If you’re wondering that, you’re not alone. We know most people use the term “refurbished” to refer to all kinds of pre-owned equipment. In fact, I’d be willing to bet you found this post by using “refurbished” somewhere in the query. And that’s OK. In the most general sense, we’re talking about the same thing—products for sale that are not brand new. That said, remanufactured and refurbished do actually mean very different things to us—and to many within our industry—so it’s important that you understand the difference before making a purchase.
First, it’s worth mentioning there isn’t actually a legal definition of the term remanufactured, so let’s get that out of the way. Cool? Done.
Now what do we mean when we say it, and why do we use it?
We say remanufactured because anyone can “refurbish” a product, but only the Original Equipment Manufacturer (Cisco in this case) can remanufacture what they manufactured in the first place. No one else can do this or call it remanufactured product. Furthermore—and this is an important thing—"remanufacturing" refers to a rigorous effort to restore a product to like-new quality. Rather than simply testing a previously-owned product to make sure it still works, then reselling it, remanufacturing at Cisco means:
- A thorough inspection to identify any parts that may need replacement
- Repair or replacement of any parts that are not functioning correctly
- A software wipe to remove the previous customer’s data
- A software update to bring the product in line with later versions
- Testing to make sure it works like new
- Cosmetic repairs to make sure it looks like new
In short, we are doing the most thorough job of restoring a product that we can possibly do when we remanufacture it. We intend for it to meet the highest standards and we stand by it by providing the same warranty our new products come with.
Refurbished—in general—is simply a reference to a product that may have been through a somewhat less rigorous inspection and repair process. It typically means the product has been tested and does in fact work, but it may not have the latest software, it may not have had its older parts replaced, and it may not look as good cosmetically as a remanufactured item.
That’s it! Mystery solved—I hope. If you have any other questions about Cisco Refresh remanufactured products, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to share what I know and point you in the right direction for the things I don’t.
