The Rising Cost of Technology and the Need for Alternative Procurement Strategies

If you’ve been shopping around for a new laptop, iPad, or other personal electronic devices, you’ve probably noticed that the prices have gone up in recent months. Hot off the tail of the pandemic’s supply chain issues, the electronics market surprisingly hasn’t recovered entirely, much to the chagrin of value shoppers looking for deals.

Inflation combined with rising costs in raw materials have pushed the cost of certain new electronics outside the budget of most buyers now, and it’s not just impacting the consumer market. Businesses and CIOs struggle with reduced purchasing power whenever they search for new equipment.

Refurbished computers might be the answer if you’re one of the many frustrated customers. Read on to learn more about how computers from a certified refurbisher can help you get more for your money.

How Has Inflation Impacted Computer Pricing?

Even after significant component shortages due to the pandemic have eased a little, you can’t expect prices to go down anytime soon. Inflation is partly the reason, but we also see returning supply chain issues.

And that’s not even mentioning the impact felt by major geopolitical conflicts that continue to impact oil prices and the global supply of raw materials used in semiconductor manufacturing. Add to that China’s zero-COVID policies, high transportation costs, a fragile supply chain — and it’s clear why computer pricing remains high.

A combination of all of these factors has resulted in a 20% increase in the price of computers compared to last year and a similar rise in cost for storage devices and IT services. CPU manufacturer Intel confirms these numbers and puts much of the blame on “inflationary pressures.”

CPUs in particular, have gone up in price for consumers, but they weren’t the only affected component. Other essential components like integrated circuits, power management parts, and chipsets have seen shortages as well, the ripple effects of which are being felt by even the automobile market.

What This Means for You

The impact on businesses is substantial; many chief information officers predict technology procurement will be a major challenge this year despite heavily increasing IT costs leading into the coming months.

And consumers aren’t faring much better. Some of their attempts to mitigate the problem include:

• Turning to off-site infrastructure: The rise of cloud services in the business sector is an option for some enterprise applications and services, but the need for on-site hardware will always be around, especially for consumers. After all, who doesn’t need a good laptop or a new monitor every once in a while?

• Continuing to use old hardware: Sure, you can keep that old notebook chugging along, but the repairs will eventually be necessary and can end up costing a lot more than you’d hope. Plus, new technologies will quickly make those old devices slow and obsolete.

• Settling for cheaper hardware: While you can save money by cutting down on specifications like RAM amounts and CPU speed, the result is a much worse experience. Perhaps there are better methods of reducing costs.

Whether you’re a company looking to buy in bulk or a regular consumer just in need of quality hardware at an affordable price, you’ll need a creative way to save money without compromising on quality.

The Answer: Buy Refurbished Computers

Let’s face it: buying new just isn’t an option for many of us. Yet, everyone wants the performance and reliability they need. 

While the used marketing is tempting, it can be risky. Anybody who’s bought electronics on eBay knows that there’s no consistent quality control with sellers. You might end up with an excellent price but major defects like a cracked screen or a malfunctioning keyboard, and you can forget about a warranty or any service guarantee in most cases too.

Instead, turn to refurbished desktops and laptops. The refurbished market helps you maximize your budget without inviting the risks of buying used. 

Certified refurbishers like Refurbish.io inspect, repair, and test everything we sell until it operates like a brand-new machine.

The advantages of going refurbished include:

• You get a competitive price for the specifications you need.
• The machines are still amazingly reliable thanks to the quality assurance from the certified refurbisher.
• Warranties are usually offered by the service provider as well to give you peace of mind.
• You have a good idea of what the item's condition is. A-grade is like new; B-grade may have some wear and tear damage but is still in functional condition. C-grade may include cracks, dents, or scuffs on the keyboard, screen, or chassis, but it can still be used. We don’t sell C-grade machines.
• You’re saving the environment. Instead of being thrown out as e-waste, old machines breathe new life into them. The result is fewer toxic chemicals and materials in the environment.

The quality of the refurbished computer you buy largely depends on how the refurbisher. An ideal refurbisher will be certified by the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program. 

Any company with this title has received a certification from Microsoft itself, guaranteeing legitimate and quality-controlled products. Additionally, MAR-certified refurbishers are authorized to install a genuine copy of Windows 10 or 11. 

Start Saving with Refurb.io Right Now

Don’t let inflation and a poor electronics market separate you from that powerful new laptop you’ve been eyeing. Offset the rising costs of technology by buying refurbished from a MAR-certified and trusted refurbisher.

Refurb.io is laser-focused on refurbishing IT products from desktops to laptops, tablets, and accessories. We offer amazing benefits like:

• Free shipping within Canada
• Grade-A quality 
• Official certification from the MAR program
• A full year warranty on all products (some exclusions apply)
• Points in our rewards system to help you save even more
• Monthly promotions if you sign up for our newsletter
• A payment program with Sezzle to make your purchase even easier