The demand has never been higher, but neither has the cost for new equipment. Sales of laptop and desktop computers exceeded 302 million in 2020, a 13% increase from the year before and the most since 2014.
In 2019, the world collectively generated 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste; but just 17.4% of this was formally and responsibly collected and recycled. By 2030, it is projected that upwards of 74 million tonnes of e-waste will be generated.
As businesses start to return to the office and start ups hit their prime, the sales of tech is set to increase further. Refurbished laptops and computers can be an awful lot cheaper for startups and provide small businesses with the availability for budget to be spent elsewhere.
Director of IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) services for Stone Refurb, Craig Campion, has revealed the further benefits of buying refurbished tech and the impact businesses can have on reducing e-waste worldwide.
What are the benefits for businesses of buying refurbished?
No need to worry
The manufacturers who resell these items, check all the defects and damages before selling them. If you are buying refurbished electronics from an authorised refurbisher or directly from the manufacturer, you can be assured that these products are reliable.
Help to reduce e-waste to landfill
Buying a refurbished laptop means that you are reusing old technology instead of supporting the manufacturing of new technology. Stone Refurb discovered that worldwide, over 50 million tonnes of e-waste heads to the landfill each year to support the need for the latest and greatest gadget upgrade. Many of these devices are in perfectly good condition, and may release harmful chemicals into the soil when they are disposed of. Buying your laptop second-hand keeps a device in circulation and out of the dump for a little while longer.
Thousands of reviews to check
When you buy a new product you won’t find thousands of reviews out there. You are left to simply trust the “buzz” around its release and the reliability of the brand and manufacturer. Shopping used or refurbished products means you will find millions of reviews out there already. Do some basic research and you can figure out if the device will meet your needs. Dig a bit more and you’ll find out if it’s easily repaired, user friendly, and a good buy overall.
It’s just like new
In some cases, your refurbished laptop will arrive in the mail completely unscathed. Many companies purchase technology and upgrade from year to year, and the devices are basically unused. In other cases, buyer’s remorse sets in and devices are simply returned and exchanged after light use. In some cases, you actually do end up getting a practically brand new machine.
With over 25 years experience, Stone Refurb are the safe and trusted choice for buying cheap, quality, professionally refurbished laptops, desktops, monitors and accessories. Stone Refurb are part of the Stone Group, the UK’s largest privately owned IT hardware manufacturer, who are dedicated to supplying the UK Public and Private Sector.
