Used Cisco

 

Gains in purchasing power are realized without sacrificing equipment quality and functionality

 

By Joe Serra 

Finding the best equipment

With the right vendor, a healthcare facility can leverage the secondary IT equipment market to create breathing room in its technology budget. The process begins with the identification of basic needs. Healthcare purchasers need authentic equipment that will arrive promptly, work properly right out of the box and last as long as brand new equipment. With those needs in mind, consider the following points:  

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  Reputation counts. Find an established vendor known for delivering on its promises and building partnerships with its customers. Ask for references. Vendors should thoroughly test all products, conduct necessary refurbishment, include a one-year warranty at a minimum, ensure the products come complete as new and provide a responsive technical support team. Often these companies will offer service contracts or sell spare parts at a discounted rate. The best providers also are large enough to maintain extensive inventory, rather than requiring the customer to work through a broker.

 

• Seek product diversity from a manufacturer-agnostic provider. Vendors that are not connected to a particular manufacturer tend to focus more on customers’ needs and have the flexibility to offer a number of cost-effective options. While Cisco constitutes between 55 and 60 percent of the new market and makes an excellent product, a less expensive alternative may meet a customer’s needs with equal success. Ask your vendor, as you may not be familiar with brands like Force10 Networks, Extreme Networks or Foundry that may actually be a better fit for your particular situation.
• Look for value. Unlike the entity that sells on eBay, reputable vendors add value by refurbishing networking equipment to bring it up to specific standards. The certification process should include a comprehensive physical inspection, full product testing, refurbishment, warehousing and packaging. Ask prospective suppliers about their quality assurance processes. What’s more, the equipment should be priced consistently across vendors selling comparable items.