Used Servers vs. Refurbished Servers


Used servers being used in a data center

What is the difference between used servers and refurbished servers?

You see it all the time. "Used servers 65% off new list price!" or "Refurbished Servers in stock at up to 70% off new!"

You may be asking yourself "What is the difference between used and refurbished servers, anyway?"

Used servers are just that. Most of the time, a reseller will sell you a used server and you think you are getting a really good price at first. Then a hard drive breaks or a memory DIMM malfunctions. What happens when the part breaks down? Who is responsible? Did you buy the part AS-IS? Is there a warranty attached to the part? How long is the warranty? 30 days? 15 days? These are all questions you should be asking yourself when you buy a used part because used computer hardware usually come into the reseller's warehouse, sit on a pallet for two months, then leave after someone has purchased it.

Now, what is a refurbished server? Refurbished servers are used servers that are extensively tested and maintained after a company like World Data Products receives it. These servers are inspected and maintained on site until someone purchases the once used server, now refurbished server, for their personal use. World Data Products may list our servers as being used, but rest assured. All or World Data Products inventory has been clean tested, put through rigorous inspection, and stored in anti-static bags until it is shipped or assembled.

Well, now that I've explained the difference between used servers and refurbished servers you may be asking yourself:

What kind of benefits can I get from refurbished servers that exceed the benefits of new servers?

Well the most prominent answer and the first factor in making a purchasing decision for refurbished hardware is the price. There is significant savings on buying used servers and refurbished servers because someone has already paid the full purchase price of the server.

Another reason people buy refurbished servers over new servers is the fact that new servers will likely take a while to build. Refurbished servers are already built and waiting for immediate use. A company like World Data Products can usually take your order, process it, and have it in transit, overnight, to your datacenter saving you time when time is more crucial.

Are all refurbished servers the same?

In short, "NO!" Not all refurbished servers are the same. Few places have both the facilities and procedures in place to really examine and test a server and make sure it is prime working condition. Rest assured, when you purchase from World Data Products, you not only get a company that uses rigorous tests to make sure your servers are in top working condition before the leave our facility, but you get a company that has been in the business of server refurbishment for over 20 years with no black marks on our record.

Choose World Data Products and see why each year, thousands of companies trust us with their used server needs.

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