Bytes Back Data Recovery - Protect Your Valuable Computer Data

With surveys showing that only about 30% of computer users regularly back up their important data, new Tradeloop member, Bytes Back Data Recovery, saw a market opportunity in 2009 - and took it. The Cleveland-based data recovery company offers personal service to consumer, education, corporate, and government clients.

Director of bulk sales, Jason Kiner manages the buying and selling of bulk hard drives, which means he spends a good bit of time on Tradeloop:

"Some of our biggest challenges are meeting new potential buyers and finding product. Tradeloop brings buyers and sellers from around the world together to do business that they normally would not have been able to accomplish."

Although the company is a "small business," Kiner said, there's nothing small about the services it provides:

"With our specialized training, sophisticated technology and dedicated high end recovery equipment, we can get data back from almost any failed media. Our staff is here to make sure your data is safe, explain what happened, and provide backup solutions to avoid it in the future. "

Services provided by Bytes Back Data Recovery include:

• Expedited recovery options for critical business data.
• Service and backup contracts to prevent future data loss.
• Forensic imaging of working hard drives for government & law enforcement authorities.
• Data retrieval from USB flash drives.
• Data recovery kits for educational institutions.
• A retail storefront with diagnostics performed while you wait.

In addition, the company has technicians on staff who answer phone & email questions during regular business hours. In some cases, local pick-up is available. Clients can also ship directly or drop off equipment in person.

All the work is done in-house, Kiner explained, unlike other data recovery services:

"Most data recovery centers are not able to perform all the work themselves, requiring them to send their work to a third party. This adds time, cost, and potential loss or mis-communication about your data. Having all the necessary tools for any data recovery in-house, we are able to save you time, money, and hope to help you relax a little."

Though most clients are walk-in customers needing recovery services, Bytes Back Data Recovery also offers bulk drive services to suppliers and wholesalers.

Kiner said company technicians take their work seriously: they understand the importance of business data and the sentimental value of personal memories stored in the form of photos and videos.

"At Bytes Back Data Recovery we are fast, competitively priced, and most importantly here to give your device the individual attention it deserves. Whether your data is precious memories of your first child, a thesis for your master’s degree, or client files for the last 10 years, your data is more to us than just another number in the books."

Make a connection with Jason Kiner and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

NurTech - "Go Green and Get Some Green"

New Tradeloop member, NurTech LLC, is based in Beltsville, MD and specializes in electronic recycling, asset management, data destruction, and wholesale & retail sales. Founded six years ago as a home business, owner Nurgul Yavzer has grown the business rapidly, expanding its workforce and products/services.

He described the company's success - and growing pains!

"We are about to outgrow our current facility and plan to relocate soon to a larger warehouse. As our customer base grows, we need more space. Presently, we're receiving several shipments per day plus a recycling pick-up. Inventory is moving at what feels like lightening speed some days."

With his business growing and changing that quickly, Yavuzer needed a reliable way to monitor the market and locate new customers and suppliers. He found Tradeloop: NurTech is already an active participant in the trading community with inventory and Broadcast activity. It's been a success, he said:

"Our wholesale department is constantly looking for new business. We use Tradeloop's Broadcast and social networking tools every day."

NurTech specializes in customer service, he continued. Because the company is small, buyers and sellers deal directly with decision makers and employees are very familiar with the market. Yavuzer said the biggest growth is in recycling - an area where NurTech is particularly qualified:

"In 2008, we established our license for electronics recycling. Our 12,000 square foot facility houses our recycling, technical and administrative team. We are an environmentally sound company with dedicated employees, who care about the environment."

Currently, NurTech only handles domestic orders, but hopes to expand into the international market soon. "Tradeloop is our latest tool for acquiring international business," Yavuzer said.

Although the company has built a loyal base of customers in just a few years, Yavuzer said there are always room for more. NurTech customers get more than just an eBay retail store and wholesale outlet, he explained:

"We don't only offer just one facet of technological services. Instead of operating like our competitors with just one specialty, we offer many services under one umbrella: asset management, wholesale, eBay, e-recycling, data destruction, and hard drive shredding.

And we take care of our customers. The goal of a good vendor is that everybody benefits from the transaction."

