Second Hand It Hardware

A computer is a combination of software and hardware parts, both of which are very much important to the proper running of the system. New computer hardware parts such hard-disks and RAM remain high in price because they continue to improve in capacity and speed, and if one holds onto computer equipment for a long time, then it can become obsolete. There is however a way to buy the same equipment in cheap prices, by purchasing it second-hand.

There are three main methods of purchasing used products:

- Buying directly from dealers and sale brokers: When purchasing used IT Hardware equipment from dealers and brokers, people should use common sense and should follow some basic rules. People should read the license agreement before purchasing the equipment and see whether there is a return/warranty policy. Test everything before purchasing the hardware equipment. Hardware parts such as system RAM, keyboard, mouse and monitor should be rigorously checked before purchasing the product.

- Online dealers: There are many online shopping sites available to buy second hand IT Hardware equipment. Sites like E-Bay, Amazon, OLX, etc are some of the sites where sellers advertise their used products online. If a person wants to sell his used PC's hardware parts separately, such as the hard-disk or RAM, he can do so by registering a new account with any of the above sites. He can then upload his product's details and the price he is looking for. The buyers can check the product details and can communicate with the seller through online chat or messaging systems for any clarification, and if the buyer wants to buy the selected product he pays through online payment and will receive the product in the post. Online auctions have become a very popular way for sellers to sell their second hand equipment and earn money at the same time.

- Buying directly from the manufacturer: Manufacturing companies such as Sony and Dell sometimes have a second hand market where they used and refurbished IT hardware products. Mainly these are computer parts which have had some kind of problem and have had to be returned to the manufacturer under the manufacturer warranty. The problem may have been relatively superficial; such as the box being damaged, or a light scratch on the back of a monitor. The manufacturer is not legally allowed to sell the equipment as new, so they must find other ways to offload this problem equipment, sometimes at bargain prices.

By: Louisa Coan