SINCE 2008
Cisco hardware holds its value better than almost any other enterprise IT brand — but prices vary significantly depending on product family, age, condition, and current market demand. Here's what you need to know before you sell.
If you have used Cisco equipment sitting in a storeroom or coming off a network refresh, the first question is always the same — what is it actually worth?
The honest answer is that it depends. Cisco hardware spans an enormous range of product families, generations, and configurations, and resale prices vary considerably across all of them. A switch that was worth a significant sum three years ago may be worth considerably less today if a new generation has launched and buyer demand has shifted. Equally, some Cisco hardware holds its value remarkably well because global demand from resellers, system integrators, and businesses that cannot justify new list prices remains consistently strong.
This guide explains the key factors that determine what your used Cisco equipment is worth, what affects the price you'll receive, and how to make sure you sell at the right time to maximise your return. If you already know what you have and want a current market valuation, you can get a free quote here.
Cisco is the dominant brand in enterprise networking for a reason. Its hardware is reliable, widely deployed, and deeply embedded in the infrastructure of businesses, data centres, and service providers around the world. That dominance creates consistent secondary market demand — businesses that cannot afford new Cisco list prices, or that need to match existing infrastructure, actively seek used Cisco hardware from resellers and specialist buyers.
This sustained demand is what gives used Cisco equipment its residual value long after it has left the original owner's network. It is also why selling through a specialist buyer like RCN Trading — who understands current Cisco market pricing — consistently produces better returns than listing on a general marketplace and hoping for the best.
Not all Cisco hardware is equal in the resale market. Switching and routing hardware — particularly from the Catalyst and Nexus families for switching, and ISR and ASR families for routing — tends to command the strongest and most consistent prices because demand is broad and global. Cisco UCS server hardware also holds value well given the significant cost of new UCS infrastructure.
Security hardware including ASA firewalls and Firepower appliances has a more variable secondary market because security products are more directly tied to software licensing and support status. Wireless infrastructure and unified communications hardware typically depreciate faster than core switching and routing equipment.
If you are unsure which product families your equipment falls into, the Sell Cisco page on this site gives a clear overview of the categories we regularly purchase.
Within any product family, the generation of the hardware matters significantly. When Cisco releases a new generation of switches or routers, demand for the previous generation in the secondary market typically softens as buyers anticipate the newer models becoming available used. The period immediately after you decommission hardware — before the next generation has flooded the secondary market — is generally the best time to sell.
Older hardware is not necessarily worthless. Some legacy Cisco equipment retains value because it is still widely deployed and businesses need spare units or replacements. However, as hardware moves through end-of-sale and end-of-support status, the pool of buyers gradually shrinks and prices reflect that reduced demand.
Condition affects the price you receive but perhaps less dramatically than you might expect for enterprise hardware. Cisco equipment that has been rack-mounted in a well-managed data centre and decommissioned cleanly will typically be in good working order regardless of age. Buyers in the secondary market understand that used enterprise hardware shows signs of use — what matters is that it functions correctly and has been properly reset before sale.
Hardware that is non-functional still has value in many cases, either for parts or because specific components are in demand. If you have faulty Cisco equipment, it is always worth getting an assessment before writing it off entirely. Get in touch with the details and we will give you an honest view.
Volume matters in the secondary market. A single switch may attract interest from a handful of buyers. A bulk lot of switches — particularly a consistent configuration from the same deployment — is significantly more attractive to resellers and system integrators who can move a standardised batch more easily than individual units. If you are selling hardware from a full network refresh or data centre decommission, selling as a lot through a specialist buyer like RCN Trading will typically produce a better per-unit return than selling individually.
Cisco resale prices are not fixed — they move with supply and demand in the global secondary market. A product that commands a strong price today may be worth less in six months if a large quantity of the same equipment enters the market through multiple decommissions. Conversely, a product in short supply relative to demand can hold or even increase its value temporarily.
This is why it is important to get a current market valuation from a buyer who actively tracks Cisco resale prices rather than relying on prices you saw listed online months ago or on a fixed price list. At RCN Trading we monitor live Cisco resale markets daily and price every quote based on genuine current demand.
Beyond the market value of the hardware itself, a few practical factors affect what ends up in your bank account.
Data Wiping and Configuration
Cisco networking hardware — particularly routers, firewalls, and managed switches — retains configuration data in device memory including routing tables, VPN credentials, and access control lists. Before any Cisco equipment is resold, it needs to be fully wiped and reset to factory defaults. At RCN Trading this is handled as standard on every device we purchase. Certified data wiping documentation is available on request, which is useful for GDPR compliance purposes. You can read more about our data wiping and hard drive destruction service on the dedicated page.
Collection and Logistics Costs
Some buyers will offer you a headline price but deduct collection, logistics, or handling costs after the fact. At RCN Trading collection is always free anywhere in the UK once you accept our offer, and we cover all shipping costs if you prefer to send equipment to us. What we quote is what we pay — no deductions after collection.
Speed of Payment
Payment terms vary between buyers. RCN Trading pays by bank transfer on the same day we collect your equipment or the same day your shipment arrives and is checked in. There is no waiting period, no testing period, and no last-minute revaluation.
The best time to sell used Cisco equipment is as soon as possible after decommissioning. Every month that equipment sits in storage is a month of depreciation. Hardware that commands a strong price today will be worth less in twelve months as newer generations enter the market and the pool of buyers for older equipment gradually contracts.
Businesses that plan ahead — getting a valuation before a hardware refresh rather than after — are consistently able to factor the resale proceeds into their IT budget and offset the cost of new infrastructure. If you have a network refresh or data centre decommission coming up, get in touch early and we can give you a current market assessment that feeds directly into your planning.
The only way to get an accurate current valuation for your used Cisco equipment is to ask a specialist buyer who tracks live market prices. Online listings give you a rough idea but they reflect asking prices, not selling prices, and they quickly go out of date.
To get a quote from RCN Trading, put together a list of your equipment including the product family, type of hardware, quantity, and condition, along with your business postcode. Send that to us using the quote form on the homepage and we will come back to you with a current market offer, usually the same day.
We buy Cisco switches, routers, and firewalls, servers and storage equipment, networking hardware from all major brands, laptops and tablets, desktop computers, and Apple hardware. If you have a mixed lot from a data centre decommission or office clearance we can collect everything in a single visit.
Written by RCN Trading / March 26
RCN Trading has been buying used Cisco equipment and enterprise IT hardware from UK businesses for over 18 years. Based in Oxfordshire, we provide competitive market-based pricing, free UK collection, and same-day payment by bank transfer.
No last-minute revaluations after collection. The price we agree is the price you receive, every time.
We respond to quote requests the same day and aim to have an offer with you within a few hours of receiving your equipment list.
From first contact to final payment we handle everything — collection, logistics, data wiping, and asset de-tagging. You don't need to lift a finger.
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