Why Buy Equipment Through Hungerford When I Can Get It Cheaper Elsewhere?
Buying equipment through Hungerford or any managed service provider ensures you get the right product.
If you find a good deal on your own, you’re entitled to take it, but make sure you don’t buy the wrong equipment.
Managed service providers primarily sell hardware to help clients avoid purchasing mistakes. Product margins are not the major portion of our top-line revenue like they used to be in the early 2000s.
Our large purchasing volume often means we have access to better pricing than small businesses can find on their own. But regardless of price, when you buy through us, you’ll get the correct product for your needs, and sometimes, that peace of mind is worth paying a little more.
We understand the where possible, but there are a plethora of reasons why buying devices from third-party retailers is not the same as buying them from Hungerford.
Licensing Issues
We’ve had clients purchase devices from Amazon that were unusable because the device already was registered to another company.
Additionally, we’ve had clients buy a cheaper laptop and pay to have it serviced so it is usable. Those clients ended up spending more money between the cost of the device and service fees than if they had just purchased the correct laptop through us in the first place.
Obviously, this isn’t an issue with new devices, but if an organization wants to buy a slightly used or renewed model, there’s a good chance the device already was registered with another company.
A reformat, which removes any files, programs, profiles or settings, doesn’t remove the license registration.
Home vs. Pro Versions of Windows
When you purchase devices from Amazon, Best Buy or other B2C retailers, the devices most likely will be preloaded with the Home versions of Windows.
When we purchase devices for our clients, we purchase business-grade computers that come with the Pro version.
Pro is geared toward businesses and offers more features and functionality for business settings, such as BitLocker, remote desktop and conditional access.
While the Home version can be upgraded to the Pro version, it’s a slow and nonstandardized process that requires a much longer setup time. It’s not ideal if you’re looking for a quick setup turnaround for your new devices.
“While it may be a bit more expensive, you’re ensuring you’re getting a device that will work for your employees and you won’t have any licensing issues or subpar equipment.”
Subpar/Incompatible Equipment
Not all computers are created equally.
There are differences between consumer-grade computers and business-grade computers. Because business-grade computers are designed to be used for eight hours per day (while consumer-grade computers are designed for moderate use), they are made with higher-quality metals instead of plastic parts.
Additionally, cheaper solder may be used in consumer-grade computers, which can lead to more frequent solder fatigue, affecting the longevity of the computer’s components.
We’ve also seen scenarios where clients will buy incompatible devices that don’t meet their needs and actively hinder their network and workstation performance.
We are familiar with the laptops we sell, and we know your needs as an organization. This allows us to purchase devices we know will work without overselling something you don’t need.
Dead on Arrival Equipment
Technology isn’t perfect, and it’s possible you could get a lemon, either from a third-party retailer or our dealers.
The difference is when you order through Hungerford, we handle the process of returning the device and getting a replacement.
If you buy a device through a third-party retailer, you’ll have to deal with returning it and getting a replacement.
Ordering through us allows you to use Hungerford as a mediator for vendor support, meaning you can focus on running your business rather than dealing with customer support. We have strong relationships with our dealers, so issues like these are handled quickly and effortlessly.
We encourage you to purchase new equipment through us, as it limits a lot of possible headaches you may have when purchasing through third-party retailers.
While it may be a bit more expensive, you’re ensuring you’re getting a device that will work for your employees and you won’t have any licensing issues or subpar equipment.
Looking to Get New Equipment?
If your organization’s laptops are slowing down, contact us here to learn how we can keep your business running smoothly while increasing productivity, security and profitability.
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