Keeping all the tech in your business current, fresh, and up to date can be a challenge. If your business is young or your margins are tight, replacing a fleet of tired, aging laptops might be a painful financial hit, too.
One option that could save some money? Buying your upgraded tech used, rather than new. (But notice we said “could,” not “will” — more on this later.)
Lots of people (and businesses) are doing it: secondhand electronics were a $93.7 billion industry in 2023. But should you?
The truth is there are pros and cons to buying tech used, and if you do it the wrong way you might even open up your business to bigger digital threats.
Why Go Used? Used Devices Are Cheaper
The most obvious reason to buy used is saving money. It’s true that two years ago’s iPhones are cheaper than this year’s, and the same goes for business laptops, monitors, and just about anything else your business needs.
Reality Check: You May Save Less Than You Think
Before you jump too deep into the used-tech waters, it’s worth thinking about more than just the sticker price: sure, a two-year-old phone is cheaper than the flagship model released last week. But how long will you be able to use that used phone before you need to replace it again? You’ll probably still save some money buying used, but if you’re replacing hardware more frequently, that savings is less than the sticker price suggests.
5 Factors to Evaluate Before Buying Used
Buying used tech may save you money, but before you commit, consider these five elements. Depending on your business and your risk tolerance, even saving a few bucks may not be worth the risk.
1. Age of Device
Older devices sometimes run perfectly for a long time. It depends a little on what kind of device, how good the specs were when it was new, and a few other factors. But the fact is, all else being equal, old things break and wear out faster than new things. It doesn’t matter how well the device performs if the hard drive dies, the power supply burns out, or ports stop working.
So before you buy used, make sure you know the device’s age (both in actual years and in generations, if those don’t line up perfectly).
2. Returns / Support Plans
Typically when you buy business tech new, you get reliable, easy-to-understand return policies and support plans. If something breaks or just doesn’t work like you thought it would, you can usually get your problem solved through your supplier or service provider.
On the used market? Your guess is as good as ours.
So if you buy used, look into what kind of return policy or support plan (if any) you’re getting.
3. Lifespan / End of Support
Older tech may also be close to the end of its useful life, even if it works well today. And if it isn’t supported any longer by the manufacturer, that means the device won’t get security updates — and that’s a big, big problem. So before you buy used, make sure it can run the current OS and is still getting manufacturer updates (and will for some time to come).
4. Battery Health
This might not matter much for office equipment, but it’s a big deal for mobile devices: battery health. Today’s batteries grow weaker the more times they’re drained and recharged. If a device’s battery is past its prime, it won’t last as long — and the device might even operate slower as a result.
5. Accessories and Compatibility
Last, think about availability of accessories and compatibility with the other tech in the office. Random old connection styles, dated communication protocols, styluses, industry-specific accessories— you get the idea. Old tech can work great, but make sure they can work with whatever else you’re using.
Got questions about upgrading tech at your business? We can help — and even get you on a managed hardware plan that evens out those spiky hardware replacement costs. Reach out today to discuss your needs.