licensing, which can’t be transferred from the original owner and can cost as much as the entire phone. “Another problem with eBay selling gear, especially phones, is that it promotes office theft from within,” Hennessy says.
