A lyophilizer is supposed to freeze and sublimate samples, not collect dust. If yours is idle more often than not, consider selling it. Selling surplus lab equipment frees up storage space, decreases maintenance costs and recovers capital. You even contribute to the circular economy, fostering a more sustainable scientific community.
Your options include auctions, consignment and outright purchases. However, you need to know where to sell your used lab freeze dryer before you can transform it into working capital. Specialized equipment dealers can guide you through processes like asset evaluation to maximize your return. Some will even handle marketing, invoicing, packing and shipping.
Where Can You Sell Your Used Lab Freeze Dryer?
You can sell used lab equipment through standard resellers, online auction platforms or consignment sites. A reseller purchases your assets at a set price and then sells them through its own platform to generate a profit. The process is transparent and straightforward — some dealers guarantee cash in hand within days of finalization.
Many used equipment dealers will set up auctions to drive interest in their products, potentially resulting in a higher return for you. They typically take a portion of the winning bid once the item sells. The process comes with risks — depending on the item’s condition or minimum bid amount, you may not get many bids.
With consignment, the reseller does not take ownership of the equipment. Instead, you permit them to sell it on your behalf. Some will let you continue using your lab freeze dryer until they find a buyer, which can be convenient. However, the process can be time-consuming depending on the state of the instrument, so you may not see a short-term return.
Why Dealers are Superior to Online Marketplaces
Whether you prefer outright purchases, auctions or consignment, you should work with used equipment dealers rather than online marketplaces. Sites like eBay or Craigslist are convenient because they allow you to post items for sale independently. They don’t restrict listings to registered companies or universities.
However, managing the listing, vetting potential buyers, haggling over price and dodging offers from bot accounts can be time-consuming. You may not even find buyers. Since resellers offer warranties and handle logistics, people are more inclined to buy from them.
In contrast, the top used equipment dealers have worked in the life sciences and biotechnology fields for decades, so they have well-established connections with potential buyers. They are intimately familiar with asset evaluations, so they can give you a fair market value.
Specialized Dealers Who Buy Used Lab Equipment
Used equipment dealers can be like used car salespeople — unreliable or downright dishonest. That’s why knowing who to sell to is of the utmost importance. These five companies provide flexible selling options, fast response times and transparent asset evaluations.
1. New Life Scientific
Since 2014, Ohio-based New Life Scientific has served thousands of customers from its 32,200-square-foot facility, ranging from multibillion-dollar biotech companies and renowned research universities to small startups and individuals working out of their garages.
Its steadfast commitment to honesty and integrity sets it apart. New Life Scientific is transparent about its service capabilities, honors warranties to the letter and provides quality assurance on all products sold through its experienced in-house technicians. You can save 35% to 95% off the sticker price of a new instrument. You may even be able to get an extended warranty.
When buying used lab equipment, New Life Scientific makes a cash offer within two days of receiving the necessary information. You get extra value if you trade your asset in for credit instead. Either way, it arranges packaging and shipping to simplify the process. If you need a return fast, you can sell your used lab freeze dryer here.
Key Features
- Responds to customer requests within 24 hours.
- Provides a cash offer within two days of sending asset information.
- Offers extra value for trade-ins.
- Provides warranties and post-sales support on all equipment sold.
2. Federal Equipment Company
Federal Equipment Company has a global reach and decades of experience with large-scale projects, enabling it to manage complex logistics. It even offers a Resource Recovery Program to help you lower capital equipment costs and extract the maximum value from your surplus instruments.
The used equipment dealer specializes in buying and selling machines used in the processing, packaging and utility fields, but it also serves the biotech, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Its inventory spans thousands of items belonging to over 275 distinct categories, so it will accept a broad range of used equipment.
Key Features
- Offers cash, trade-ins and credit for used lab equipment.
- Provides post-sales support, including on-site training at client facilities.
- Provides flexible options, including liquidations, auctions and consignment.
3. American Laboratory Trading
As one of the largest suppliers of refurbished lab equipment, American Laboratory Trading is very knowledgeable about the buying and selling process. The dedicated in-house systems engineering team has over six decades of combined experience.
This dealer accepts trade-ins and outright purchases across a full spectrum of surplus equipment. It will help you receive the maximum return when you sell. In addition to managing individual assets, it can help with lab closures. Its turnkey service covers asset evaluation, cataloging, deinstallation, marketing, auctioning, invoicing, shipping and site cleanup.
If you buy surplus lab equipment from American Laboratory Trading, you will receive lifetime post-sales support. Regardless of whether the item is past warranty — which extends up to one year — the service engineering team will assist.
Key Features
- Sends full cash or credit compensation within 30 days of the sale.
- Provides a turnkey decommissioning service for lab closures.
- Ensures store credit is valid for one year from the date of issue.
- Provides lifetime post-sales support on all equipment sold.
4. EquipNet
EquipNet is among the largest online dealers for used lab, test, manufacturing, packaging and facility support equipment. It is actively engaged with hundreds of thousands of qualified buyers in 170 countries, 70 of which are home to registered auction buyers. A global sales team that speaks over 12 languages is on standby to provide assistance.
The equipment dealer provides consignment and auction services for single instruments or entire inventories. It charges a 20% seller’s premium — 15% if you list the item exclusively — once the item sells. EquipNet typically operates within a nine-month timeline, but it can adjust to meet your goals. There is no cost to list equipment. Exclusive listings receive support from a dedicated project manager.
