7 reasons why you should consider used equipment

CVP established its used and ex-demo department more than 15 years ago with a mission to give a new life to pre-loved equipment, and it’s gone from strength to strength ever since. Here are 7 reasons why you should consider investing in used.

The industry is always under cost pressure. You spend any time in it and you realise the talk is always about shrinking budgets and having to do more with less. The only difference is the amount of pressure that people are under flexes with the overall economic situation.

As you might have guessed, the flex is fairly extreme at the moment. Global economies are under all sorts of macroeconomic pressure, and the production industry is getting squeezed as a result. Add in the effect of last year’s Hollywood strikes and a streaming industry looking to retrench and no longer expanding at breakneck pace, and suddenly saving costs when it comes to kit makes a lot of sense.

Although well established for several years, factors like these were why CVP set up its Used and Ex-Demo department, and it’s been hugely successful in the years since. However, while shaving costs may be the first thing that many people think of when it comes to going down the used kit route, there are other benefits, too. Here’s a brief list.

1. Cost efficiencies

We have to start with this one, for all the reasons mentioned above. However, many small to mid-sized broadcasters and production companies actually prefer buying used equipment to save costs. This is especially true for startups or those with limited budgets who are looking for reliable gear without the high price tag of new equipment.

2. Playing the market

The market here as in interest rates. Credit is expensive at the moment as interest rates have surged to a decades high. They will come down but while we wait for that to happen, buying used equipment is a good way of limiting your exposure to costly repayments

3. Keeping up with technology

Admittedly, you’re not going to be able to keep up with the cutting edge of technology with used kit, but you can ride the trailing edge extremely effectively. Anyone who ever buys last year’s iPhone the week after this year’s new one comes out knows all about this. As new technologies emerge so older broadcast equipment comes onto the used market. And as we have entered a period of some stasis in the market so that trailing edge is not so far removed from the very latest and greatest products.

4. Sustainability

There is a growing emphasis throughout the industry on sustainability and reducing electronic waste. This falls into several different categories. By purchasing used broadcast equipment, media companies and creators help prevent perfectly functional gear from ending up in landfills. Electronic waste is a major environmental concern due to the hazardous materials it often contains, so extending the lifespan of these products can mitigate these impacts.

It also conserves resources. Manufacturing new broadcast equipment requires raw materials, energy, and water. By using existing equipment, the demand for new resources is reduced, lowering the environmental footprint associated with production.

And lastly, upcycling and reusing broadcast equipment supports the principles of a circular economy. Manufacturers aren’t necessarily keen on this as products are kept in use for as long as possible, but in an era when progress is incremental and there are no great leaps forward, such as the ones to HD and then 4K, the imperative to constantly replace kit is lessened. This approach contrasts with the traditional linear economy, which often follows a 'take, make, dispose' model, which is wasteful and expensive

5. Educational opportunities

Used equipment provides educational institutions with affordable access to professional-grade tools, facilitating hands-on learning for students without the need for significant investment in new gear.

6. Innovation and creativity

Upcycling equipment can lead to innovative uses and creative solutions. Broadcast professionals often find new ways to repurpose and adapt older gear, fostering a culture of ingenuity and resourcefulness.

7. Peace of mind

This last benefit depends largely on the choices made just above. A reputable dealer will take a used piece of equipment that passes through its doors and refurbish it to a high standard. CVP, for instance, offers a minimum three month warranty on all used equipment, meaning that you can buy confident that it has been thoroughly checked and vetted before you get your hands on it.

Time to think used?

These are challenging times for many and buying used and ex-demo kit is an excellent way of investing in the future of your business while keeping a firm lid on expenditure. The savings can be impressive, even more so because the used stock is part of CVP’s current Summer Sale. You can currently save over £2000 on the list price of an ex-showroom RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV, down to £19,035, and over £2000 on an ex-showroom Sony BURANO 8K inc DVF-EL200 and Licenses, yours for £42,500. There is plenty more kit at the lower end of the spectrum too. And remember, even when the sale is over, there are 7 very good reasons above to always consider used equipment.