Why we no longer fit used parts

When we explain why a PC from us costs what it costs, the same question often comes up: “Couldn't that be cheaper with used parts?” The honest answer is: yes, when buying. And no, if you keep calculating.

We did it. Over a longer period we bought, checked and fitted used components. We no longer do. Why is best told through what actually happened during that time.

What arrives is not what was described

“Fully working, hardly used.” That is in almost every listing. What arrived was regularly something else: graphics cards whose fans started grinding after half an hour under load. RAM that threw errors in the memory test after the sixth pass. Power supplies that shut down under full load, not immediately, but after twenty minutes.

A board we recently had on the table for a repair shows it well: dust in every crack, cobwebs between the cables, a power supply without a recognisable manufacturer. The device worked. The only question is for how much longer, and whether you would want to sell that to someone.

A part that runs in a short test is not the same as a part that still runs in two years. Exactly this difference cannot be checked with used goods.

The problem was not buying privately

What surprised us: it was not because we bought from private sellers. Faulty goods also arrived from commercial sellers. The only difference was that the return was more formal, it did not get any faster as a result.

Each of these cases costs the same: checking the goods, narrowing down the fault, documenting, complaining, packing, shipping, waiting, fitting the replacement, testing again. Two to three weeks are normal. For a single PC that can double the schedule.

Who really carries the risk?

This is exactly where it gets uncomfortable. If we fit a used part and it fails after eight months, that is not the problem of the seller we bought it from. It is our problem, and therefore that of the customer who suddenly has no PC.

Legally the situation is clear: anyone selling to consumers as a business is liable for defects for two years. For used items this period can be shortened under strict conditions. So we could do that. We just do not want to, because it means nothing other than passing the risk on to the customer.

The calculation that really counts

A used component saves perhaps thirty to forty percent when buying. Sounds like a lot. Against that:

• No manufacturer's warranty. If it fails, there is nobody left we can turn to.
• No reliable remaining lifespan. You cannot tell from a graphics card how many hours it has run.
• Testing effort. Testing properly means hours, not minutes, and even then some risk remains.
• Cost of failure. A device that comes back costs shipping, a spare part, working time and trust.

A single failure eats up the savings from several PCs. That is not a guess, we have done the maths.

What this means for you

Since this decision our rule is: every component in a YKON system is bought brand new and in its original packaging. Each one also comes with the respective manufacturer's warranty. Every part is listed individually on the invoice, with manufacturer and model name.

That does not make the PC cheaper. It makes it predictable, and for a device that is meant to run for several years, that is worth more than the price difference when buying.

And if you buy used yourself?

Then that is perfectly fine, and we will not talk you out of it. Three things we took away from our time:

• Never buy a used power supply. It is the component that takes other parts with it when it fails. Saving here is the most expensive decision of all.
• Test while you can still return it. A memory test overnight, the graphics card for an hour under full load, note down the temperatures.
• Listen to the fans. Grinding, clicking or a tone that changes during operation is a reason to send it back, not a reason to hope.

If you are unsure about a specific offer: write to us what is inside. We will tell you honestly whether we would buy it. Even if that means you do not order a PC from us.

And if you do not want to search at all?

Then we do the work. We put together a parts list for you, with specific models, where to buy them and the prices of the day, new and used mixed, and every part comes with the reason it is on the list. You order yourself, directly from the retailer. That way the parts belong to you from the start, and the legal guarantee runs without a detour through us.

That does not contradict what is written above. It is the same distinction: nothing used goes into a PC we sell, because we stand behind it for two years. With a list you order yourself, things are different, and then we tell you honestly where used is smart and where it is not.

The three rules from above apply to us too. You will not find a used power supply on any list from us.