Amazon Resumes Selling Used PCs
Staff -- TWICE, 9/24/2001
SEATTLE— Amazon.com said its computer store will begin selling refurbished and surplus computers provided by TechSmart, which reconditions and resells leading brand name desktop and laptop computers and accessories obtained from leasing companies, corporations, retailers and OEMs.
TechSmart supplants Amazon's previous supplier of used PCs, online liquidator Overstock.com, which reportedly backed out of the deal due to poor sales at the site.
But TechSmart president/CEO Mike Archambault said he expects a "significant ramp up" of monthly sales volume thanks to "the broad marketplace reception to used computers" on Amazon's computer store.
According to Richard Chin, general manager of Amazon's computer store, "This venture complements our merchandise lineup extremely well, as a rapidly growing number of consumers are purchasing PCs online.
The online share of total consumer PC sales is projected to roughly triple within the next three to five years, rising from about 10 percent to 15 percent this year to 30 percent to 40 percent."
He added that the refurbished units will sell for "hundreds of dollars less" than new computers, providing customers with "some truly outstanding computer deals."
New York-based TechSmart sells direct to consumers via a national sales force and through its SmartMart Web site, and also maintains partnerships with eBay and uBid.
