An online exchange for used hardware
The Star, InTech - 12 August 2003
Charles F. Moreira
PETALING JAYA e-Basis Bay Sdn Bhd, the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status subsidiary of the Basis Bay Group, has launched its eBasisBay.com portal (www.ebasisbay.com) to facilitate trading in used, refurbished and pre-owned midrange computers, storage systems, servers and PCs.
Its parent has been supplying customers with such equipment since 1995.
While "used" equipment is pretty much self-explanatory, "refurbished" equipment is used equipment that has been reconditioned, and "pre-owned" equipment is possibly older equipment that has not been used at all.
According to Basis Bay Group chief executive officer Prabha Thiagarajah, in cases of enterprise system sales, e-Basis Bay or its partners in different countries can provide buyers a service to verify the authenticity and authority of the seller, and even send its engineers to verify the condition and operability of the equipment.
"That means, a buyer in Kota Bahru doesn't have to send its staff to Kuala Lumpur to view and test a computer it wants to buy, since we can do all that work for them," he said.
Working with partners GHL Systems Bhd, Transware, DHL, Verisign Trust Network and msctrustgate.com, e-Basis Bay can undertake to refurbish the equipment if necessary, and pack and transport it to the buyer's premises anywhere in the country or in the world for that matter.
If the buyer requires, it can also provide extended warranty and aftersales support.
In case of enterprise-class machines, after adequate vetting of both parties, e-Basis Bay will act as the middleman and first pay the seller the full agreed amount upon collecting the machine, and collect payment when it delivers the machine to the buyer.
"The portal will help match a computer up for sale in Singapore with the requirements of a buyer in Hong Kong or even the United States or anywhere in Europe," said Prabha, who expects most trading to take place within the region.
The company is targeting its portal and services at the financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications and retail industries, as well as small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) where total cost of ownership is a critical consideration.
Its portal only lists the descriptions and prices of computers, but no pictures which Prabha claimed could result in legal problems if the equipment in the picture doesn't match the product received.
Access to details of enterprise-class products from vendors like IBM, Hewlett-Packard or Sun Microsystems requires a corporate login; listings and details of desktop, laptop, notebook and Tablet PCs, printers, web and digital cameras are open to anyone and deals are between buyers and sellers.
However, e-Basis Bay does not currently provide the kind of assistance for PC buyers and sellers which it provides for enterprise equipment, but plans to introduce similar services as an option for PC sales and shipment later.
According to Basis Bay Sdn Bhd director (Enterprise Business Unit) Andrew Lim, prices of the equipment listed on the portal are on average 30% less than new products.
"Buying used computers lets companies build their computer system to suit their IT needs, rather than build their IT strategy around new systems where faster and more powerful models come out frequently," he said.
e-Basis Bay can also be reached at (603) 8996-2687 or via e-mail at ebb@basisbay.com.
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