The resale of laboratory equipment is a process that many laboratories consider during facility upgrades, internal reorganizations, or site closures. Centrifuges, spectrophotometers, incubators, precision balances: these devices represent real value on the second-hand market, but most laboratories do not know exactly how to go about selling them under good conditions.
Should you sell directly to another laboratory, publish an ad on a general platform, or entrust the equipment to a specialized refurbisher? Each option has its advantages, constraints, and financial implications. At Rewake, we assist research, health, and industry professionals in this process every day, and in this article, we provide a complete and honest overview of the different avenues available for reselling your scientific equipment under the best conditions.
What is the resale of laboratory equipment?
The resale of laboratory equipment is the transfer of used or decommissioned scientific equipment in exchange for payment, as part of a business-to-business transaction. It concerns any device that is no longer actively used in the laboratory, whether it is being replaced by a newer model, decommissioned following a protocol change, or withdrawn after a reorganization. Unlike disposal, it generates a measurable financial return and avoids the regulatory processing costs associated with the WEEE directive.
Four modes of resale coexist on the market. Direct resale between laboratories is the simplest in principle: two organizations agree on a price and organize the transfer. Resale via platform involves publishing an ad on a general or specialized site to find a professional buyer. Buy-back by a refurbisher allows you to sell the equipment quickly at a price set after technical evaluation, without searching for a buyer. Consignment entrusts the search for a buyer to an intermediary, with payment deferred until the actual sale.
Environmentally, resale is significantly preferable to disposal. Scientific equipment returned to service in another laboratory avoids the manufacturing of an equivalent new device, with all the resources that entails. For laboratories subject to CSR commitments, it is a concrete lever for reducing their footprint, which can be documented in their sustainability reports with precise data on the devices transferred and their destination.
Which laboratory equipment resells best?
Analytical instrumentation represents the category with the best resale value on the scientific second-hand market. Spectrophotometers, spectrometers, chromatographs, PCR machines, and analyzers concentrate sustained demand from research, health, and industry laboratories looking to equip their benches at a lower cost. These devices can retain high resale value for 10 to 15 years after they are first put into service, due to their high initial acquisition cost and the robustness of their core components.
Conservation and thermal management equipment constitute the second most in-demand category: laboratory freezers, refrigerators, incubators, and drying ovens represent significant investments whose residual value remains strong as long as the thermal control systems and compressors are in good condition. Sample preparation and processing equipment, such as centrifuges, autoclaves, stirrers, and precision balances, round out the list of devices that quickly find buyers on the professional second-hand market.
Molecular biology and microbiology equipment are among the categories with particularly high residual value: sequencers, electrophoresis systems, laminar flow hoods, and chromatography equipment regularly resell for 25 to 45% of their new value, even after several years of use, due to the prohibitive cost of replacing them with new ones for many laboratories. Four factors mainly determine the resale value of a device: brand and model, age, operating condition, and the presence of original accessories.
Direct resale, platform, or refurbisher: which option to choose?
Direct resale between laboratories is the method that can theoretically maximize the price obtained, since it eliminates intermediaries. In practice, it is time-consuming and demanding: finding a qualified buyer, negotiating the price, organizing transport, drafting transfer documents, and managing any post-sale claims mobilize significant time and administrative resources. It is suitable for laboratories with an active professional network and one or two devices to sell, but quickly becomes difficult to manage for lots of multiple items of equipment.
Generalist or specialized platforms offer wider visibility but present concrete limitations for technical scientific equipment. Potential buyers are often poorly qualified to evaluate a spectrophotometer or a PCR machine, which generates long negotiations, repeated requests for information, and a high abandonment rate before the sale is finalized. The average time to sell analytical equipment on a generalist platform often exceeds 60 days, with no guarantee of results or logistics handling of the pickup.
Buy-back by a specialized refurbisher like Rewake offers a different balance: the price obtained is lower than that of a successful direct sale, but the process is fast, without searching for a buyer, without logistics management, and without the risk of an aborted transaction. A firm proposal is formulated within 7 business days, the pickup is organized at our expense, and payment occurs within 15 to 30 days following the validation of the equipment. For laboratories that value simplicity and speed, this is the most effective solution, especially when multiple devices of different categories must be sold simultaneously.
How to prepare your laboratory equipment for resale?
Preparing equipment before resale is the step that is most often neglected, yet it is the most profitable. A device presented with its complete documentation, original accessories, and a clear maintenance history resells on average 10 to 20% higher than a device delivered without any additional information. This preparation does not require specific technical skills: it relies essentially on collecting and organizing documents already existing in the laboratory.
The first concrete action is to gather user and maintenance manuals, accessories delivered originally with the device, calibration certificates issued by a COFRAC-accredited body, and preventive maintenance slips carried out during the equipment's lifespan. These elements directly reduce the cost and time of refurbishment for the buyer or refurbisher, which translates into a higher documented valuation during the assessment.
