Replacing or expanding a business phone system doesn’t always mean buying the newest equipment available. For many businesses, refurbished business phones and telecommunications equipment offer a practical, cost-effective way to maintain an existing system, replace failed phones, or add new extensions without replacing infrastructure that still works well.

This is especially important for organizations using established Avaya, Cisco, Polycom, Nortel and other business telephone systems. The exact phone or component you need may no longer be manufactured, even though the system itself continues to serve your business reliably.

That’s where refurbished telecom equipment can make a lot of sense.

What Is Considered Refurbished Phone Equipment?

There are many reasons equipment may be classified as refurbished, and some have very little to do with the condition or performance of the product.

In many cases, equipment is returned, inspected, tested and prepared for resale even though it may have seen little or no actual use.

Examples can include:

• Equipment returned by a customer during a retailer’s return period.
• Products returned because the original packaging or outer casing was damaged during shipment.
• Equipment returned because of a minor defect that was subsequently repaired and tested.
• Products with minor cosmetic imperfections.
• Demonstration or display units that have been inspected and tested.
• Products whose original packaging was simply opened.
• Excess or discontinued inventory that is prepared for resale.

Regardless of why a particular unit entered the refurbished market, reputable refurbished equipment should be inspected, tested and verified for proper operation before being offered for sale.

Refurbished Equipment Can Extend the Life of Your Phone System

One of the biggest advantages of refurbished telecommunications equipment is the ability to continue supporting an existing business phone system.

Telephone systems are often installed with the expectation that they will remain in service for many years. During that time, manufacturers may discontinue individual telephone models, circuit cards, expansion modules or other components even though thousands of businesses continue using those systems every day.

Refurbished equipment can help bridge that gap.

Instead of replacing an entire telephone system because a particular phone is no longer manufactured, a business may be able to replace only the failed or damaged equipment.

Save Money Without Replacing Equipment That Still Works

Cost is another major reason businesses choose refurbished telephone equipment.

Replacing an entire communications system can involve much more than the cost of new phones. A complete replacement may require new hardware, installation, configuration, cabling changes, employee training and other expenses.

When the existing telephone system continues to meet the needs of the business, replacing individual components can often be a much more economical approach.

Refurbished phones and components may also allow businesses to purchase additional extensions or replacement equipment while keeping the same familiar system already used by employees.

Refurbished Equipment Is Tested Before Resale

Refurbished equipment should not simply mean used equipment placed back into a box.

Proper refurbishment involves inspecting and testing the equipment before it is offered for resale. Depending on the product and its condition, equipment may also be cleaned, repaired or have worn components replaced.

This additional inspection and testing can provide businesses with an economical alternative when new equipment is unavailable or unnecessarily expensive.

Finding Discontinued Business Phones

Availability is often just as important as price.

Businesses using older Avaya, Cisco, Polycom, Nortel and other telecommunications platforms may discover that a particular telephone or system component has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

That does not necessarily mean the entire telephone system needs to be replaced.

Refurbished and professionally tested equipment can make it possible to locate compatible replacement phones and components for systems that continue to perform reliably.

Is Refurbished Business Phone Equipment Right for Your Business?

If your existing telephone system is working well, refurbished equipment can be a practical option when you need to replace a failed phone, add an extension or locate a discontinued model.

Rather than automatically replacing an entire system, consider whether maintaining the equipment you already have may provide better value.

For many organizations, the benefits are straightforward:

• Lower replacement costs
• Access to discontinued telephone models
• Longer useful life for existing phone systems
• Less disruption to employees
• No unnecessary replacement of working infrastructure
• A practical source for replacement and expansion equipment

Are You Shopping Smart?

Before replacing a working business telephone system simply because a particular phone or component is difficult to find, consider the refurbished equipment market.

The right refurbished phone or telecommunications component may allow you to keep a reliable system operating for years while avoiding the expense and disruption of an unnecessary system replacement.