It’s always nice to be able to buy new equipment. You get a full warranty, for example, and a long lifespan based on every part being new. But there is also a higher cost to consider, especially when compared to equipment that’s been reconditioned or refurbished. But like anything that comes used, how do you judge the quality versus the savings?
One way to do this is to judge the equipment by the reputation of the company. Has it been around for a long time? Do they have an extended history of selling equipment that has been refurbished? Is it a major part of their business, or a sideline? What kind of warranties do they offer, and do they stand behind their work? What’s their rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Sage Services Group, for example, sells refurbished patient monitoring equipment, including telemetry transmitters, EKG machines, touch screen panels, and bedside monitors. They’re a known entity in the field and are trusted to deliver quality equipment. And that’s great news since high-quality refurbished patient equipment will work just as well as its brand new counterparts.
Advantages of Refurbished Equipment
Advantages to refurbished equipment are substantial and can make purchasing it a sound business decision. As mentioned, price is a significant factor. Even the best-refurbished equipment, which has been restored to and tested to original factory performance, can be sold for half the cost of similar, new equipment. That’s an especially attractive feature for new or small medical practices.
Durability is another issue. With quality equipment that has been refurbished, defective parts have been replaced. The same happens with old parts past their lifetimes. With computer-driven equipment, necessary software upgrades have also been made to keep the programming current.
Some companies, like Sage Services Group, sell equipment with warranties. Their personnel can explain their warranty to you so that you know exactly what is covered, and what is not. A good question to ask a refurbished equipment company is if my equipment fails, would I get a loaner?
Disadvantages of Refurbished Equipment
Warranties are an issue, even with good companies that offer them. They won’t cover as much, and for as long, as a warranty with a new piece of equipment. They also won’t include as many services, either at all or for as long, as new warranties. This includes things like routine maintenance or adjustments by the vendor.
No matter how well the equipment has been refurbished, it likely won’t last as long as a new counterpart. Relatedly, it might have more instances of repair and maintenance simply because its parts are older. The availability of refurbished equipment, for certain models and manufacturers, may be tight. In some cases, there may only be a few items of the type you’re looking for. So, certain kinds of equipment could be hard to find, especially if demand is high.
According to WebMD, it is the most logical decision to buy new equipment so you don’t take the risk of buying a low-quality product.
Contact Us
Do you still have questions? Just contact us at Sage Services Group, and we’ll be glad to help. At Sage Services, we buy unused patient monitoring equipment, and we also sell new and equipment that has been fixed. We repair aging patient equipment to restore it to its former quality and extend the product life-cycle.
