If you are reading this then you most likely fall into 2 categories. Either you need to purchase refurbished networking equipment and are not sure how to get the equipment you are looking for OR you know how to get refurbished networking equipment and were curious to see what I have to say. Either way you are here so let’s talk about meeting your networking equipment needs shall we?
There is one thing that I can assure you is the key to getting the used cisco equipment that you need. PREPARATION! I know it may seem silly for me to even say that, but many IT buyers come to 
secondary market resellers with a vague idea of what they think they may need. In other words they are not totally prepared for the gambit of questions that the reseller will have for them. Sure after some back and forth, the exact equipment that is needed will come to light, but wouldn’t it be easier to skip all of that?
So what exactly do I mean by preparation?
It’s simple really. There are some basic things that you need to know about your network needs before you contact your network equipment reseller for a quote. To put some perspective on this, I will go to my trusty car comparison. Buying used cisco equipment is exactly like buying a car! You would never just walk into a random dealership and say “I need a car” but have no idea what kind of car you are looking for. Of course not! You would do your research and prepare yourself. You would know what size car you want, what gas mileage, color, specs and so on. The same thing applies to networking equipment!
Now I am not saying that you have to know the exact model of what you are looking to purchase, although if you do it really helps! A good secondary market reseller will be able to guide you to the right cisco switch or router based upon your needs and the specs that you provide. However, without more information than, “I need a router” figuring out what you need will be a long process that will take up way to much of your precious time. So take a little time and prepare yourself by gathering some information about your network needs before you contact your rep!
Here are some things that you should know before you go to your Secondary Market Cisco Dealer
Manufacturer
This one should be a given. If you are building you network from scratch, it is ok to go to your reseller and tell them you need x amount of switches, etc. that can perform x functions and let them direct you to a family of equipment that will best suit your needs. However, if you are already running say primarily Cisco equipment you should probably stick with the Cisco family.
Part Number or Series
This one is not completely necessary. Although, if you are looking for a specific unit, it will greatly benefit your refurbished cisco dealer to know the exact part number or series. This will help your dealer get you exactly what you need.
Condition
It is important to tell your network equipment reseller if you would prefer new or used equipment. Yes, resellers can provide new Cisco equipment as well as used. You should request new if you are looking to put the equipment under a maintenance contract. Not specifying new or used condition could mean the difference between a $500 used Cisco switch and a $2500 new Cisco switch.
Specs
No I am not asking you to get super techie on me here. What you do need to know is how many ports you need or what IOS you need to be running. Perhaps how much memory you need your server to come equip with. Specs can again mean a huge price difference. The more specific you can be the better the odds of you getting the exact dell server, or Cisco PoE switch you need.
Quantity
You need to let your network equipment reseller know ahead of time how many units you are looking to purchase. Quantity may not only affect pricing but it can also affect the time it takes to get the equipment to you. To receive and accurate estimate of the cost and lead time on the equipment that you need, tell your dealer ahead of time how many units you are looking to purchase.
Time Frame
Just as important as the quantity is the time frame in which you need the equipment. If you need something by the next business day, you need to tell your network equipment reseller that right away. Most secondary market resellers can accommodate overnight shipping requests without a problem, if given the proper notice.
In short a little preparation will go a long way. As a customer it is important to not only know what you want but ultimately what you need in the grand scheme of things. If you are still not sure what you need or where to start, never fear DNI is here!
Get all the help you need right here!
