Preparing the published article.
Refurbished or New: How to Compare
The cheaper unit is not always the cheaper decision.
Compare on total cost
| Cost line | New | Refurbished |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Full | Discounted |
| Warranty | Manufacturer term | Shorter, often supplier-backed |
| Failure risk | Low, bathtub curve applies | Higher if history is unknown |
| Spare availability | Supported | Depends on generation |
| Downtime cost | Predictable | Can be higher and unscheduled |
What to ask a refurbisher
- Which components were replaced and which were only cleaned?
- Is there a test report with measurements?
- What is the warranty and who honours it?
Refurbished parts suit non-critical spares. For production-critical items, compare downtime cost before price.