Cisco Refresh and Excess - what is the difference to new Cisco hardware?

Q: How does Cisco Refresh differ from used equipment?

The difference between Cisco Refresh and used equipment lies in the refurbishment process, the condition, and the warranty and service options. Cisco Refresh products are certified, refurbished devices. Used equipment, on the other hand, is not refurbished and lacks sufficient quality, warranty, and support.

This program can be a reliable and better priced alternative for your company, as the products are significantly reduced compared to new products.
In this blog post, you will learn why it is worth purchasing Cisco Refresh products and how to distinguish them from new Cisco hardware.

What does Cisco Refresh mean?

In this program, used Cisco devices are completely overhauled and refurbished to as-new condition. The products are certified and come with an extensive warranty. The quality of the products remains the same as a new product. In addition, these products have the same warranty and service options as new Cisco products.

Advantages of purchasing these products

They can increase their budget as the products offer a cost-effective solution as a single product, as they are significantly cheaper than new. This gives you the opportunity to purchase more devices and gain additional savings for other opportunities.

Other advantages include:

Long service life and lower product failure rates
Benefit from the same quality as new Cisco products
Sustainability aspect: required resources and waste are reduced
Cisco certification: device integrity leads to higher performance and security

With Cisco Excess Refurbished…

…sells used refurbished products to Excess Refurbished customers. They sell the products on the secondary market. You are then no longer considered an authorized Cisco partner.

(-RF) and (-WS) products - what's the difference?

	Cisco Refresh	Cisco Excess
Meaning	Certified remanufactured products	superfluous remanufactured products
Purchase	only via an officially authorized Cisco partner	may be officially distributed by non-Cisco partners
Marking in article number	Certified Remanufactured(-RF)	Excess Refurbished(-WS)
Condition	As good as new, technically and optically completely refurbished	Refurbished, tested for functionality, but may show signs of use
Delivery	Supplied in original packaging, sealed with Cisco Refresh adhesive tape	Supplied in original packaging, sealed with Cisco Excess adhesive tape (but also in neutral packaging)
Addition	including all accessories and documentation	can also be supplied without additional accessories and documentation

In summary, it can be said that Cisco Excess products, in contrast to Cisco Refresh products, are not completely refurbished and put into a new state, but 'only' focus on the functionality, but they are still relicensed.

By purchasing these products, you benefit in many areas

Cisco Refresh products are therefore an ideal alternative for many purposes, whether you want to make savings, benefit from the same quality or pay attention to sustainability. You have the option of opting for these products if the hardware is not currently in stock with us in its new condition. You also have a large selection of Cisco products at IT Planet.

However, we also offer another option: IT remarketing. This gives you the opportunity to buy used IT hardware. You also benefit from considerable savings.

Nevertheless, the products are fully functional and come with a warranty. You also make an important contribution to environmental protection. If this is an interesting option for you, you will find the necessary information about this service on our website.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

The Cisco Refresh programme comes from Cisco Systems and includes used Cisco hardware that has been completely refurbished and restored to like-new condition. Parts are replaced, tests are performed and the devices are repackaged. In terms of quality, they are no different from new products. In addition, the devices are certified, come with a comprehensive warranty as a result of the refurbishment process, and offer the same warranty and service options as new Cisco products.

Cost savings of up to 65%
Sustainability through refurbishment (reduction of electronic waste, conservation of resources)
Long service life and high reliability
Same quality, performance and warranty as new devices
Fast access and availability

The main difference between Cisco Refresh and used equipment lies in the refurbishment process, the condition, and the warranty and service options. Cisco Refresh products are certified, refurbished devices that come with the same warranties and support options as new Cisco products. They offer a high level of reliability thanks to rigorous functional and security testing. Support and warranty are also the same as for new Cisco equipment. Used equipment, on the other hand, is not refurbished and lacks sufficient quality, warranty and support. Software updates are also often limited.

Cisco Refresh products offer the same reliability and quality as new Cisco devices. They are completely refurbished, certified and come with the same warranty and support options. The advantages are cost efficiency and savings. In addition, the devices are environmentally friendly and often available faster than new devices.