You can only list items for sale if you are a registered company or university. While EquipNet serves everyone from small businesses to Fortune 500 multinational companies, it will not list items from individuals operating out of residences. If you buy from it, you save 25% to 75% off the new cost of lab instrumentation.
Key Features
- Responds to customer requests within 24 to 48 hours.
- Manages an inventory of lab equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Provides flexible options, including auctions and consignment.
- Generates sales reports with detailed metrics.
5. American Instrument Exchange
Since 1969, American Instrument Exchange has worked with thousands of research labs and higher education institutions nationwide. It works with sellers of all sizes, from individuals selling a single item to those managing large-scale operations. Since it is constantly seeking to expand its inventory, it buys unused and decommissioned lab equipment.
Although American Instrument Exchange can refurbish almost anything, it is particularly fond of newer models. It also accepts furniture and other hardware, such as wall cabinets and fume hoods. If you have questions or need advice during the selling process, a dedicated team staffed by knowledgeable, courteous professionals will respond promptly during business hours.
This dealer maintains a large inventory of used equipment at its 30,000-square-foot warehouse in Massachusetts, with new shipments arriving daily. The technicians with over 100 years of combined experience rigorously test all equipment sold. If you buy instruments here, you could save up to 60% off the price of a new model.
Key Features
- Accepts scientific instrumentation, lab furniture and additional hardware.
- Offers a standard warranty on all equipment sold.
- Delivers orders within three business days.
Methodology for Selecting Top Equipment Buyers
Not all used equipment providers meet the same standards. Some are inflexible or dishonest and care more about making money than helping their clients or supporting the scientific community. To know which are worth doing business with, you must review selection criteria, such as offer transparency, experience, service flexibility and customer service.
The dealers listed are known for accurately evaluating the price of used assets and offering competitive prices on surplus equipment. They employ experienced in-house technicians to accurately assess the condition and value of surplus instrumentation, ensuring their offers align with fair market value. These teams can also provide quality assurance on all products sold.
Service flexibility is crucial if you want to sell through multiple channels. Do you prefer direct sales, consignment, auctions or liquidation? You should also familiarize yourself with the buying process — it can reveal a great deal about how firms treat customers.
Unlike most used equipment providers, the companies on this list provide comprehensive warranties and post-sales support. These services are logistically challenging — and may result in them paying tens of thousands of dollars to fix broken instrumentation — but they care about the customer experience.
They also provide excellent customer service, including fast response times, pleasant exchanges and a straightforward sales process. Many of the field’s top dealers pride themselves on transparency and integrity. Their proven track records of clear communication and fair dealings make them stand out.
Which of These Dealers Should You Work With?
At first glance, the top businesses buying used lab equipment offer the same buying and selling services. Upon closer inspection, the type of compensation they offer and their response times differ significantly. Also consider whether you prefer cash, store credit or a trade-in.
Direct sales are straightforward, and you get your money fast. However, you could also request a consignment or an auction. If you do, would you prefer to list your machine yourself or have a third party manage the process? Some dealers provide turnkey programs that handle everything from marketing to shipping. Consider whether these services meet your needs.
| Used Equipment Dealer | Best For | Cash or Trade-In Credit | Typical Response Time |
| New Life Scientific | Individual assets
|
Outright purchases and trade-in credit | Under 24 hours |
| Federal Equipment Company | Individual assets
|
Outright purchases and trade-ins | Unspecified |
| American Laboratory Trading | Individual assets and lab closures | Outright purchases and trade-in credit | Unspecified |
| EquipNet | Individual assets and lab closures | Outright purchases
|
24 to 48 hours |
| American Instrument Exchange | Individual assets and lab closures | Outright purchases and trade-in options | Unspecified |
Other criteria include in-house testing capabilities, post-sales support, warranty length and inventory availability. These may not be deciding factors, but they indicate overall service quality and will be vital if you buy from one of these businesses.
Steps to Help You Prepare Used Equipment for Sale
Whether your lab freeze dryer is relatively new or you’ve had it for years, there’s a high chance someone in your field is in the market for one. However, even if a sale is guaranteed, the selling price varies. When purchasing used lab equipment look for visible signs of wear. Factors like obvious signs of misuse, functional status and inclusion of accessories influence resale value.
Reputable dealers want to provide fair market value assessments to sellers and in-depth information to potential buyers, so they need much information up front. For instance, some require a minimum of one picture to enable evaluation. You should provide multiple clear, well-lit images from several angles for a more accurate assessment.
Documentation is typically required when selling used lab equipment. Purchasers may request manuals, service records and model information. If you worked with hazardous or biological materials, they might ask for proof of decontamination. Also, if your item has software, they may require confirmation of the software license.
Gather all images and documentation before contacting one of the providers. Ensure you have the serial number, nameplate, manual, model number and service records. List any known issues so you have a reference point when asked about the instrument’s condition.
Selling Your Used Lab Equipment to the Top Dealers
Now that you know where you can sell your used lab freeze dryer, you can decide whether you prefer a direct sale, consignment, an auction or liquidation. Initiate the selling process by contacting one or more of these companies. The sooner you act, the better — you can do much more with working capital than an idle lyophilizer.
If you purchase used lab equipment from one of these businesses, consider inventory availability. Since they source their equipment from others in the scientific community, their product categories and models constantly change.