Make a connection with Nurgul Yavuzer and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

Liquid 8 Technology: Turn Used Capital Into Cash

Whether you're looking for used IT equipment, need help managing your IT assets, or just want hard drives completely destroyed to protect sensitive data, Brooklyn, NY-based Liquid 8 Technology can help. Founded in 2000, the company buys and sells all types of IT equipment, from full systems to individual replacement parts. Other services include asset management and data destruction.

Sales Director, Robert Ruehle, said that this diversity helps insulate Liquid 8 from market swings. He's particularly busy working with used equipment now:

"Companies are finally upgrading again so there is a lot of equipment coming offline available to purchase. We're busier than we've ever been. There is also a big trend of single core servers coming offline and being made totally obsolete with the expansion of VM and dual and quad core machines."

His primary job responsibilities are to value equipment lists for bidding and then sell the equipment that comes in.

"The market changes constantly. The part nobody wanted a month ago might be today's hard-to-find item. I use Tradeloop to post equipment to sell and also for market research. It helps me track what equipment is selling for and find new customers."

With offices scattered across the United States, Liquid 8 is able to monitor the market and work closely with both buyers and sellers. Most customers are resellers who specialize in particular brands. Financial and IT-related companies are most likely to upgrade IT assets first, Ruehle explained, so they form the core of his suppliers. However, Liquid 8 helps many different companies dispose of assets securely:

"We buy and sell all types of equipment from any manufacturer. This gives us a big advantage because we have a good sense of the markets for everything. Our data destruction services are also the best out there so we retain a lot of companies because they know their data is safe with us."

Liquid 8 Technology specializes in developing custom solutions for its clients, Ruehle noted. A client moving to a new location has completely different needs than a company looking to donate used equipment or one closing operations entirely. Whatever a company's IT situation, Ruehle said Liquid 8 Technology can help:

"Our main value is in our ability is to pay top dollar to a company for their IT assets quickly with cash upfront at the time of pickup. That combined with our data destruction services makes us a very attractive option for IT asset dispositions."

Make a connection with Robert Ruehle and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

National Sales Associates: Secure, Eco-Friendly Tape Solutions

National Sales Associates (NSA) was founded in 2003 by an experienced team of professionals with more than 25 years of experience in magnetic media and data center services. Since then, the company has grown to 25 employees and provides re-certified/refurbished tape that has been erased, tested, and has a lifetime warranty. NSA promises "a secure solution that benefits everybody, even Mother Nature."

Owner Joe Endyke explained:

"We have a green solution for every tape - it could be a waste-to-energy destruction for very old tape or we can erase and recycle the tape if it has a market. Recycling tape is important: we securely and efficiently handle and recycle tapes to keep the metals and plastics from contaminating our land, air and ground water. "

Of course, backup tapes often contain extremely sensitive corporate data and many companies are concerned about data safety. That's why so many companies turn to NSA, Endyke said:

"We have processed millions of tape without a data breach. Our process is NIST compliant. We will go on-site to erase tapes for secure transport. Once we erase and reformat a tape the data is not retrievable under any circumstances. We make sure the client wants a tape volume erased before we run it on our drives because once we erase it nobody can retrieve the data! We have asked many to try - unsuccessfully."

Finding tape to recycle can be a challenge, Endyke noted, because "there's not a store for used tape I can call." So NSA turned to Tradeloop. A member since 2007, Endyke said he's always looking for Tradeloop members working in that area:

"We buy lots when they come available. We would love more Tradeloop members coming to us with new or used tape buybacks - please call! We do have several Tradeloop partners, but we always want to make connections with more. We seek out customers through Tradeloop, primarily"

Endyke stressed that NSA is committed to building long term relationships with customers and is loyal to its distributor-partners.

"We support the distribution channel. We work with some of the largest and smallest distributors in the world and we honor this supply chain. That makes our customers comfortable putting us in contact with their customers if there is a technical issue to discuss. Once processed we sell our tape through our distributors. Several distributors private label our tape by putting their name on the inserts. United Stationers Innovera Brand is made exclusively by NSA."

Customers also benefit from numerous other services provided by NSA. Tape can be labeled, initialized, and shipped within 24 hours. All tape is tested and carries a lifetime warranty. Other tape services include tape copy, data migration, and destruction. Endyke explained it succinctly: "If it happens on tape, we can supply the service."

