How to Find
Deals on Network Equipment
Discover how to easily find
great deals on new and refurbished equipment for telephone and
computer networking applications.
Are you looking to buy or sell networking
or PBX phone equipment? How about finding a network engineer
or phone system installer? There's a new service online that
specializes in making this fast and easy.
What is a VAR?
What I'm talking about is the T1
VAR Network. In case you aren't familiar with the term VAR,
it means Value Added Reseller. People who sell business phone
systems are VARs. Their value added comes from evaluating a company's
needs, ordering the appropriate equipment from the manufacturer,
installing everything including running all the wires, and getting
the system to work properly.
Other VARs specialize in computer networks.
They'll provide the routers, switches, copper and fiber cabling,
and the programming needed to make the network operational. Some
VARs will also include the WAN or Wide Area Network connections
that interconnect business locations, or provide broadband connections
to the Internet.
These are all tasks you could take on yourself
as a business owner. But unless you have substantial experience
in-house, it can make more sense to outsource telephone or networking
support to specialized professionals.
Where Buyers and Sellers Meet
The T1 VAR Network serves both buyers and sellers, but it's not
an auction-based site like Ebay. It's more of a meeting place
specializing in telecommunications products and services. Say
you are looking to buy a gateway router. You go to the network
equipment quotes section and click on the "begin request"
link. Then you can select or or more brands that interest you,
including big names like Foundry, Juniper, Cisco, Motorola or
others from the current list of 13 suppliers. You then have the
option to have up to 5 VARs in your area contact you by telephone
or email. Or not at all if you simply want to window shop.
You use a similar process to shop for IP
PBX telephone equipment quotes, although there are over 50 manufacturers
listed in this category. That should give you plenty of food
for thought.
Free Consulting Services
Not exactly sure what you need? No problem. That's what free
consulting services are all about. The VARs and dedicated telecommunications
consultants can help you evaluate network equipment, high speed
Internet service, phone system hardware, standard telephone service,
VoIP equipment and VoIP services.
Benefits to Dealers
So what if you happen to be in the telephone or networking business?
This VAR Network works for both buyers and sellers. If you are
a certified equipment dealer or systems integrator, you join
the program for free. You'll create a profile that describes
what lines of equipment you offer, what services provide, and
what geographical area you cover. After passing a short interview,
you are entered into the database and you'll start getting leads
from those buyers who are looking for just what you have to offer.
What's all this going to cost you? You'll pay the VARNetwork
a small commission based on business you actually sell to the
leads you get from the system. If you don't make a sale, you
pay nothing for the lead. Seems hard to beat.
Here's another aspect of the T1 VAR Network
that can enhance your business. Many business phone system and
networking consultants do not provide the external telephone
lines or WAN connections, such as T1 lines. Instead, they leave
this to the customer or refer business to the local phone company.
Since the T1 VAR Network also represents over a dozen competitive
line service carriers, VARs can submit their customer's line
service needs to the network and get competitive quotes. The
end customer usually gets a better rate on their T1 or DS3 lines
and the VAR gets a cut of the ongoing monthly service fee as
a residual commission.
If you are involved in telecommunications
as a user or supplier, you should take
a quick look at the T1 VAR Network now. It's a new and more
efficient way for buyers and sellers to get together to their
mutual benefit.
