In the past I’ve sold a ton of used computers. It used to make sense for people to purchase used systems because of the cost savings. However, based on the economy and other factors, purchasing used is not necessarily a good idea.
Many customers believe they can get a good deal on used equipment – and that’s not necessarily the case. Buyers have no idea how the prior owner used the equipment. It’s up to the individual or organization that refurbished the computer to decide if the quality is decent enough to withstand a couple years of use.
Computers and laptops are made up of several mechanical components. They include the hard drive, fans, and optical (CD) drive. The hard drive spins when the computer is powered on. Some fans spin all the time, while others are powered only intermittently. The CD or DVD drive also spins when needed. The first device, the hard drive, is the most critical component in a computer.
The average life of a hard drive is three years. I tell people to expect no more than three years when we replace a hard drive at the store; however, they will sometimes last more or less than that. If the hard drive fails then you can potentially lose all of your data: things like pictures, music, and typed documents.
Most used computers are typically three to four years old, unless the purchaser is lucky enough to get one that’s newer than that. Most of the time people who get rid of their computer are doing so because it doesn’t perform as it should or there’s a malfunction. It’s rare that people dispose of anything that works as it should.
From the store’s perspective a typical purchase works as follows. A customer comes into the store to sell their equipment. Most stores will offer $40.00 to $60.00 for a used laptop in almost any functional condition. Depending on the bylaws in the jurisdiction they’re located, a store may have to hold the equipment for up to one month. Once the allotted time has passed, the store can then perform the necessary work to make the machine saleable.
A good shop will follow the letter of the law and install only legal copies of the operating system and supporting software. However, there are many unscrupulous resellers that will install illegal copies of operating systems to make used computers more inviting to customers.
In any event, it costs a typical store anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00 to refurbish a computer or laptop and make it saleable. Typically, a used laptop will sell for anywhere from $200.00 to $250.00 in good condition with a legal copy of Windows. This leaves very little margin for a store to make a reasonable profit and be able to offer any type of support post sale. This is why the warranties on used equipment are far less than new.
Large chain stores sell new laptops with legal copies of Microsoft Windows 7 and full factory warranties for under $300.00. Factory warranties are one year in most cases. As I stated earlier, the expected life of a computer is generally around three years under normal use. It’s hard for a little store to compete against big box stores’ pricing and warranties.
It doesn’t make sense anymore to purchase used equipment. The risk of data loss due to hardware failure is probably the biggest cause for concern. For a small amount more than the price of a used computer, buyers can have new equipment. Finally, receiving a potentially illegal copy of Windows may limit the use of the computer. Risking your data to used equipment isn’t worth a few dollars in savings.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him at (978) 413-2840 or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)