Where to Buy Refurbished & Used Cisco Equipment (Switches, Routers etc)

Cisco devices are very reliable. I remember one day I run the command “show version” on a Cisco switch and showed me an uptime of around 8 years!! That switch was up and running for 8 years in a row without failing or being rebooted even a single time!

There are thousands of Cisco devices that are being replaced after a few years of operation (e.g after 3-4 years) for various reasons.

All these used Cisco devices can be purchased at a fraction of the original cost and still operate for many more years.

Moreover, there are refurbished Cisco gear (e.g with replaced power supplies, interface cards etc) that run like new, and being sold again at a fraction of the original cost. 

If you are shopping for refurbished or used Cisco equipment then you have made a good choice  – you will be able to save a good amount of money while building your business network on a lower budget.

Not only that, but if you buy from the right place, you will get equipment that is up to the spec and covered by a warranty.

Where do you find refurbished or used Cisco network devices though? Well, there are plenty of marketplaces to shop from.

Below, we will introduce you to 15 of those – there are many more out there, but for most of our readers, these 15 should be just fine.

We will have a look at these online stores’ warranty coverage, technical support, shipping policies, and everything else that may interest someone who is shopping for used network equipment.

Note that the ranking below is in no particular order.

1. Cisco Refresh

Perhaps the best place for buying refurbished Cisco network equipment is Cisco Refresh.

With Cisco Refresh, you get access to equipment that has similar quality as new but is much more wallet-friendly!

Cisco Refresh equipment is also fully licensed and eligible for Cisco and SMARTnet support. Additionally, you may purchase legacy devices that aren’t available elsewhere.

To buy Cisco equipment with Cisco Refresh, you will need to find a Cisco partner in your vicinity. If you are already a Cisco partner, then you may also directly quote and order products from Cisco Commerce Workplace.

What’s particularly great about Cisco Refresh is that it’s available not only in the US. You may find Cisco partners around the world too, so you should be able to get your hands on remanufactured Cisco equipment no matter where you are.

2. Used Cisco

If Cisco Refresh doesn’t seem quite the right marketplace for you, then also have a look at Used Cisco.

Used Cisco’s business model is a little bit different – every item sold in this marketplace has come straight from a working environment. No assets come from eBay, auction sites, or offshore vendors – everything you buy from Used Cisco is guaranteed to be genuine.

What’s also super-nice about Used Cisco is that they cover each of the sold network devices with a 1-year warranty. For an additional fee, you may also purchase 2- or 3-year warranty extensions.

Price-wise, Used Cisco offers refurbished/used Cisco equipment with up to 95% off the original list price. For purchases over $200, Used Cisco also provides free shipping. Even if you don’t qualify for free shipping, Used Cisco is dedicated to keeping delivery times short.

Here you will find some popular networking devices such as Cisco Catalyst switches (2960, 3560), Routers, ASA firewalls, memory chips etc.

3. Worldwide Supply

The highlight of Worldwide Supply is its lifetime warranty. All pre-owned OEM network equipment sold by Worldwide Supply is backed by a lifetime warranty. This warranty coverage also applies to new Worldwide Supply products.

Support and replacement services are ensured by NetGuard. NetGuard is a maintenance program that offers:

• 24/7 tech support.
• Same or next business day hardware replacement.
• Access to a proprietary knowledge base and tools.

As the company states, “NetGuard is a Cisco SmartNET Alternative”.

Each product sold by Worldwide Supply undergoes an in-depth inspection to ensure that the equipment is like-new as well.

All in all, when it comes to after-sale support, Worldwide Supply is unparalleled, and is among the top in the industry.

In terms of inventory, Worldwide Supply offers a wide range of current-generation and legacy devices with 50-80% cost savings. Aside from Cisco, you may also find equipment from Ericsson, Fujitsu, Juniper, and many other brands.

4. Aliter Networks

In case Worldwide Supply’s offering seems to be not quite right for your needs, have a look at Aliter Networks as well.

Aliter Networks is available in 122 countries, so you should be able to purchase refurbished Cisco equipment from them.

When it comes to support and warranty coverage, Aliter Networks is comparable to Worldwide Supply. Aliter Networks likewise covers pre-owned, used, or refurbished Cisco products with a lifetime warranty. Aside from that, each piece of network equipment is rigorously tested before sale.

With all that, the return rate of Aliter is claimed to be 1.2%, which is very impressive.

With Aliter, you may not only buy equipment but also sell it. If you have some old Cisco equipment lying around, then perhaps Aliter will be interested in purchasing it from you.

Besides, Aliter lends equipment, which is great if you need refurbished Cisco network devices temporarily before going for something else.

5. CXtec

CXtec is another excellent marketplace to shop for Cisco network equipment at. With CXtec, you will get between 40% and 90% savings, while the lifetime warranty will make sure that your network keeps going no matter what.

The RapidCare service also makes sure that you receive replacement equipment within the next business day should anything go wrong.

CXtec also claims a 99.51% reliability rate out of the box, which, according to CXtec, is equal or better to brand-new hardware.

Each unit sold by CXtec undergoes testing before being put up for sale, so you can rest assured that you will receive what you want with this marketplace.

6. Routermall

Routermall doesn’t offer a lifetime warranty, but its warranty policy is still great – for most people, its 5 years of warranty coverage are more than enough.

In case you find a better deal with Routermall than with Worldwide Supply, CXtec, or Aliter Networks, perhaps it will work better for you.

In case anything is wrong with purchased network equipment, Routermall will immediately send out a replacement – if available – or issue a refund if no replacements are in stock.

