Purchasing lab equipment can be a tough job for many individuals. The entire process is likened to buying a car since there are many different models and makes to pick from. In addition, there are plenty of lab technology vendors, making it much harder to find what you are looking for.

Regardless of the endless list of options, purchasing lab equipment often comes down to a decision between used and new ones. Irrespective of your choice, it is essential to know what to look for and the questions to ask to ensure you settle on the right equipment.

Here are a few guidelines to help point you in the right direction.

Determine What Equipment You Want

When purchasing lab equipment, the first thing you need to consider is your needs. You need to determine whether you require a specific brand or model that would suit your particular lab research needs. For instance, if you need a centrifuge or a ULT freezer, you need to ensure you invest in the suitable model and size that is practical for your lab’s purpose.

The key to investing in perfect lab equipment is to know the basic requirements before heading to the shop.

Seek Demonstrations

In the same way you ask for road tests before buying a car, it is crucial to seek demonstrations before you purchase lab equipment. Most vendors offer after-sales support services that allow the buyer to view the equipment in action and learn more about how it works.

The primary purpose of demonstrations is to know how to use the equipment while also allowing you to check if it has some faults that might affect its lifespan.

Cost

Cost is another crucial factor you should consider when purchasing lab equipment. Although these pieces of equipment can serve you for many years, it doesn’t mean you should spend a fortune on one. Therefore, it is important to shop around and get quotes from multiple vendors before settling on a particular one.

Although choosing the lowest price makes more sense, you should always be wary of cheap vendors. In most cases, low-priced lab equipment comes with shorter warranties (or none at all). So, ensure you check the deal’s full details before settling on a particular vendor.

Availability of Replacement Parts

The other thing you need to check out when buying lab equipment is the availability of OEM replacement parts. Most of these pieces of equipment come with high volume consumables that run out after a short while of use. So, you should ensure you check the availability and turnaround ordering time before purchasing particular equipment.

Users

Last but not least, you should consider the skill level of the individuals that would use the equipment before making a deal. Unless you plan to carry out additional training, there is no need to invest in high-tech equipment that would not serve its purpose.

Depending on the skill level within your ranks, you should consider investing in a more user-friendly option.

In Conclusion

Shopping for lab equipment can be a challenging and time-consuming experience. However, you might just breeze through the task if you follow the few guidelines above.

Categories: Business

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].