The Smart Solution for Schools: Affordable Refurbished Computers for Classrooms

Digital literacy is a must-have skill for students today. In today’s classrooms, students need to learn how to use technology, while schools need to provide access to this technology. 

But for many schools, this creates a unique challenge.

It’s not uncommon for school districts to lack the necessary funding to keep up with rising costs. Increasingly severe budget constraints constantly force them to do more with less. As a result, this makes it nearly impossible for schools to keep up with the demand for new technology using only brand-new equipment.

Here's where refurbished computers can make all the difference, helping school districts keep their classrooms equipped with the latest technology while maximizing their budget.

What is a Refurbished Computer? 

A refurbished computer is a pre-owned system that has been thoroughly inspected, repaired, and tested for reliability and performance. Unlike used systems, which are typically sold as-is, refurbished desktop computers and laptops are professionally certified. To reflect this, after testing, each system is assigned a grade based on its condition: 

• Grade A systems are like-new, with minimal wear and tear 
• Grade B systems are in good condition, but may display cosmetic imperfections
• Grade C systems are functional, but have noticeable signs of wear

Refurbished systems such as those sold by System Liquidation also come with a warranty that covers potential defects or issues within a certain timeframe. 

Benefits of Refurbished Computers for Schools

Purchasing wholesale refurbished laptops or desktops can help a school district meet its technology needs even within a restrictive and limited budget. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that, when compared to factory-new machines, refurbished devices come with some considerable benefits:

Reduced Expenses

A refurbished system is already considerably less expensive than a new computer. And that's without factoring in bulk discounts and buyback programs, which can generate massive cost-savings in both the short-term and long-term. 

The end result is that the district's able to do more with less, ensuring teachers can fully prepare their students for a technology-driven future. 

Cost-Effective Quality

One common misconception about refurbished devices is that they're less reliable or of lower quality than factory-new. The reality is that people are conflating "refurbished" with "used." As long as you work with a reputable refurbisher, you're buying hardware that has undergone significant testing and repair.

And again, you're buying it at a lower price than if you bought new. 

Supporting Sustainability

Refurbishment also plays a significant role in reducing electronic waste. This means that, by focusing its procurement process on refurbished devices, a school district could potentially gain access to a range of sustainability grants or programs.  

Technology Built for the Classroom

Many refurbished computers come directly from classrooms and business environments, meaning they're designed for both efficiency and durability. This makes them ideal for schools looking to promote digital literacy and virtual learning. 

Choosing the Right Refurbished Technology for Your District

There are several factors to consider when purchasing systems for your school. 

Choose the Right System Specs

First and foremost, look at what's under the hood. If your computers aren't powerful enough, students and teachers will be unable to complete a lesson without experiencing frustrating slowdowns. 

To support standard classroom activities, such as web browsing, virtual lessons, and word processing, we recommend 4GB of RAM for simple tasks like web browsing and word processing. Note that some modern software might require 8GB in order to run smoothly,

We also recommend at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor or higher.

Again, the above specs are just for general use. For anything involving web development or graphic design, you'll need something more powerful. In addition to at least 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7/AMD Ryzen 7, you'll want a dedicated graphics card. 

Think About Storage Space

If your computers are only going to be used for general classroom activities, you likely don't need to think much about storage. Most modern refurbished systems include at least 256GB of storage space, usually in the form of a solid state drive. Systems with smaller storage drives, like Chromebooks, make up for it through online storage.

Assess Your Supplier

Your choice of vendor can make a huge difference in terms of cost. That's why it's essential to select a reputable supplier with a proven track record of quality and reliability. Look at the following:

• What people are saying about the vendor online
• Whether they offer bulk discounts or a buyback program
• What awards and certifications do they hold
• What types of systems they typically sell

Look at the warranties they offer, as well. A good warranty includes all major components of a system, and provides at least one year of coverage for parts and labor. Some refurbishers also offer extended warranties.

Explore Funding Options

There exists a multitude of funding options that can even further reduce procurement costs. That's why, before you commit to a purchase, look into programs or cooperatives for which your district may qualify.

Buyback programs can be especially valuable if you need to offload old technology either now or in the future. 

How System Liquidation Supports Future-Ready K-12 Schools

When it comes to purchasing technology for the classroom, it's not enough to simply look up a vendor with bulk computers for sale. To truly maximize your budget, it is essential to collaborate with a procurement partner. Here are a few reasons System Liquidation is the right choice in that regard — and a few reasons why your school should become an education sector partner. 

Partnership-Focused Procurement

Approved education sector partners gain access to bulk pricing and special discounts. This is in addition to our wholesale pricing, meaning it's even easier to supply your students with the right IT hardware. We also offer device financing plans, lifecycle management support, and accidental damage protection.

Other services include:

• Device asset tagging
• Chromebook etching
• Device imaging setup

Seamless Buyback

Our repurchasing and recycling program gives your district a quick and sustainable way to unload old or damaged electronics. More importantly, it lets you use old systems to gain access to leading-edge technology — and at a discount, no less.

Here's how it works:

1. Generate an inventory of your current hardware, graded to the best of your ability
2. We'll provide you with an estimated valuation
3. If you decide to send in your hardware, we'll take care of pickup and shipping
4. We'll perform a more thorough assessment and give the hardware a final grade
5. You'll receive a R2V3 certificate detailing, by serial number, secure transportation, data handling, and data destruction
6. We'll send you a check or issue credit. If you choose credit, you'll receive an additional 25% of the value of your hardware

National Program Support

In addition to being a trusted name in electronics refurbishment for nearly two decades, System Liquidation works with multiple purchasing cooperatives. These include:

• The Allied States Cooperative, which competitively bids and awards contracts to vendors in compliance with procurement laws and regulations
• Omnia Partners, a national cooperative that combines the purchasing power of K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community colleges
• BuyBoard, a cooperative that streamlines the purchase process for both public schools and public sector organizations
• The Alabama Joint Purchasing Program, which serves a similar purpose to Allied States: getting its members better procurement rates through combined purchasing power

We're also an award-winning vendor of The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS). Beginning in 2002 as a small regional cooperative, it has since expanded nationally. Today, its creator, the Region 8 Education Service Center, is recognized as one of the leading agencies in education technology procurement. 

Certified Refurbishment

As part of our commitment to sustainability, System Liquidation operates as an R2 Certified organization. We adhere to the Responsible Recycling Standard, a set of common criteria for sustainable reuse and recycling.

We're also a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR), adhering to the highest inspection and testing standards. 

Guaranteed Quality

Everything we sell is either new or refurbished, meaning it'll work as designed, protect your data, and be free of defects. Most purchases also come with a one-year limited warranty for additional peace of mind. 

Pave the Way to Digital Literacy with System Liquidation

School districts worldwide are facing significant budget shortfalls, which have a detrimental impact on students. In this landscape, financial decision-making can be the difference between positive student outcomes and a poor learning experience. 

Choosing bulk refurbishment over other purchase options makes it far more affordable to equip both teachers and students with the right hardware. And working with System Liquidation allows you to unlock even further savings through bulk discounts, buyback programs, and access to several different cooperatives.

Equip your classrooms with reliable refurbished tech — contact us today for a customized bulk quote.