How We Sell Equipment
New, Refurbished, Absolute Certified & Surplus
Not every measurement task justifies a brand-new machine, and not every used instrument deserves the same level of trust. PartnerGeometrics grades every instrument we sell into one of four clearly defined condition tiers, so you know exactly what you're buying and can match spend to actual measurement risk.
Factory New
Sealed, factory-new instruments direct from the manufacturer or authorized channel, with full OEM warranty.
- Full manufacturer warranty
- Latest firmware & specification
- Factory calibration certificate
Professionally Refurbished
Cleaned, worn parts replaced, mechanically inspected, and function-tested against factory specification.
- Full mechanical service
- Function-tested to spec
- Limited PartnerGeometrics warranty
Absolute Certified
Our premium certified-used tier: full bench inspection and recalibration against traceable reference standards.
- ISO 17025-traceable recalibration
- Calibration certificate issued
- Near-new performance, lower cost
Surplus / As-Is
Decommissioned or excess inventory, sold functional and as-is. Ideal for spares or budget-constrained buyers.
- Lowest acquisition cost
- Sold as-is / functional
- Great source for spare parts
In Detail
What You Actually Receive at Each Tier
New
New instruments arrive exactly as the manufacturer ships them — sealed packaging, current firmware and software revision, and the OEM's own warranty terms (typically 12–24 months depending on brand and instrument type). Every New unit ships with the manufacturer's factory calibration certificate. This is the right choice when you need the latest features, the longest warranty runway, or when your quality system specifically requires unopened OEM equipment.
Refurbished
Refurbished equipment has been used before — typically de-installed from a customer site, trade-in, or lease return — and goes through a defined service process before resale: full cleaning, inspection of wear parts (cables, bearings, drive belts, probe tips), replacement of anything worn or damaged, and function testing against the manufacturer's original operating specification. Refurbished units are not necessarily recalibrated against a traceable reference standard — they are verified to work correctly, not certified to a specific accuracy. Refurbished carries a limited PartnerGeometrics warranty.
Absolute Certified
Absolute Certified is our premium certified-used tier and the one we're most often asked to explain. Every Absolute Certified instrument goes through everything a Refurbished unit does, plus a full geometric and repeatability check against the manufacturer's original specification, performed with traceable reference artifacts (gauge blocks, reference spheres, or step gauges appropriate to the instrument type). The instrument is then recalibrated, and we issue a calibration certificate at handover showing the measured results and the traceability chain back to national standards. In practice, Absolute Certified equipment performs like new — because it has been proven to, not just assumed to — at a meaningful discount to a factory-new unit.
Surplus
Surplus is decommissioned or excess inventory — end-of-life fleet equipment, overstock, or units acquired in bulk lot purchases. We check that it powers on and moves/operates as expected, but we do not mechanically service or calibrate Surplus units unless the listing says otherwise, and there is no warranty. Surplus is the right tier when you need a donor unit for spare parts, a backup instrument for non-critical use, or you plan to have the instrument serviced and calibrated yourself after purchase.
Compare
Condition Tiers at a Glance
| Tier | Warranty | Calibration Certificate | Typical Discount vs. New | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Full OEM warranty (12–24 mo.) | Factory certificate included | — | Latest features, longest warranty, strict OEM-only quality requirements |
| Refurbished | Limited PartnerGeometrics warranty | Not included by default | 30–50% | Reliable working equipment where exact certified accuracy isn't yet required |
| Absolute Certified | Limited PartnerGeometrics warranty | ISO 17025-traceable certificate issued | 20–40% | Accredited lab work, quality-critical inspection, near-new performance at lower cost |
| Surplus | None — sold as-is | Not included | 50–80% | Spare parts, backup units, non-critical or budget-constrained use |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Absolute Certified equipment be used for ISO 17025 accredited lab work?
Yes, in most cases. Absolute Certified instruments are recalibrated against traceable reference standards and issued a calibration certificate at handover, which your lab can incorporate into its own accreditation records. Confirm with your accreditation body whether they require the calibration to have been performed by a specific accredited provider — if so, tell us and we can arrange calibration through an accredited partner lab before dispatch.
What warranty comes with Refurbished equipment?
Refurbished instruments carry a limited PartnerGeometrics warranty (typically 3–6 months depending on instrument type) covering mechanical and electronic function. This is shorter than the Absolute Certified warranty because Refurbished units are function-tested to factory specification but not necessarily recalibrated against traceable reference standards.
Is Surplus equipment tested at all?
Surplus equipment is checked for basic functionality (power-on, motion, display) but is sold as-is and is not calibrated or warrantied unless explicitly stated in the listing. It is best suited to spare parts, non-critical measurement, or as a base unit for your own refurbishment.
Can I request calibration for equipment I already own?
Yes. Our calibration service is available independently of a purchase — see our Services page for details on ISO 17025-traceable calibration and certification for CMMs, hand tools, and form/surface testers, as well as magnetometers, gravimeters, and other geophysical instruments already in your facility or fleet.