| Schools, businesses or individuals looking to | | | | Business Bureau. Check for complaints. With |
| purchase new computers can save quite a bit | | | | the proliferation of eBay, buying someone's |
| of money by buying pre-owned, recently | | | | old computer IS NOT anything like buying a |
| off-lease machines from a reputable | | | | professionally refurbished, off-lease |
| dealer.Businesses lease their PCs for a | | | | computer from a company that does nothing but |
| period of time - typically 2 or 3 years. At | | | | refurb computers for a living. Stick with |
| the end of the lease, the equipment comes | | | | reputable businesses that have a |
| back to close out the lease. Similar to an | | | | purpose.THIRD - GET A FULL WARRANTY.Settle |
| automobile lease (where you'd return the | | | | for nothing less than a 1-year warranty, but |
| vehicle to your local dealer), the computer | | | | ask for 3-year coverage. But looking deeper |
| equipment has to come back to the processing | | | | than the length of the warranty. If the |
| facility with normal wear and tear. On a | | | | company is offering a 3-year warranty, but |
| vehicle, that could mean quite a bit. But on | | | | hasn't been in business that long, skip it. |
| a computer, the only significant "wear and | | | | Move on.FOURTH - ASK FOR A TRIAL.A few |
| tear" is on the keyboard and the mouse. | | | | companies will actually allow you to "test |
| Sure, the moving components inside (i.e the | | | | drive" their equipment prior to committing to |
| hard drive, cd-rom, and the floppy drive, and | | | | a larger purchase. End-users looking for a |
| fans) are used, but about 95% of these | | | | personal computer for themselves won't get in |
| components are still functioning | | | | on the trial offer, but a business or school |
| properly.Off-lease refurbs are NOT to be | | | | that is looking to outfit their entire |
| confused with factory refurbished equipment. | | | | organization with "like" machines is a good |
| Equipment that comes back to the original | | | | candidate for a trial. Worst case - buy one. |
| equipment manufacturers (i.e Dell, HP, | | | | See how it looks. See how the company |
| Compaq, Gateway, etc.) gets into the refurb | | | | handles tech support (even if there is no |
| channel for a number of different reasons, | | | | problem with the equipment).FINALLY - YOU ARE |
| but most noteable customer returns. In other | | | | BUYING THE COMPANY, NOT JUST THE PC.The |
| words, the goods came back because the | | | | initial quality of the PC is telling, but if |
| customer had a problem or didn't like what | | | | you are relying on the warranty, you are |
| they got.But how do you know which companies | | | | actually buying the company, not just the |
| offer good off-lease refurbs, and which ones | | | | PC.BOTTOM LINE -You can get one heck of a |
| are "lemons"?FIRST - REFURBS CAN ONLY BE AS | | | | deal buying refurbished, off-lease computer |
| GOOD AS THE BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT.To that end, | | | | equipment from the right dealer. You should |
| my advice is to stick with "corporate grade" | | | | expect to save at least 50% off of corporate |
| equipment ~ the Dell Optiplex, the Compaq | | | | grade, brand new, Pentium 4-grade PCs OR 75% |
| EVO, to name just a few. Stay clear of | | | | or more on lessor machines (ie. if you are |
| anything "retail grade" like the Dell | | | | placing the equipment into an elementary |
| Dimension, HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario. | | | | school, you don't need Pentium 4-class PCs - |
| These PCs were designed for end-users, NOT | | | | you need reliable PCs that will run the |
| businesses. If they aren't good enough to | | | | software you run regularly).Sean Dion has |
| run a business, why would you want | | | | been in the secondary computer market since |
| them?SECOND - STICK WITH REPUTABLE | | | | 1993. He currently runs the division of TKO |
| BUSINESSES.Ask for references or referrals. | | | | Electronics, Inc. For additional information |
| Find out if how long they've been in business | | | | about the TKOED program or the author, visit |
| and ask if they are a member of the Better | | | | email , or call TOLL FREE (877)219-6228. |