Why Buy Refurbished Telecom Equipment

Whenever telephone equipment is available in the used or secondary market, this should be your first choice. In many cases, new equipment is also available in this market place.

Why Choose Refurbished?

• Refurbished looks the same
• Performs the same
• All handsets and line cords are new
• Provides significant savings

How Does New Equipment Enter the Secondary Market?

Large companies and institutions often receive discounted pricing when purchasing new systems. Sometimes the equipment is never installed or put into service. When that happens, these units enter the secondary market — still new, still unused, but available at refurbished pricing.

Warranty & Long-Term Support

Secondary or used equipment is always sold with the same warranty as new.

Manufacturers like Toshiba, Iwatsu, Panasonic, and Nortel have disappeared, but for over 35 years, Teldisco Inc. has continued supplying these products in the used and secondary market, ensuring businesses can maintain and support their existing systems.

Assuring a System’s Survival

The Warning Signs

You hear that your model is no longer in production and authorized support is phasing out. Parts and expertise will become scarce, and maintenance will get expensive.

The Danger

The typical “solution” offered is to buy a brand‑new system — often unnecessarily.

The Alternative

Teldisco Inc. can provide the most economical solution by supplying refurbished or secondary‑market equipment. This allows customers to extend the life of their current system and make a more thoughtful plan if they eventually choose to upgrade.

Eliminate Maintenance Contracts

Many telecom vendors push annual maintenance contracts that promise “free replacements” if a phone breaks.

But here’s the truth:

Most businesses don’t need them.

Maintenance contracts often cost $50–$150 per phone per year, even though:

• Desk phones rarely fail
• Replacements are inexpensive
• Refurbished units work just as reliably
• You can keep a spare on‑site for immediate swap

Real Case Study (Canada): Mid‑Size Office Avoids a $12,000 Contract

Company: 55‑employee insurance office in Mississauga

Phones: Cisco 8841

Maintenance contract: $90 per phone per year

Actual failure rate: 1–2 phones per year

Cost comparison:

• Maintenance contract: $4,950/year
• 3 refurbished backup phones: $225 total

Savings over 3 years: $14,625

They cancelled the contract, bought three refurbished backups, and never experienced downtime.

This is one of the most common cost traps in telecom and refurbished hardware is often the smarter alternative.

• What’s my budget?
• Is my current system still reliable?
• How quickly do I need replacements?
• Is sustainability a priority?
• Can refurbished units meet my operational needs?

Most businesses find that refurbished equipment works perfectly for day‑to‑day needs.

For more than 35 years, Teldisco has helped Canadian businesses manage the full lifecycle of their telecom equipment from purchasing to recycling.

• Every business has different needs
• Refurbished hardware can significantly reduce costs
• Recycling helps reduce e‑waste

Final Thoughts

In many cases, refurbished hardware offers the same reliability and performance at a lower cost.

Written by Paul Chapman 
Owner, Teldisco 
Helping Canadian businesses buy, sell, and recycle telecom equipment for 30+ years