Buying used dental equipment provides many advantages, but it's always a good idea to stay alert when purchasing items online. When shopping for pre-owned dental equipment, look for these 6 signs to ensure that you're dealing with a trustworthy reseller.

1: Clear Equipment Branding

Pictures of the item you want to purchase should clearly show the brand and logo of the equipment. Steering clear of items that don't will help you avoid purchasing illegitimate or "knock off" equipment.

2: Majority of Positive Reviews

Skim the reseller's online reviews for patterns. If most of the reviews are negative and describe the same problems, this is a red flag, and you should definitely find a different source for your pre-owned dental equipment.

3: Business Longevity

Trustworthy customer service contributes to business longevity.

In addition to positive reviews, do your best to find out how long the reseller has been in business. "About" pages on the reseller's website, dates of the reseller's reviews, or even an advanced Google search are all good ways to find this information.

If the business only surfaced within the last year, be wary.

Instead, try to purchase equipment from resellers that have been in business for years. The longer they've been operating, the more time they've had to earn the trust of their customers.

4: Visible Contact Information

Verify that the reseller has a phone number, regular business hours, and an office address.  Don't be afraid to call to see if the company actually exists.

Scam companies will often only list a "Contact Us" form with no visible contact information. If it looks like they don't want you to contact them directly, be suspicious.

5: Multiple Payment Options

Businesses that only accept payment via wire transfer or other unprotected forms of payment are suspicious. If a business states that it doesn’t accept credit card or PayPal payments, move on.

6: Uplifting Company Culture and Philosophy

Lastly, search the company's website or e-commerce store for the answers to these questions:

• What is the company's mission?

• How do the company owners or leaders believe their employees should be treated?

• How do the company owners or leaders believe their employees should treat each other?

• What are the company's core values?

The answers will reveal whether the reseller is worthy of your trust and financial support.

Find the Best Reseller for You

Trustworthy dental equipment resellers are transparent in their product and company descriptions, have operated for years with a majority of positive reviews, and treat their employees and customers with dignity and respect.

We want you to find the dental equipment reseller that fits your needs. Please consider giving the Atlas Resell Management online store a try. We specialize in combining value, selection, and transparency.

View this infographic to see our detailed equipment inspection process, or learn more about our history and company values.

No matter which reseller you ultimately choose to work with, we wish you the best.