The second action is to take a series of representative photos of each device: an overall view, the nameplate with serial number and model, interfaces and connections, and if possible a photo of the screen in operation. Supplement these visuals with a precise technical description including the brand, full model, year of acquisition, operating condition, and any known defects. An honest and detailed description avoids post-transaction disputes and significantly speeds up the evaluation process, regardless of the resale method chosen.
What is the resale value of second-hand laboratory equipment?
The resale value of second-hand laboratory equipment depends on several combined factors, none of which is sufficient on its own to establish a reliable price. The benchmark most used by industry professionals is the percentage of the new value: a device less than 5 years old in good working order, with its original accessories and complete documentation, can be resold for between 30 and 50% of its new value depending on market demand for that specific model. This ratio decreases gradually with the age of the device and its operating condition.
The brand is the second determining factor. The major references in scientific instrumentation such as Thermo Fisher, Eppendorf, Mettler Toledo, Zeiss, or Agilent benefit from structurally stronger demand on the second-hand market, which keeps their residual value at a level above average, sometimes for more than 10 years after they were first marketed. Conversely, a recent device from an unknown brand or one for which spare parts are no longer available will be difficult to value, regardless of its initial manufacturing quality.
To estimate the resale value of your equipment before any steps, two complementary approaches are recommended. The first consists of searching for the exact model on platforms specializing in second-hand laboratory equipment and noting the prices charged for devices in comparable condition. The second consists of submitting an inventory to a specialized refurbisher like Rewake to obtain a professional evaluation based on up-to-date market knowledge, with no obligation for you to sell.
Resale of laboratory equipment and WEEE regulatory obligations
The transfer of professional electrical and electronic equipment is governed in France by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive, transposed into French law by the decree of July 20, 2005, and its implementing texts. This regulation imposes traceability of end-of-life treatment for all professional electrical or electronic equipment, whether it is resold, refurbished, or discarded. Failure to comply with these obligations exposes the selling laboratory to administrative sanctions and engages its environmental responsibility.
In the context of a direct resale between laboratories, the responsibility for WEEE traceability is transferred to the buyer upon the transaction, but both parties must keep documents proving the transfer of ownership and the final destination of the device. In practice, few laboratories have the administrative tools necessary to manage this traceability correctly, which exposes both parties to risks in the event of an audit. Administrative complexity is all the greater when the lot of equipment to be sold is large and heterogeneous in device categories.
Using an authorized refurbisher like Rewake fully resolves this issue. We take care of all regulatory obligations related to the transfer: WEEE traceability, transfer of responsibility documents, and certificate of pickup in a compliant channel. The selling laboratory is entirely released from any regulatory responsibility as soon as the equipment is picked up, with supporting documents sent within 48 hours following the transaction. This handling represents a real administrative time saving, estimated at between 3 and 8 hours of processing for a lot of 5 to 10 devices depending on their category.
The resale of laboratory equipment is a structured process that requires minimal preparation but generates a significant financial return compared to disposal. The choice of method depends on the laboratory's priorities: direct resale maximizes the price but requires time and an active network, platforms offer visibility but little efficiency for technical devices, and buy-back by a specialized refurbisher guarantees a fast, risk-free process without administrative burden.
At Rewake, we manage the entire process, from initial evaluation to equipment collection, with total transparency regarding estimation criteria and regulatory obligations. Each device purchased is refurbished, tested, and resold with a warranty to professionals who need it. It is this exclusive specialization in laboratory equipment that allows us to offer buy-back conditions consistent with the reality of the second-hand scientific instrumentation market.
FAQ
What is the best way to resell laboratory equipment quickly?
The fastest solution is buy-back by a specialized refurbisher: a firm proposal is formulated within 7 business days and payment occurs within 15 to 30 days following the pickup. Direct resale or resale via a platform can take several weeks to several months depending on demand for the model concerned, with no guarantee of results or logistics handling.
Can you resell broken or out-of-service laboratory equipment?
Yes, a broken device can be resold, but at a lower value than a functional device. Valuation depends on the nature of the breakdown, the availability of spare parts, and the market value of the model once repaired. It is recommended to describe the identified defect precisely to obtain a realistic evaluation and avoid any dispute after the transaction.
Should equipment be certified or calibrated before reselling?
It is not mandatory, but a recent calibration certificate issued by a COFRAC-accredited body can increase the resale value by 10 to 15% for measuring and analytical devices. It attests to the good metrological condition of the equipment and reduces the refurbishment cost for the buyer, which is reflected positively in the offered price.
Is the resale of laboratory equipment subject to VAT?
Yes, the resale of laboratory equipment between VAT-registered professionals is subject to the standard 20% VAT rate in France. Invoicing procedures depend on the legal and tax status of the transferring laboratory. We recommend consulting your accounting department or your accountant to validate the tax treatment applicable to your specific situation.
Can Rewake purchase laboratory equipment of all brands?
Yes, Rewake purchases laboratory equipment of all brands and categories, without restrictions related to a specific manufacturer or product portfolio. Major brands such as Thermo Fisher, Eppendorf, Mettler Toledo, Zeiss, or Agilent enjoy particularly strong demand on the secondary market, but we also evaluate devices from less common brands based on their actual condition and the availability of spare parts.
