From stigma to smart choice: biases around used ICT devices

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Buying used products has become increasingly normal. From used cars to vintage clothing, reuse is not only hip &happening, but also environmentally friendly. Yet there seem to be persistent prejudices when it comes to reusing ICT devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. In this blog article, we tell you why these prejudices are unfounded.

Reusing products such as clothing and furniture is now widely accepted. It is also relatively easy to wash clothes or refurbish furniture, which can make them like new again. The boom in second-hand or vintage stores proves that reuse can be a successful and sustainable choice.

Car versus laptop

Remarkably, buying a used car seems less problematic than buying a used laptop. Although a car is a much bigger investment than a computer, many people find buying a used car quite normal, but are skeptical about buying a used laptop. The objections that are frequently raised are, for example, "What if something goes wrong?", "How can I trust that the laptop will work as well as a new one?" and "How long will the laptop last?". We understand these concerns very well, but realize that new products are by no means always better than used options. As with cars, "remanufactured" devices can work extremely well and meet the requirements.

Jennifer Lemke, director at Habitat for Humanity Netherlands and a Circlewise customer, is extremely positive about the remanufactured laptops she has purchased. Not only do they have better specifications, but she especially points out the sustainability benefits and positive environmental impact.According to her, buying used laptops is a logical choice because of their lower cost, reduced waste production and good performance.

" It's a no brainer - lower costs, less waste, better for the environment and no worries about operational performance." Jennifer Lemke - director at Habitat forHumanity Netherlands

‍Product reliabilityand efficiency

‍Mostly,it is thought that a new device is always more reliable than a used one. But even brand new products can have defects. At Circlewise, "remanufactured" laptops even come with upgraded features and specifications, and an RMA rate of less than 3% proves that remanufactured laptops are just as reliable and provide as much return on investment as new ones.

‍Second-handlook

‍Whenyou buy a used device, you usually judge it by its appearance. With a brand-new purchase, this judgment is not as strong, because in your decision making you rely on the reputation of the brand and therefore you feel less like you have to check everything thoroughly first to make sure everything is in order. You don't have to be an expert in IT or a car mechanic to determine what to look for in a used laptop or car. The appearance of the used product usually speaks for itself. Circlewise products not only offer high-quality hardware performance but also look great. You even have to look closely to see that they are not brand new.

Every laptop that Circlewise sells (in a subscription model) goes through the same quality-controlled remanufacturing process. So whether you buy ten or a thousand laptops, they all have the same quality, both in appearance and performance. Don't take our word for it? Many of our laptops bear the BSI Kitemark™ seal of approval. This means they all meet the same "good as new or better than new" standard.

Support

Usually there is fear of problems when buying used laptops. Or it is thought that you will get less or even no support at all in solving those problems. So we regularly get the question, "How can I be sure that the company remanufacturing or selling used laptops is as reliable as the original manufacturer?".

In the example of cars versus laptops, we can hardly blame OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) - they do excellent work and quality. They are specialists in manufacturing parts, but what we have learned at Circlewise is that OEMs are also very good at manufacturing and rebuilding complete laptops. Any mistakes they may have made previously, they can correct themselves in the process. Circlewise also offers remanufactured devices in a subscription model. Should a laptop unexpectedly break down, our customers receive a replacement Next Business Day.

No prejudices but advantages

When you start using high-quality remanufactured laptops, you really have nothing to lose. You get a model with better specifications at a lower investment, a reliable product, a good user experience and, as a bonus, the impact on the environment is significantly less.

Also make a conscious choice for your ICT strategy. Arjan van de Oever will be happy to inform you about our range of CO2 neutral remanufactured laptops and subscription models. Contact him at 06- 52 043 075 or at arjan@gocirclewise.com.

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