He said that NSA has been successful because it offers a unique service and commitment to customer support:

"We have long experience in the tape business and a long history of supporting distribution. Our customers trust us to support them and supply the best quality product. Our business grows every year."

Make connection with Joe Endyke and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

Minnesota Computers Corporation: Recycling & Reusing IT Equipment

Minnesota Computers Corporation (MCC) has served over 75,000 clients since it was founded in 1985 and built its reputation as one of the leading systems and storage resellers. An authorized reseller for many top manufacturers, MCC works with all size companies to help them maximize their recovery assets.

Company founder and president, Richard Quigley, explained that MCC benefits from the tech industry's focus on "going green."

"The BEST form of recycling is reuse. Minnesota Computers is a green company. We recycle and properly dispose of all computer hardware. We accept free of charge many types of computer hardware items."

MCC joined Tradeloop in 1999 and offers over 28,000 items for sale to the trading community. Quigley said that MCC has maintained his long-term relationship with Tradeloop because it helps the company enlarge its customer base:

"We use Tradeloop as one of our primary communications to buy and sell tech equipment."

MCC's list of customers is large – and growing – Quigley noted "because we offers customers the quality they need at prices they can afford." MCC works with Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, government entities, nonprofits, and even end users worldwide. They're attracted by the company's large diverse inventory. MCC is an authorized reseller for IBM, HP, Dell, Overland Storage, Xerox, TallyGenicom, Cisco, Quantum, Plasmon, Zebra, Intermec, Symbol and many others.

"We have in stock or access to a full line of replacement parts through our distributors for all hardware devices. We can complete repairs the same day if customers are in urgent need."

MCC can offer this large inventory and service because they maintain a 25,000+ square foot warehouse, a 10,000 square foot tech center, and a new secure data center facility. But everyone associated with MCC understands that just having a large inventory isn't enough, stressed Quigley. They realize that personal connections make all the difference and are committed to customer service and support.

"We believe quality is more important than quantity. Our business model places customers at the forefront of importance based on our philosophy of business, the quality of people and service at MCC. We treat every customer as if you are our only customer."

Make connection with Richard Quigley and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

Network Technology Suppliers: Networking Solutions For Asia & The World

Network Technology Suppliers is one of the largest suppliers of networking solutions in Asia. Founded in 2002, the company grew rapidly and now specializes in pre-owned and refurbished Cisco, HP, Foundry, Nortel, Extreme, Huawei and other manufacturers. Network Technology Suppliers offers quality products at competitive prices to customers worldwide.

International Sales Manager, Daniel Xavier, works with his sales team to develop strategies to meet the company's long and short term goals. Network Technology Suppliers will soon celebrate its 5th year anniversary at Tradeloop and Xavier explained how membership helps his team:

"Tradeloop helps us identify the regions where we can improve our services. We use it to help locating new sales leads and products. "

Tradeloop's international membership meshes with Network Technology Suppliers' business model, he noted. The company's success depends on locating quality products, reliable customers, and offering competitive pricing:

"Our customer base is world wide. Having offices in different parts of the world we are able to touch base with resellers in USA, Europe, Africa, Middle East & Sub Continent. The current market is very competitive with more vendors coming out of Asian region and that puts pressure on prices. Buyers have many choices and expect the best & lowest price."

But even as customers expect lower prices, they also require high quality products. Xavier said this is where Network Technology Suppliers stands out:

"The industry is huge that the key to so staying in top is to provide quality product and best after sales service. That's our commitment to our customers. We provide quality IT solutions that enable our clients to build up and maintain cost effective infrastructure."

Customers also expect prompt response when they need networking equipment, since operations grind to a halt when the IT system is down. Xavier noted that his customers rarely have to wait long in such situations:

"We are a major Cisco house and deal in most of the new retail Cisco equipment. Our large inventory gives us an edge over our competitors and helps us provide a quick service to our customers - for which most of the retailers and end users have to wait for weeks."

Network Technology Suppliers' knowledgeable, multi-lingual sales force with technical expertise and its large, ready-to-ship inventory helps the company keep its promise to customers, said Xavier:

"We provide quality products at extremely competitive prices and offer 24/7 customer & sales support. We deliver to any part of the world."

