Used Computers, Accessories - Reduce, Reuse and Save

Used computers and accessories can help your business reach its financial and environmental goals. That's right. You can save some green and be green at the same time simply by practicing two of the three R's - reducing and reusing. (We'll leave the recycling to other aspects of your business.)

Let's start with saving some green. IT budgets present challenges to most businesses. As much as you try to keep costs in check, they can escalate through no fault of your own. Your hardware can be deemed obsolete by a manufacturer. When your equipment breaks down, you may need a replacement if you don't have the parts needed to repair it yourself. This is where used computers, parts and accessories enter the picture.

Keeping existing technology longer is the goal of used computer vendors and most IT managers. Upgrades are costly. Upgrades often require recertification or training, adding to costs. If you could access discontinued or used parts for your servers and workstations, wouldn't you? Maybe all you need is a memory upgrade for an older-model server. With the right used computer vendor, you can find what you need, for a low price no less, and save the expense of buying a new server.

If you need to expand your existing network when your platform is obsolete, you can find what you need on the secondary market. Used computer vendors have a wide selection of parts and options for most networks being used today. Some even have special partnerships with manufacturers that allow them to sell their discontinued or refurbished parts.

Now for the environmental green. As you are probably aware, computers contain some very toxic substances. Cadmium, selenium, arsenic and mercury are just a few. Fire retardants - used in computer housings - are also highly toxic. Although many old computers still end up in a landfill, that is the last place they should go.

While many people might think of old computers as merely garbage, others see a lot of value in them. Instead of junking them, why not think green and make sure they are reused? Many used computer vendors obtain their inventory from large businesses, government departments and the like. When these organizations upgrade their systems, a secondary market vendor can purchase the old machines and make them available for resale.

If the machines are too old to be of resale value, they can be dismantled, in an environmentally safe manner. Their parts may still be useful and can be sold on the secondary market. Most IT departments are staffed by very resourceful people who can extend the life of even the oldest hardware, if they have access to the components they need.

When you sell your computers to be reused, or buy used computers or accessories yourself, you are reducing the need for new hardware. Reducing the need means less turnover of equipment which, in turn, means less waste.

Granted, this is a simplified argument. E-waste is a huge problem and it will take a concerted effort by everyone to reduce the number of computers being sent into the waste stream. But even the smallest gesture can make a big difference. To start making a difference at your office, consider the used computer market next time you need to repair or upgrade your network.