|
Buying Used Equipment is Very Risky... |
| We believe that it is in every consumer's best interest to know that they are receiving "FACTORY FRESH" products with FULL WARRANTIES and are not purchasing products that have been used or re-stocked when they purchase from KX-TD.com (unless otherwise noted). We Do Not Sell Used or "Refurbished" Equipment (unless the item has been discontinued, is requested and/or is the only option for our customers). There are at least five (5) very good reasons why we do not... #1 Lightning Strikes ... If the phone system or voice processing system had been struck by lightning, Panasonic only replaces the part, or parts that were completely destroyed. They have no way of knowing what components were weakened as a result of the lightning strike. Over 75% of the equipment sent in for repair is a result of a lightning strike or voltage surge. If you buy used or refurbished equipment, there is a very good chance that you could be purchasing a system that has been repaired, but has a life expectancy of only a few months.
The normal operating voltage inside the phone system and voice processing system is typically 5V and 12V. When lightning strikes, the voltage soars for a fraction of a second to several million volts. This creates an enormous increase in temperature. A component that was designed to last 50 years may now have a reduced life expectancy to only a few months, while others are entirely destroyed. The components that were entirely destroyed are the ones that Panasonic replaces. Replacing these components breathes new life into the product, but the other components that were not replaced, still have a decreased life expectancy. Granted, the life expectancy may be as much a couple of years, but why take the chance?
Even if you had an extended warranty on "refurbished” equipment, most people can not afford to go through the down time of repair and replacing phone systems.
For business applications, new equipment should always be purchased. Unless your business runs well without phones, you should never purchase used or refurbished equipment.
|
| This is not a pleasant subject, so if you have a weak stomach, you may not want to continue reading. So far, we have discussed only "refurbished” and used phone systems and voicemail. "Refurbished” and used phones are an even less attractive proposition. #2 Infestations ... Telephones are less likely to be affected by a lightning strike than the system itself, therefore, the so-called "refurbished” telephones are more likely to simply be "used” telephones, and not in need of repair. In most cases, the extent of the "refurbishment” is just wiping it down and changing the cords. Believe it or not, phones make lovely homes for roaches. Roaches love the dark, warm confines of a telephone. The origin of "refurbished” phones is usually always unknown to the buyer. If you knew that the "refurbished” phones came from a spotless home, then it might be worth the gamble, but it is more likely that the phones came from a business, and many businesses are dirty. Used phone systems and voice processing systems may also attract roaches and other pests if they have been in service within an equipment room, or even if sitting in storage. Typically, used systems are not disassembled and thoroughly cleaned by their previous owner before resale. You run a great risk of introducing vermin into your environment by installing used telephone equipment. |
| #3 Bacterial and Viral Contamination ... If that's is not a good enough reason to purchase new, then consider the nasty germs, particularly, the air-born cold and flu germs left behind in the mouthpiece by the previous owner who breathed and coughed into it. Disinfectant spray can only clean the surface. Liquid disinfectant sprayed into the mouthpiece will ruin the microphone, so it is not implemented. There is no practical way to thoroughly disinfect a telephone without damaging the microphone.
If you think about it, a telephone is a very personal object. It is something that you hold to your mouth every day. A reasonable person would not be inclined to buy a used toothbrush; and the same consideration should be applied to telephones. In a Business Setting ... Used Telephones are a Risk to You and Your Employees' Health In a Residential Setting ... Used Telephones are a Risk to You and Your Family's Health |
| #4 Old Technology ... Another important reason to purchase new rather than "refurbished” or used is that with factory-fresh, you know exactly what you are getting. Panasonic continues to refine and enhance the product with each release, and improvements are often made between releases. When purchasing electronics of any sort, it is always advantageous to purchase the latest. If you were shopping for a PC, would you even consider a refurbished 286 or 386 machine? Ten year old systems may look like brand new systems on the outside, but improvements in technology and software revisions always make new systems far more advanced than their predecessors. |
| #5 Used Equipment and Depreciation ... Perhaps one of the most important (yet most often overlooked) factors for the business owner to consider when purchasing equipment is depreciation. Used equipment is not entitled to the same tax benefits as new equipment in terms of depreciation standards. From an accounting perspective, choosing new equipment is almost always the better decision. |
|