Make a Connection with Daniel Xavier and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

InStock Inc. – Data Protection, Storage, and Back-up

Is your company prepared for a disaster? Since 1997, Arizona-based InStock, Inc. has provided national and international customers with tape and disk storage. The company buys and sells new, used, and refurbished storage equipment from StorageTek, Quantum, Overland, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Sun Spectra Logic, and IBM.

With that many product lines – and customers who depend on quick response, InStock maintains a 10,000 square foot warehouse with over 50,000 items in stock and ready to ship. Sales Manager, Tonny Gustafsson, relies on this inventory to support his customers' needs:

"We assist our customers in getting the right tape library, drive, or part to keep their data back-up systems performing well. Since we have inventory on hand, we can deliver it fast and help them avoid data loss or downtime."

A Tradeloop member since 1998, InStock has found the trading community to be an excellent place to advertise products and attract new, qualified customers:

"Tradeloop helps us by keeping our current customers aware of our inventory stocking levels and by helping new customers find us."

Gustafsson is just as complimentary about InStock's customers, calling them "a great mix at all levels." InStock works with companies of all sizes, government entities, service & maintenance companies, and nonprofits. Staff members average 25 years' of technical experience: they work with customers to help them select the correct products and ensure accurate configurations.

Most customers are repeat customers and Gustafsson attributes this to InStock's staff knowledge, inventory, and customer support structure:

"In the tape and disk storage world, it's all about having what customers need when they need it. We strategically purchase equipment from across the globe to ensure that our inventory levels meet or exceed their demand. All our equipment is tested by factory-trained technicians and ready to ship when customers need it."

Inventory and expertise are InStock's major attributes Gustafsson explained:

"When our customers have an urgent need or unique need for tape or disk inventory, they're confident that we will have it – ready to ship the same day if needed. Our sales and technical staff have been trained by the industry's leading manufacturers. They bring that knowledge to every item to every item InStock ships."

Make a Connection with Tonny Gustafsson and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

Moorgate Consulting: "Every Type of Electronics Imaginable"

Moorgate Consulting is a UK company based in London that provides a wide range of electronics. Refurbished servers, spare parts, video editing equipment, and even dentist chairs have been part of the company's inventory.

Russell Jackson founded the company ten years ago and it grew quickly, he said.

"I now employ ten full-time staffers. And we sell a broad range of products – pretty much every type of electronics imaginable for the use of small to large companies. We even sell the very unusual specialty pieces that are not IT or electronics. That's how we got the dentist chairs. That's a fairly small market, but every dentist in the world needs a chair!"

Moorgate Consulting is a "hands-on" company, Jackson continued. He approves many purchases himself and works with staffers to determine the quality of used equipment. "A lot of work goes into the catalog the condition and functionality of items." They put the same care into packing and shipping. "We treat packaging like an art, no matter how good the item, if it gets bashed in transit no one is happy."

But first, the company has to find equipment to sell. Fortunately, Jackson said, Moorgate Consulting generally has an easy time of it because "there is a plentiful supply of good quality product out there and that's what we're interested in." As a member of Tradeloop for the past 10 years, he uses Tradeloop to expand his customer base:

"Tradeloop provides Moorgate Consulting with a lot of potential buyers. It is safe, efficient and straightforward. It does exactly what it says on the tin."

The company's business model works because it builds customer trust, Jackson explained:

"We reject a fair amount of product if it fails to meet our exacting standards. If something is perfectly functional but has a dink, scratch, or missing part you must inform the client. They should be allowed to make an informed choice about their purchase. Clients will never trust you again if you treat them with less than 100% respect."

Moorgate Consulting's customer base is as varied as its inventory listings. It works with small businesses, large corporations both domestically and internationally and devotes a good deal of staff time to customer service and support, Jackson noted. "We believe it is important that the client gets clear, honest information about their purchase."

Excellent customer communication and support is a main component of the company's success, said Jackson. But the company's large, varied inventory is another:

"Our range of product is enormous and varied. It changes almost every week or so. I think potential clients find that attractive. It keeps us on our toes and keeps our clients coming back to browse the latest arrivals."

Make a connection with Russell Jackson and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

1st Tier Technology: Where Product Knowledge Makes The Difference

1st Tier Technology, LLC has served the international IT community for 6 years, focusing mainly on Sun/Oracle product lines. This tight focus on particular product lines gives the staff the comprehensive, hands-on knowledge and experience customers rely on.

