When they are looking for the best deal on used Sun servers, many companies consider purchasing the hardware from an auction. However, this option should be approached with caution for several reasons. Although it is possible to purchase high-quality refurbished Sun servers from an auction website or a company liquidation auction, it is also quite possible to buy a product that offers poor reliability and performance. Below are three reasons why.
It's Hard to Know If the Equipment is Truly Refurbished
Most auctions don’t provide a certificate of refurbishment for reconditioned hardware. And even when a certificate is provided, it lacks authority. Since equipment at auctions is sold as-is, the buyer has no recourse if the product is improperly reconditioned. This makes buying reconditioned servers from an auction extremely risky. A better option is to buy from a seller that offers a warranty.
Difficult To Test and Inspect the Equipment
Most auctions don’t give you much leverage to inspect or test refurbished Sun servers before you buy them. Not being able to test and inspect used Sun servers may not impact professional buyers, who plan on reconditioning the hardware, but it can affect companies that need to start using the hardware shortly after the purchase.
When equipment comes with a certificate of refurbishment from a reputable seller, it needn’t be tested and inspected. Because such a certificate carries little weight when it is presented within the context of the auction, the equipment indeed needs to be tested and inspected before it is purchased -- two things that are seldom possible.
Equipment Typically Comes Without a Warranty
In some cases, IT hardware that is sold at auctions is still under the manufacturer’s warranty. But this tends to be the exception. When pre-owned hardware is sold, it is usually after the original warranty period, which can last anywhere between one month and three years, has expired. When you buy reconditioned products from a professional seller, you receive a warranty independent of the manufacturer’s warranty. Some sellers offer lifetime warranties for refurbished hardware.
Purchasing refurbished Sun servers from an auction can result in getting the products for a low price, but it can also result in buying IT equipment that is unreliable and offers poor performance. When this happens, the buyer is usually without recourse, as the equipment typically lacks a warranty. Purchasing used Sun servers from a professional reseller of pre-owned hardware is the safest option.
It's Hard to Know If the Equipment is Truly Refurbished
Most auctions don’t provide a certificate of refurbishment for reconditioned hardware. And even when a certificate is provided, it lacks authority. Since equipment at auctions is sold as-is, the buyer has no recourse if the product is improperly reconditioned. This makes buying reconditioned servers from an auction extremely risky. A better option is to buy from a seller that offers a warranty.
Difficult To Test and Inspect the Equipment
Most auctions don’t give you much leverage to inspect or test refurbished Sun servers before you buy them. Not being able to test and inspect used Sun servers may not impact professional buyers, who plan on reconditioning the hardware, but it can affect companies that need to start using the hardware shortly after the purchase.
When equipment comes with a certificate of refurbishment from a reputable seller, it needn’t be tested and inspected. Because such a certificate carries little weight when it is presented within the context of the auction, the equipment indeed needs to be tested and inspected before it is purchased -- two things that are seldom possible.
Equipment Typically Comes Without a Warranty
In some cases, IT hardware that is sold at auctions is still under the manufacturer’s warranty. But this tends to be the exception. When pre-owned hardware is sold, it is usually after the original warranty period, which can last anywhere between one month and three years, has expired. When you buy reconditioned products from a professional seller, you receive a warranty independent of the manufacturer’s warranty. Some sellers offer lifetime warranties for refurbished hardware.
Purchasing refurbished Sun servers from an auction can result in getting the products for a low price, but it can also result in buying IT equipment that is unreliable and offers poor performance. When this happens, the buyer is usually without recourse, as the equipment typically lacks a warranty. Purchasing used Sun servers from a professional reseller of pre-owned hardware is the safest option.