Buying refurbished equipment is something lots of people say they'll do, but when they actually set out to get that equipment, they often end up with items that don't work quite as well as they thought. This is usually due to confusion about the term "refurbished" or to looking in the wrong place for the equipment. Luckily it's easy to find good refurbished equipment if you know what to look for, as well as what to look out for.

Refurbished Is Different Than Used

Confusing refurbished and used equipment is a common mistake that a lot of new buyers make, especially because the used equipment is often fixed up to some extent. Refurbished specifically means that the equipment has been fixed up to function as if it were new. You should not have odd problems popping up once you start using equipment that has been properly refurbished. Keep in mind that refurbished equipment could have been something like a display model in its previous life, meaning that the equipment could have been in very good shape to start.

It's prudent to look into whether the company you're buying from has warranties on the parts or labor needed should the equipment malfunction. The warranties may likely be shorter than you'd find on truly new items, but they can still help you if something goes haywire.

The Technology Matters

Refurbishing something to the point where it's like new is fine, but be aware that the technology in question could be fairly old. Where that can really have an effect is in the environmental impact of using the machines. refurbishing is good, but look for equipment models that were released fairly recently.

Buy From a Refurbishing Company, Not a Dry Cleaner's Company

Anything that has been refurbished should have been worked on by an actual repair and refurbishing company. Dry cleaners who are selling their old equipment fixed up may still pass along a lot of problems. Even if the dry cleaner claims he or she refurbished the equipment, you don't really know what they've done other than make it look really good. You need to go to a company that has a good track record of repairing and renovating equipment to the highest standard.

If you seek out those warranties, the like-new status, the up-to-date technology, and the repair experience, you should end up with a very good set of equipment that lasts for a long time. It may take some searching, but that equipment is out there, waiting for you. Contact a company, like S&W Equipment, for more help.