Managing partner, Jamie Scott, founded 1st Tier Technology in 2005 with the goal of making the company a top tier organization both in product knowledge, sales, and service. Scott sets an example for the staff in that area. He told Tradeloop that he's earning an MBA in International Business and hopes to gain "a more comprehensive understanding of how to manage a business from every aspect; from the employee wants and needs, to the client's desires and ever evolving tastes and needs."

1st Tier Technology's business model has evolved as well. In 2010, the company became a stocking broker and services both wholesale and end-user customers – mainly brokers. Maintaining customer loyalty is key, Scott noted. He attributes the large number of repeat customers to the expertise that comes with product specialization:

"It gives us a more concentrated customer base and lets our staff develop expertise in the product lines our clients prefer. We also offer in-house tech/repair services for our gear should the need arise, thus cutting down time in transit so our clients are up and running faster, which is integral to their success."

While the company has succeeded in a tough market, 1st Tier Technology faces the same challenges as every other Tradeloop member. One large issue is fraud and counterfeiting in the IT industry. Although every company wants to broaden market share, all have to be careful about fraudulent buyers and sellers. "Counterfeiting crushes trust and depresses prices," Scott stressed, so finding reliable, legitimate buyers and sellers is crucial.

"We feel Tradeloop and the ethics committee has done, and continues to do, a stellar job in getting these folks off the site, essentially cutting them off at the knees."

1st Tier Technology also offers a wide range of Cisco and HP products. Its large inventory of ready-to-ship components includes memory, hard drives, and CPU components. Scott and his staff are committed to customer satisfaction and ethical business practices:

"1st Tier is a stocking broker in the Sun/Oracle, seeking to fulfill the needs of the IT community as a whole. We bring in products that we feel our clients need on the fly and do it in a professional manner consistently with a smile and can-do attitude. We aren't trying to change the game, just make it simpler and more efficient for all."

Make a connection with Jamie Scott and invite him to join your network of trusted Tradeloop users.

2nd Solutions – Taking the Guesswork Out of Buying Used Electronics

Richmond, Virginia-based 2nd Solutions was founded in 2005 to help buyers and sellers extend the commercial life of electronic devices by capturing their residual value on the secondary market. It now provides comprehensive IT asset recovery for corporations, government agencies, hospitals, and schools across the United States. The company has 30 employees and 60,000 square feet of office and warehouse space.

Brian Loden is 2nd Solutions' Sales Channel Manager for all products related to computers. That includes desktops, laptops, monitors, hard drives, memory, cables, networking, and telecom equipment, components, and scrap. This gives him a unique perspective on the status of the resale market and helps him explain 2nd Solutions' success.

"There is an obvious trend in the primary market representing the convergence of mobile and computing technology. We see this in smart phones and in tablets. This is great news for our industry because users are upgrading more frequently. Increased demand in the primary market equals an increase in supply on the secondary market. The demand for lower-cost slightly older computers and phones is here to stay."

Loden spends much of his workday trying to meet that demand and has found Tradeloop to be a valuable resource. "Sometimes it's a challenge to have enough inventory to meet the demands of my customers. Tradeloop not only helps me source product for existing customers; it has also allowed me meet some of my best long-term clients."

The customer base of mostly resellers keeps coming back to 2nd Solutions for a very simple reason, explained Loden. "We help them make money." The company views its relationship with customers and suppliers as a partnership that's mutually beneficial. "We offer a 30-day warranty and if there are any issues, our customers know we'll make it right."

That commitment to customer satisfaction and quality products is company-wide. Every device is subject to a thorough diagnostic and testing process by trained professionals and a final quality control check before it's sold, Loden noted. "We take the guesswork out of buying used electronics."

2nd Solutions entered the secondary electronics market at an opportune time and has been successful because it helps customers adapt to new challenges, Loden said.

"It was no accident that we opened for business just as the dynamics surrounding end-of-life cycle technology were changing. With companies starting to seriously deal with technology refresh, the looming issue of environmental impact—coupled with a growing demand by organizations for help in offsetting the cost of next generation purchases—presented a clear window of opportunity for 2nd Solutions."

The company has used that opportunity to become a leader in asset recovery for a very simple reason, he continued.