Routermall offers several shipping options powered by UPS and FedEx as well. Whether you want free shipping or wish to start setting up your network within a business day, Routermall has got you covered.

7. Digital Warehouse

Digital Warehouse offers over a thousand pieces of Cisco equipment for you to choose from. Each network device sold by Digital Warehouse undergoes 28-point inspection, testing, upgrading, and updating. This allows Digital Warehouse products to be A+ certified.

Digital Warehouse provides lifetime warranty coverage for pre-owned and new equipment. Defective or faulty products are repaired or exchanged, and Digital Warehouse also provides technical support at any time of day. Digital Warehouse assists with installation and configuration as well.

What you may also like about Digital Warehouse is that they ship network equipment via FedEx worldwide. Digital warehouse has sales and customer care representatives around the world, so you will receive top-notch support no matter where you are on the globe.

8. Recurrent Technologies

If you need refurbished Cisco equipment in the San Jose, Silicon Valley, or Bay Area as soon as possible, then Recurrent Technologies might be the best choice for you.

Recurrent offers next-day delivery in these areas. You might also be able to get Cisco equipment on the next day throughout the entire continental United States, but shipping speed may vary outside of California.

Like many of the previously overviewed marketplaces, Recurrent offers a lifetime warranty on all new and pre-owned equipment.

Post-sale tech support is available 24/7 as well, so you should have no issues with maintaining uptime and solving problems with your network configuration.

9. Cables and Kits

The most remarkable thing about Cables and Kits is that its team is dedicated to getting your order out for shipping by 8 PM. By staying in the office a little bit longer, the guys at Cables and Kits can ensure same-day late shipping.

Needless to say, you need to place the order early into the day for the equipment to be shipped, but still, the shipping policy of Cables and Kits is unique.

After you receive your Cisco equipment, you may test and return it for a refund if you don’t like it within a month. But if the network equipment is just as you wanted, then you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of a lifetime warranty.

10. Entera Source

Entera Source is a great marketplace if your budget is relatively limited. On all orders over $50, Entera Source offers free ground shipping.

With that said, when it comes to warranty coverage, Entera Source is comparatively weak. The default warranty on all products purchased from Entera Source spans 2 years and offers simple protection, like shipping damage coverage and returns.

If you want better warranty coverage, then you may choose from 3-year, 5-year, and lifetime warranties. These will incur an additional fee of 15%-25% of the equipment’s purchase price.

There are about a hundred refurbished Cisco products on the website, so have a good look around – perhaps the prices here are better than in other marketplaces.

11. Hummingbird Networks

If you are looking for Cisco Refresh products, then Hummingbird Networks is one of the places where you may purchase them. There are about a hundred of Cisco Refresh-certified devices available here – have a look around if you are interested in them.

The offering of Hummingbird is especially good in the switch area – there are nearly Cisco 80 models that you could choose from. There are plenty of other brands on Hummingbird as well.

In terms of support, you are getting the benefits of the Cisco Refresh program. So with Hummingbird, you should be safe when it comes to post-sale support and equipment quality.

12. Discount Computer Depot

Discount Computer Depot promises free shipping on everything. If that’s exactly what you are looking for, then perhaps Discount Computer Depot is the right place to shop for refurbished Cisco equipment.

When it comes to assortment, Discount Computer Depot particularly stands out with Cisco switches – there are nearly a hundred of refurbished options in the marketplace. This is very nice if you are specifically shopping for switches.

The warranty with Discount Computer Depot is nothing exceptional though – each refurbished computer is covered by a 1-year warranty. There is a 30-day return policy as well, so you will be able to get a refund if something doesn’t work for your needs.

13. NetEquity

NetEquity is a place where you can not only buy but also sell network equipment. If you are looking to sell your unused Cisco equipment, NetEquity promises to pay for the shipping and offer adequate money.

When it comes to used network equipment, NetEquity is a good place to buy refurbished Cisco devices from as well. The warranty offered by NetEquity is short – 1 year – but NetEquity offers great technical support, as well as repair and replacement services during that year.

The return policy of NetEquity allows for returns and exchanges within 1 year from the date of purchase for end users, while resellers get a 30-day return window. The 1-year return window for end users is quite nice and certainly is much longer than what you typically get from other marketplaces.

14. Hula Networks

Hula Networks might also be a good option if you can’t find the desired piece of Cisco equipment anywhere. They carry over 20 Million worth of used Cisco equipment.

On the other hand, Hula Networks isn’t the first place that you should visit in search of Cisco equipment if you need good warranty period. The base warranty here is only 30-days, although a 1-year extension (or even more) is available too.

There is no catalog on the website too – you’ll have to leave a quote request on the website to get info on pricing and availability.

Still, we decided to include Hula Networks on this list to provide you with one more option. If you can’t find some piece of equipment on other websites, perhaps Hula Networks will be able to help you.

15. TC Digital

Finally, we have Twin Cities Digital, a seller of IT equipment based in Minneapolis. TC Digital offers same-day shipping, so if you are in the area of Minneapolis, you might be able to receive the equipment within the next business day.

The warranty provided by TC Digital spans 1 year, which is nice but nothing exceptional.

Aside from selling, TC Digital also buys used hardware. TC Digital pays for the shipping, promises to pay immediately, and offers competitive prices.

Like Hula Networks, TC Digital requires that you get in touch with the sales team to get info on pricing and availability. This may be annoying, but you may be able to get better deals thanks to the more personalized approach.