Don’t Be Fooled By the Stigma Of Buying Pre-Owned Medical Lasers
It seems like everyday there is a new release of the self-proclaimed “gold standard” of aesthetic care and it will change your entire practice just by owning this one piece of equipment! In reality, though, between the high price tags of brand new equipment, the lack of industry study to test the claims the product makes, and the fact that releases of new equipment occur so regularly, it is not only impossible for your practice to keep up with purchasing brand new equipment – it is flat out cost prohibitive.
While there can be a great deal of stigma associated with purchasing used anything, when it comes to medical lasers used is the way to go. Ideally, to avoid falling into some of the traps listed above, you shouldn’t even look at new models of equipment until they have been on the market for 18 to 24 months. This allows for an ample amount of clinical data to be collected on the device so that you know how successful the model truly is – and how different (or similar) it is to pieces that you already own. You are also then able to fairly judge both practitioner and patient satisfaction rates to know whether the equipment is worth any amount of price tag.
Once you have determined that a device would be beneficial for your practice, you should begin looking into purchasing used equipment. Financially, this is the best option for anyone looking to buy because it has so many benefits to you. For instance, when you buy a used device, that means that someone else has taken the hit on depreciation. Similar to the theory that once you drive a brand new car off the lot it has already become devalued, medical lasers will absolutely never equal their initial purchase value again once they have been used one time. By looking to buy pre-owned devices, you are saving your practice 70 to 80% compared to buying new. In fact, you can find lasers less than a year old marked down up to 50% from the industry price tag. If you aren’t the one finding a good deal on a used laser, a competitor will be and with the extra money they would save from purchasing at half-price they will have a tremendous advantage over you when it comes to upgrading other areas of their business. Why wouldn’t you want to be the one with the advantage?
Not All Third Party Vendors Are Used Car Salesmen
Finally, an important consideration to keep in mind is the question of where you start looking to buy a pre-owned device. Many of them, especially if they are only a few years old, will be nearly identical to the newest models being released so all that you need is a reputable company to work with. One good measure to use is whether the company is able offer equipment repairs. This would apply to the lasers both when you are purchasing as well as once they are part of your practice. In order to keep your business running at the standards your patients have come to expect, you need good people to work with and finding the right pre-owned laser distributor can make all the difference. Do your research and check on the reputation of the vendor you are dealing with. There are definitely some disreputable dealers out there so it pays to be diligent.
If you are in the market for used medical lasers or other aesthetic equipment, we hope that you would consider a purchase with Apex Medical Lasers. We fully refurbish all equipment for sale as we employ highly experienced laser technicians who are well versed in all of the top selling brands.