"2nd Solutions combines experience and knowledge of all facets of global sales trends, with a commitment to superior customer service. We can provide you with the devices you're looking for at fair market prices. Our continued goal is not merely meet your expectations, but to continue to exceed them."

Why Did We Approve That Tradeloop Member? See For Yourself.

Do you ever wonder why we approved a company? Now you can see for yourself, right on the Company Profile page. Members can review our notes, see what information we evaluated, and why we approved an account.

Look for the link in the System Stats section on the Company Profile page as shown here. Click on the link to view the company's "Membership Approval" page:

A transparent process helps members make informed business decisions, perform due diligence when dealing with new customers, suppliers, or set up a Trusted Network using our Connections system. At Tradeloop, we take fraud seriously - from account approval to complaint resolution with our Ethics Committee.

We tested this system first with our volunteer Ethics Committee and they responded with enthusiasm:

Youngin Kim, EJ Tech Solutions: "This will really help us squash fraud. I think every Tradeloop member should have access to the information."

Benjamin Ingwersen, Frontier Computer Corporation: "This will help us address scammer and counterfeit issues head on."

Mike Van Scoy, MSRC Co.: "With as much fraud as currently exists in the secondary market, this will help a lot. I'll definitely be checking other companies to see how they were approved."

Will you use this information when you're setting up deals? Check it out and share your opinion here at the Tradeloop member blog.

Parallel Technology: Providing Solutions and Making It Happen

Founded in 1998, Parallel Technology quickly became a leading supplier of new, used, and refurbished Sun equipment. The company is small – less than a dozen employees – and that's intentional. Parallel's business model can best be described as "lean and tight" and focused on the Sun market.

Company president, Ken Bush, stressed that during an interview with Tradeloop.

"We've found our niche and it works. If you need a part the next day and call our competitors at 3:30pm, there's a chance that the deal will get caught up in bureaucracy and a drawn-out approval process. That doesn't happen at Parallel. The person you talk with has the authority to make the deal and get your product shipped."

That's a critical service for Parallel's main customer base: maintenance companies that require 24/7, 365-day access to replacement inventory. The company's location in Torrance, CA, just a few minutes from the Los Angeles airport allows Parallel to easily accommodate emergency shipments. There are also regional stocking locations in Minnesota, Phoenix, and Atlanta.

The company maintains a sizable inventory that includes parts specially requested by customers. Finding inventory isn't a problem, Bush said: "With the economy and recession, there's a lot of equipment out there and I can be selective and buy high quality product." Parallel takes quality seriously: its testing protocol includes a full load and overnight test on systems. Customers can request additional testing as well as changes to the standard 90-day warranty. The company's customer-driven focus allows Parallel to tailor a contract to meet individual customer requirements.

Parallel Technology's flexibility and responsiveness keeps customers loyal, Bush explained. "80% of customers have been with us from day one." But of course, new customers are always welcome and Parallel finds many of them at Tradeloop.

"Our customer base is Tradeloop's membership. That's the biggest plus for us because there's a lot of common ground. 98% of our market is wholesale dealer-to-dealer trading worldwide. That's who we connect with at Tradeloop."

Parallel's focus on Sun is an advantage in the industry, he added. "We're the Sun experts and that puts us a step ahead. Even our competitors' tech support staff call us when they get stuck."

Responsiveness and product knowledge is important in the wholesale industry and that's the basis of Parallel's business model.

"We stand behind our products, we test our products, and we have what we say we have. Our sales people are the decision makers in the company and customers don't have to wait for us to ask permission to set up a deal. We don't compete with each other: we're a team. We work fast and we get things done."

Does your company have a story to tell? Contact us at Tradeloop to volunteer to be featured in one of our company profile posts.

Modify Your Company Description to Add Rich Text & Formatting

A complete company description on Tradeloop increases your credibility with other dealers and your visibility to search engines. With the new Rich Text Formatting (RTF) option, you can now make your company decription more visually appealing as well.

The RTF options let you format your description using:

• Bold text
• Italics
• Underlining
• Ordered and unordered lists
• Text colors
• And more....

Here's how the new Company Description text box appears when you edit/update your Member Profile:

The RTF options let you format your description using:

• Bold text
• Italics
• Underlining
• Ordered and unordered lists
• Text colors
• And more....

