Refurbished by Tucker

Buying used test equipment can save users from 10% to 90% off the Manufacturer's New List Price. In fact, it is the Number 1 Reason customers give for buying used versus new test equipment. However, the quality of used test equipment varies greatly among the hundreds of suppliers now marketing direct to the end-user via the Internet.

Buyers can actually "lose money" buying used test equipment if they don't purchase from a reputable, service company. Most suppliers act as brokers and compete on price and price alone. The limited warranty offered is "justified by substantial savings" and the risk minimized, because the customer is told they can afford to send the equipment to a third party lab for repair & calibration if a problem arises.

The loss comes when the parts required to repair the instrument are obsolete or the missing accessories cost more to buy than the instrument. Compounding matters, most calibration labs specialize in calibration and not repair work. Only through experience do buyers learn about these risks.

While numerous articles have been published on this subject, ( for instance Caveat Emptor,[-Pdf file -] Wireless Review, August 1998 , or Surplus Test Equipment---Bonanza or Bust???, Communications Quarterly, Winter 1996), 64% * of customers do not qualify a used equipment supplier prior to purchasing.

While some information can be learned about a supplier by checking D&B Reports, American Business Information's CD-ROM Database, and asking for Customer and Supplier Referrals, the fact of the matter is that no industry association or standard of compliance exists. This means anyone can buy a used instrument at a local corporate or government auction or flea market, and market it on a Web Site. And on the Internet, anyone can look like an established, reputable firm.

Unless the customer is large enough to have an auditor perform an on-site audit of the supplier's lab, the buyer really doesn't have any idea whether the instrument has been calibrated to the manufacturer's specifications and whether the Calibration Certificate is traceable to NIST.

Tucker Electronics Maintains a Primary Standards Laboratory Providing Direct Traceability to NIST

Because anyone can market and sell used test equipment, a high value should be placed on the supplier's reputation, especially if the supplier is providing a Calibration Certificate Traceable to the National Institute of Standards Technology(NIST). What assurance does the buyer have that the lab certifying the instrument maintains the calibration history of its lab standards (working and reference standards) traceable to NIST? Moreover, while most used equipment suppliers will refer to a Quality Standard such as ANSI Z540 or Mil STD 45622A, a governing body does not exist to certify the supplier's claim.

While price is a major factor in selecting a used equipment supplier; experienced buyers of used test equipment know that it should not be the determining factor.

Service is a System

Investments in and the integration of highly skilled and trained personnel, processes, and technology deliver results.

In order to consistently deliver quality refurbished test equipment on a large scale, a company must have a "service system" in place, no different than any other well managed business.

Service levels are measured and taken very seriously at Tucker Electronics. 90% of Tucker Electronics Used Test Equipment Customers are Very Satisfied or Somewhat Satisfied. We work everyday on improving our service system to reduce the 4% of Used Test Equipment Customers who are not satisfied. Coincidentally, we find this figure is consistent with the percent of units returned under warranty.

Because of the nature of the equipment, it is likely at one time or another you will have an instrument arrive that has been damaged in-transit, or fails during the warranty period. Ask questions which will address how the supplier will respond to a problem after the product has been shipped.

• Is a right of return period offered and how long is it?
• Is there a customer service representative to handle my problem?
• Is a replacement item available to ship?
• Who will perform the warranty work? If the repair & calibration work is outsourced to a third party lab, what priority will my warranty product receive?

Most important though, is how a service company handles a problem when it does arise. Any service provider who's truly committed to building a lifetime relationship with their customers understands the importance of being responsive when a problem arises.

Of the 75% of our customers who obtain more than one bid before buying used test equipment, 62% call Tucker Electronics first.

Price your Risk

For the reasons listed above and many more, we highly recommend all buyers of used test equipment to look beyond the price to qualify the supplier. Evaluate all the facts and price your risk accordingly.

We constantly tell our employees it's not the order that's most important, it's the relationship. We do whatever it takes to maintain a good relationship with the customer. It's really no different than how we as consumers expect to be treated once we leave the office. When you do something extraordinary to make a customer happy, that's when you know you've had a great day.

10-Step Quality Certification

Tucker Electronics offers its 10-Step Quality Certification ...Your guarantee of superior refurbished performance!

At Tucker Electronics, We Take the Risk out of Buying Used Test Equipment!

* June 1998 Survey conducted by Hunter Business Direct, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.