NEW YORK,
May 6,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiowell, America's leading
authority on the value of used radio equipment, released more
findings from its 2023 market research. The latest opinion, which
was based on the analysis of thousands of used-radio transactions,
ranks the best channels for government agencies to sell their used,
surplus, and end-of-life radio communications equipment. The
analysis reviewed transaction prices and other important factors
like risk, compliance, and resources.
The below ranks selling channels from
highest to lowest financial return:
1. Other government agencies
Selling
equipment to other government agencies generates the highest
financial return. The nearest municipality, fire district, or other
agency is best suited to buy the equipment, explains Radiowell
spokesperson Andrew Park. "Quite
often, local agencies share the same state or county networks, so
the equipment is compatible." Moreover, the parties generally know
each other, which allows for favorable terms. Shared capabilities
and networks, mutual trust, and the benefits of being local, mean
that government agencies should first contact a nearby agency for
an offer.
- Highest return; convenient
- Generally compliant with local/state/federal radio disposition
guidelines
- Indemnification available to protect selling agency from future
legal liability
2. Existing radio dealer
(or Radiowell)
The agency's existing radio dealer is
the second-best channel for selling used radio equipment. Dealers
generally have other government clients that need the equipment –
for add-ons or parts. Plus, radio dealers are generally trusted
advisors, which makes working with them easier. Radiowell is also
in this category as it can provide market-value compensation
directly to government agencies or in conjunction with the agency's
existing radio dealer.
- Second-highest values; convenient
- Generally compliant
- Indemnification available to protect agency from future legal
liability
3. Recycling companies
The third
channel includes recycling and electronic waste companies. While
they do not offer compensation, and may charge fees, they make the
disposition process simple and compliant – thus saving resources
for budget-constrained agencies. However, Radiowell cautions, if
the radios are still connected to active communication networks,
the agency should remove programming before sending the equipment
to a recycler. Andrew Park explains,
"A public safety-grade radio was engineered to survive floods and
fires; a recycling company's data destruction process for hard
drives will not work for radios."
- Convenient
- Generally compliant
- Indemnification available to protect agency from future legal
liability
- Active radios must be deprogrammed prior
4. Government auctions
Finally, public
government auctions, including physical and Internet-only sites,
generate the lowest financial return according to Radiowell's
analysis. Park explains, "In our view, auctions erode the value of
used radio equipment for a variety of factors. For starters, they
lack the professional audience necessary to properly appraise
equipment." Other factors, like deadbeat bidders and double-digit
percentage fees, depress already constrained values. And finally,
auctions place significant risk on agencies to ensure all
compliance guidelines for sold and unsold equipment are met. Park
explains, "If it isn't already obvious that selling government
radios to the general public is a bad idea, the inherent
limitations of auctions mean they aren't ideal for an agency's
finances either. We recognize auctions excel in many areas, like
selling confiscated property, but a radio is a niche commercial
item with a specific audience." Agencies that list their equipment
in auctions are encouraged to first contact Radiowell for a
no-obligation auction reserve guarantee.
- Lowest return and high risk
- Unlikely to meet all local/state/federal compliance
guidelines
- No indemnification from future liability
- Consult attorney before listing equipment
- Contact Radiowell for a no-obligation auction reserve
guarantee
Government agencies have many options for the
disposition of their surplus radio equipment. While there will
always be exceptions, we encourage government agencies to begin the
disposition process by contacting nearby government agencies for an
offer.
About Radiowell:
At Radiowell, our purpose is to reduce the
environmental impact of decommissioned radio equipment. It began as
a passion project and evolved over the last 25 years to us becoming
the largest buyer of used radio equipment in America. As a
conscience-driven company, we're committed to keeping unneeded,
outdated, or unwanted two-way radio equipment out of our nation's
landfills. As such, Radiowell repurposes decommissioned radio
equipment for parts and donations. Interested entities may contact
us to sell their surplus used radio equipment.
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SOURCE Radiowell