Consider the display differences between these two profiles:

JJ Smith & Associates is a leading global supplier of refurbished equipment, off-lease IT hardware, and technical services. We're headquartered in Nashville, TN and specialize in products from leading OEMs including Sun, Cisco, HP, Nortel, Lucent, and EMC. We maintain an in-stock inventory averaging more than $20 million and offer same-day shipping on most orders. Contact us today for pricing and information or visit our Web site at JJSmithAndAssociatesEquipmentSales.com

This version is much easier to read with formatting added:

JJ Smith & Associates is a leading global supplier of refurbished equipment, off-lease IT hardware, and technical services. We're headquartered in Nashville, TN and specialize in products from leading OEMs including:

• Sun
• Cisco
• HP
• Nortel
• Lucent
• EMC.
  

We maintain an in-stock inventory averaging more than $20 million and offer free, same-day shipping on most orders. Contact us today for pricing and information or visit our Web site at JJSmithAndAssociatesEquipmentSales.com

Read more tips on how to create a good company description and then consider updating your company description information to make it more useful to other dealers and search engines. Edit your account information at your Edit Profiles page.

Have you tried the new formatting options? What do you think? Share your opinion here at the member blog.

Veteran Group Technology: Specializing in discounted, refurbished Cisco equipment

Founded in 2007, Veteran Group Technology, LLC (VGT) has grown quickly into a one-stop shop for companies seeking budget prices for high-quality new and refurbished networking equipment. The company specializes in Cisco, Sun, and Brocade networking hardware, supplying a number of Fortune 500 companies, governments, and educational institutions worldwide. With its staff of certified technicians, large inventory, and free shipping, VGT promises high quality, superb service, and low prices.

With years of experience in the IT industry, company president Frederick Franks understands the challenges facing IT departments. He founded VGT, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, to provide products and services to companies forced to cut their IT budgets – even as the demands on the staff and equipment increase.

"With the economy the way it is, our customers are looking for good deals and that's what we offer. We've seen a big increase in requests for quote and sales. Our pricing is 50-60% lower than retail and that's really attractive to companies with budget cutbacks."

Customers also appreciate the wide selection of hardware, Franks explained. VGT specializes in Cisco and Sun networking equipment, but also offers products from HP, Juniper, Dell, and other OEMs. Other services include hardware maintenance and IT services such as network monitoring and security.

With such product diversity and a challenging economic environment, Franks is always looking for high quality used equipment to buy and new customers to sell it to. He says that VGT's Tradeloop membership has given the company a boost in the worldwide market:

"I use Tradeloop mainly to sell products through the Broadcast system. It's by far the best interface of any competing services. It's user-friendly, easy to understand, and the customer support is great. I've been invited to join other trading networks, but I'm not looking to go anywhere else."

When new customers purchase VGT products, Franks noted, the quality products and personal service keep them coming back. "We offer a one-year warranty on all refurbished equipment and a 90-day cash back option on used products." But customers rarely return products due to defects. "We have six Cisco-certified technicians on staff and we test and check refurbished and used products."

Franks said that quality is critical to the company's success because companies depend on their networks for sales, communication, and other critical business operations.

"When customers buy from Veteran Group Technology, they know that customers come first with us. We offer first-class service, free shipping on most products, and we have a knowledgeable staff that helps customers before and after the sale."

Does your company have a story to tell? Contact us at Tradeloop if you'd like to be featured on our member blog.

How Should We Screen & Approve New Tradeloop Members?

As we continue to refine and revise our Tradeloop member validation procedures, we'd like input from community members. What would you like to see in terms of validation of new members and how should we determine qualifications for membership?

Here's a brief description of what we already look for and/or require when a company applies for membership. Note that there are more checkpoints, but we keep them confidential to thwart fraudulent companies.

• Check their IP address.
• Verify email address and phone number.
• Search for public listings and compare the addresses listed there with the information provided to us.
• Search for public complaints against the company.

If some of the information isn't correct or seems suspicious, then Tradeloop's customer support staff will contact the prospective member and ask for additional information, such as industry references or other documentation.

It's a time-consuming process, but worth the effort to help stop fraud.

We also encourage Tradeloop members to do their own due diligence and visit a member's company profile before agreeing to a deal. The profiles display how long they have been members and it shows a message if they are non-members or if their information has not been verified.

