Used computer equipment costs continue to rise due to supply and demand issues coming from all directions. Companies and school systems are trying to find ways to cope with an ongoing pandemic. Today’s blog from I.T. Supply Solutions answers, “Why are there still supply and demand issues for refurbished laptops?”

The Economy Still Works Remotely

More and more people will have to continue to work from home during the winter months, which means they need refurbished laptops for their daily work. Portions of the economy opened in the summer of 2020, but the pandemic has had a resurgence in the late months of 2020. Demand for used computer equipment will continue to be high until the pandemic is finally eradicated.

Slower Port Inspections

Many new computers are manufactured overseas. Ports have slower inspection times for several reasons, all of them related to the pandemic. Worker shortages, extra inspections to prevent the spread of the disease, and shutdowns overseas are all making the import process slower, thereby disrupting the supply chain of new computers. When companies and school districts could not buy new equipment, they turned to refurbished laptops as a cost-effective solution. That created more demand and less supply for used equipment.

Slower Domestic Deliveries

The U.S. Postal Service is the backbone of deliveries in the United States. But the agency is overworked, understaffed, and the demand for online orders for everyday items has spiked due to the pandemic. When it takes a longer-than-normal time to get items shipped across the country, refurbished laptops can fill a need in a short amount of time.

Many Large Purchases

School districts, government agencies, and large companies have made huge purchases of equipment all at once. Orange County, Florida, and Newport News, Virginia, made large orders of laptops for their students. Salt Lake City ordered a whopping 6,000 laptops in the spring of 2020. They were still waiting for parts of that order in October, six months later. Even with lucrative and large purchases, Chinese manufacturers prioritized business and governments over schools. Anyone who cannot find new equipment might turn to secondary markets for refurbished laptops, which continues to drive prices up.

Supplies Are Rebounding

Supplies are rebounding, and the third quarter of 2020 saw a rise in worldwide shipments of new computer equipment up 13 percent from 2019. But there is a problem with that. Online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores had deep sales during the winter holidays. That meant there are still supply and demand issues because retailers don’t want a bad holiday shopping season. Refurbished laptops represent one way to get around the hectic holiday shopping season if your company or school district still needs viable computer equipment.

Author: IT Supply Solutions