New Or Used? 5 Things To Consider When Equipping Your Lab
Equipping a lab is no easy task. You have to pay a lot more attention to what you do and how you do it because you’re working in a much more serious industry than most people. Much like everyone else, though, you’ll also want to save some money and maybe even recycle a few things. The whole point is to consider how the equipment and decor in your lab reflect it. It’s fine to save one of some things, but others simply must be bought new. To help you do a good job, here are some things to consider.
- Check the details
The equipment you’re trying to purchase may look like it’s good, but you won’t know for sure unless you check all the details. In other words, the functionality of the equipment needs to be fully vetted. Don’t be afraid to test out the equipment before your actual purchase. After all, this is your right as a buyer.
You’ll know you’re buying good quality equipment when the seller suggests that you test the equipment yourself. This is also the perfect way to make sure the equipment meets your lab requirements.
- Ask about warranty
The first sign whether a piece of equipment is legit or not is whether it comes with a warranty. Even if you’re buying used equipment, it should have some kind of warranty that goes along with it. Without a warranty, you’ll have to pay a lot of money to fix what’s broken. As well as that, it’s more likely that the equipment is faulty.
If the item comes with warranty or not is also a great way to see if you’re dealing with a trustworthy seller. Sketchy people will usually withdraw immediately at the mention of warranty and you’ll know who not to buy from.
- Purchase from a trusted supplier
Whether you’re buying new or used equipment, the trustworthiness of the supplier matters a lot. You’re not buying just regular equipment here, so it’s important to know who you’re buying it from. It also helps if your supplier is certified. Many people are tempted by the cheap online prices, but it just isn’t worth it. What you see online and what you actually get can often be vastly different.
To avoid getting ripped off, you really need to research your supplier. It may be a good idea to ask an already established lab who their supplier was, too. This way your supplier will already have a reference you can trust and the chances of getting ripped are much slimmer.
- Make sure that the life expectancy is high
When investing in high-quality lab equipment, you need to make sure that it’s durable. This is especially important when you’re buying refrigerators and coolers. What’s the point in cutting costs on something so important if it’ll only last you a few more years? Things like that should be bought once. You may end up spending more money in the beginning, but it will pay off in the long-run. After all, you’re playing the long game here, so there’s no reason not to splurge on new equipment.
If you do decide to invest in a used piece of equipment, make sure to check the item’s history. As well as that, the seller should show you the full capability of the item, not only vouch for it. You need to make sure that you’re actually putting your money into something that’s going to last a lifetime.
- The parts should still be available
There’s not much use buying a used or old machine if the spare parts for it aren’t available anymore. Saving money is good, but not being able to simply fix your machine isn’t. When it breaks, you won’t be able to just order a new part and go on with your life. Instead, you’ll need to purchase a whole new machine.
You can’t rely on the machine working properly forever, either. It doesn’t even have to have anything faulty with it, but you’ll still need to replace a few parts for maintenance. Available parts mean that a machine is still state of the art and used in the world. This is something you definitely need in a lab. You can’t move forward if your equipment can’t keep up with the latest industry trends.
Conclusion
As you can see, equipping a lab is no easy task. Even though it may take you more time to get it just right than it would with a regular office, you can nail it with a little dedication and proper research. Regardless of what some people may say, it’s completely fine to implement a few used items into your lab. Just choose quality equipment where it matters and you should be more than fine.