Buying Used Ophthalmic Equipment Can Be A Viable Option

By Teri Farley


One of the factors you have to consider when kicking off your eye clinic practice is whether to buy new or used ophthalmic equipment. The decision on which choice you finally settle on will be determined by several factors including how much capital you have to start with, the price of new versus used ophthalmic kit and the availability of the apparatus in the market around you.

Secondhand equipment remains the best option for those who are working with a tight budget. This is because the cost of used kit is much lower and will therefore bring down the capital requirement for starting up your venture. Besides, you will have other needs such as decor, medical provisions and salaries which the savings from buying secondhand apparatus would really pay off. You should be wise when making the decision because obviously brand new item will eat up most of the capital and leave you with nothing to spend in the other equally important aspects of your new venture.

Clients may experience more confidence in your services if the furnishings in your office environment reflect up market professionalism. This can also be true of hiring a few additional support personnel. A well-prepared budget will support your decision to go for old or new tools. In an ideal world and if your budget permits, it is preferable to buy state of the art eye care appliances.

There are three options available when buying second-hand equipage. The first is to source items that have already been used in another private practice. One of the down sides of doing this may entail no warranty if such warranty has already expired. The purchased items may need to be validated by your personal technician to ensure that they are in good working order. Hidden wear and tear like worn out calibrations may result in heavy repair and maintenance costs over time. Without a doubt, there is higher risk in purchasing second-hand goods.

The other two options involve going for remanufactured or refurbished ophthalmic item. These are mostly used higher-end optical kit that has been remanufactured or refurbished and put back in the market at a substantively lower cost than new apparatus.

It is also important to think about where you would buy the used item from. Most first time ophthalmologists advocate for getting the kit from practitioners who are retiring from practice. Well, if you can get hold of one, then this is the best deal.

There are also sites that auction used equipment. However, if you are settling for this option, then you should request for relevant documents beforehand and you look at them well. This will help you ascertain if there are any pending issues with the previous owner of the kit.

Always balance the price of used ophthalmic equipment with quality before you commit to purchase. With refurbished and remanufactured instruments, ensure that you get a long term warranty. A little research before buying can save you a lot of wasted time and money spent on subsequent repairs.




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