Page 50 - Security Today, March 2020

Reconsidering Used Equipment
Choosing the cheaper option may be tempting, but organizations risk long-term consequences
BOy Kurt Measom
nce you have made the decision to install a secu- rity entrance, you may find that your search for a provider brings you to used turnstiles, revolving doors or portals for sale. Naturally, these tend to be cheaper than new products. If you have budget
limitations, this can be extremely tempting. However, there are many reasons why this is not the best idea.
To help you make the right decision for your organization, here are seven things to consider before you purchase a used se- curity entrance.
It might not be under warranty. Most security entrances are electro-mechanical, similar to a car. They require ongoing upkeep and oversight. Even a revolving door, turnstile or security man- trap portal in seemingly perfect condition may present a mainte- nance issue in a month or a year after your purchase.
For that reason, you should only consider buying a used prod- uct if it comes with a limited warranty of some kind by the manu- facturer, if that is available. Make sure that it is also clearly stated in your purchase contract who will hold the warranty. Most man-
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ufacturers warranty their new products for a period of one to three years, and the warranty often only covers the parts, not the labor to repair or replace.
You don’t know how old it is. This is a simple question and there should be no confusion about the answer. The seller should be able to provide you with the model number, year of manufac- ture and year of original purchase. There should also be an intact serial number visible on the product. If not, you will know that it’s time to move on and explore other possibilities for purchasing a reliable entrance.
It could be counterfeit. It is shocking how entrenched counter- feit products have become in the supply chain. From medications to motorbikes, websites to watches, it is the responsibility of the buyer to verify the authenticity of whatever they purchase.
When you purchase a new security entrance from a known and trusted supplier, you can be confident in the validity of the brand and not have ongoing questions about the quality of the product you are entrusting to secure your facility.
The same cannot be said of a product bought used – especially
SECURITY ENTRANCES