TIPS FOR BUYING USED CISCO AND JUNIPER HARDWARE

Serial numbers:

Be sure all used Cisco and Juniper hardware has valid and intact serial numbers. Missing or incomplete serial numbers are a red flag and could possibly indicate stolen hardware. This warning is especially true if the price is very attractive.

Know your dealer:

Ask for references. Any legitimate company dealing in used Cisco and used Juniper should be willing to provide names and numbers of satisfied customers.

How long has the dealer been in business?

The dot com implosion resulted in a rash of new dealers entering the refurbished business. While this is not a bad sign by itself, a great many fly by night operators also entered the business at the same time. The trick is winnowing out the legitimate dealers from the fast buck artists. A dealer that has been in business for at least 5 years is most likely to be legitimate.

Hardware with a warranty vs. hardware that is sold “as is”:

Be aware of the difference. The former is guaranteed, the latter case might work, it might not. What the seller is telling you is that, best case, they have not bothered to test it or, worst case, it might be damaged or not work at all. Once you purchase hardware on an “as is “ basis, you have little or no recourse if it fails to work.

Ask for bank references:

At a minimum a bank will tell you when the account was opened. If an account has been opened for several years, then it indicates a viable, ongoing business vs. a fly-by- night shop.

Submit a purchase order to the company:

This provides a detailed paper trail of what was purchased: brand name, exact part number, quantity, price, date purchased, terms, shipping methods, warranty – all useful details to preserve.

Contact the dealer’s local Better Business Bureau:

While a clean record by itself might not be definitive proof of an honest dealer, it is one more tool to use in deciding where to place your business.

Ask what professional organizations their company belongs to:

There are a number of dealer/reseller organizations that companies belong to which enforce high ethical standards. If they hesitate in answering, consider it a yellow caution flag. If they answer, ask for the organization's phone number/email. Contact the organization directly and confirm if the dealer is a legitimate member. Coastside Networking is a member in good standing with UNEDA.com.

What is the warranty?

Generally speaking, all dealers offer at least a 30 day warranty for used Cisco and used Juniper. Other companies offer 60 days, 90 days or even longer. Ask if the dealer offers extended warranties. Click for Coastside Networking’s warranty.

What is the refurbishment/testing process?

Ask the dealer before placing any orders what steps they perform on their refurbished Cisco and refurbished Juniper prior to shipping product. You want to be sure that it involves more than blowing the dust off. Click for Coastside Networking’s testing/refurbishment process.

What is the company’s return policy?

Returning product is always a touchy subject with all dealers. If the product is a special order, some manufacturers may refuse to accept it back from the reseller. If the product has been opened, the value drops considerably. This is true even if it has never been used. Just breaking the seal on a box renders it as used equipment as far as a bank or flooring company is concerned. It helps to investigate this and ask any questions/concerns you have before you place any orders and avoid any unpleasantness after the fact. Dealers post usually their return policies on their Web sites as well as their invoices. Read these policies carefully or you may get stuck with the product or a hefty restocking if you order incorrectly. Dealers vary widely in their policies; from no returns unless the product is DOA to generous open ended returns with no questions asked and no re-stocking fees. Special orders may be non-cancelable and non-returnable; again, check with the individual dealer before placing that purchase order. Click here for Coastside Networking’s return policy.

Don’t buy on low price alone:

Used/refurbished Cisco and refurbished Juniper Networks equipment already represents a big savings over new equipment. Refurbished equipment prices typically are 50-90% below retail. Bear in mind that if a price is very low, it raises the possibility of being stolen or counterfeit. Lastly, don’t grind the dealer over a few dollars on price. Consider the other intangibles mentioned in this list.

If you buy by means of an auction:

Consider using a third party escrow account so that payment is made only after you have received the product. Check out www.escrow.com. This offers protection for both buyer and seller.

Start small and build your purchases:

If you are uncertain of the dealer, start with a small purchase and gradually increase your purchasing level. Did they ship when promised? Was the product professionally packed and sealed in electrostatic bags? Did they respond to post sales support questions? Do they return phone calls? Most importantly, did the product work as promised?

Be aware of counterfeit product:

Counterfeit product is certainly out there. See our article on counterfeit Cisco. To our knowledge, no Juniper product has been copied but this may be a matter of time. If you are purchasing new or refurbished Cisco, see our list of counterfeit part numbers.

Be aware of “recycled product”:

This refers to genuine product that was destined for the scrap heap (due to damage or defects) but has been diverted and sold off by unethical merchants/recyclers. This product then finds its way back into a working IT environment. Again, know your dealer.    

Look at the company’s Web site:

A great deal of information can be gleaned from a company’s Web site. Look at the company’s policies. What is their warranty period? What is their return policy? Privacy policy? What sort of payment options are offered? The “look and feel” of a Web site will tell you a great deal about the company. Be particularly alert for fly by night operators. Suspect sites that offer a minimum of information and are often vague on details and policies. Quick buck artists don’t usually take the time or effort to put together professional Web sites.

All pages on this Web site are protected. See our site useage policy.