We're always updating and strengthening our anti-fraud procedures at Tradeloop and we'd like member input on this important topic:

What do you think should be required of new members?

• Bank references
• Trade references
• Other documentation to establish identity

Anything else? Tell us what you think here at the member blog.

User Profile Messages Highlight Trial Members & Banned Dealers

We've added two new classifications to company and user profiles in Tradeloop's member directory. There are now four profile classifications:

1. Member
2. Trial Member
3. Non-member
4. Banned - Ethics Violation

Previously, dealers with a 30-day Trial membership were listed as "Members," but some Tradeloop members thought that was misleading. Now, during the 30-day trial period, the dealer and company profile will display this label:


And a company that's banned from Tradeloop due to an Ethics violation will have this notation in its profile:

Look for these new classifications when you're visiting other dealers' member and company profiles. And please, share your thoughts here at the Tradeloop member blog.

New Warning Flags on Unverified Tradeloop User Accounts

We've added new warning flags to the user and company profiles of registered users at Tradeloop. These warning boxes alert members if some of the information supplied is incorrect, incomplete, or if Tradeloop has not verified it. This will clearly indicate if there are issues with information displayed on non-member accounts.

Remember that Tradeloop members must supply complete and correct information if they want their accounts to remain active. These new warning boxes are to alert you to potential problems with the information supplied by registered users at the site, not other members.

The new warning boxes serve two purposes: to remind Tradeloop members to do due diligence before agreeing to a deal and remind registered users to update or correct their information.

We designed them to attract attention.

For instance, a registered user who signs into his account that contains incomplete or unapproved information will see this warning box with a notation to contact Tradeloop to correct the problem:

In another example, a Tradeloop member who visits a company profile that contains information that has not been verified by Tradeloop will see this warning message:

We hope this change will encourage all registered users to provide correct contact information and/or update the information in their accounts. And we also encourage Tradeloop members to use care when dealing with non-members whose profiles display these warning messages.

At Tradeloop, combating fraud is a priority and we're constantly updating our member screening procedures and working to alert the community to fraudulent companies.

We'd like your opinion on this change. Will you find the warning messages useful?

World Data Products - Saving Customers Money With "Hardware Life Cycle Management"

Since 1987, World Data Products has been an industry leader in reselling and leasing refurbished, used, and new server, storage and network equipment. The company specializes in refurbished hardware customized to the needs of individual customers. By providing "factory fresh" product that's been fully tested, World Data Products has built a loyal base of over 4,000 customers– from corporate IT managers to government agencies.

Marketing Manager, Jim Keister, credits the company's long-term success to its emphasis on customer service and ability to help customers stretch their IT budgets:

"World Data Products works with all stages of 'hardware life cycle management.' We help customers plan for both short and long-term needs. Often, we can offer better and less expensive alternatives to the hardware a customer was considering at first."

World Data Products maintains a multimillion-dollar inventory and managing it is one of the company's biggest challenges. That's one reason the company has been a Tradeloop member since 1998, he says:

"We use Tradeloop as a buying and selling resource. We're always looking to Tradeloop to buy components we need. When we're running low on inventory, we can quickly find it there. Likewise, it's a great place to move our excess inventory"

The company often has inventory to sell because of its long-term customer relationships, Keister explains. When hardware has reached the end of its usable life, World Data Products purchases the old system and helps the customer plan for upgrades. "We help customers plan a new system, manage the hardware through its lifecycle, buy it back later, and plan a new system. We help the same customers with multiple hardware life cycles."

Planning and system customization are the major attraction to many customers, but World Data Products offers other services as well. Keister says they offer added value without adding to the price:

• Industry-certified technicians and partnerships with other certified companies all over the country.
  
• The ability to help deploy or install hardware.
  
• On-site analysis of customer needs.
  
• Overnight replacement of parts needing repair to minimize customer downtime.

That last item is hardly ever a problem, he notes, because the company's failure rate is less than 1%. Keister credits the "crack technical team" at World Data Products:

"The key is testing and attention to details. When we sell a product, it's like it came from the factory. Maybe even better, because most factories don't test each individual unit and we do. "

Twenty-three years of industry experience has taught the company the value of long-term customer relationships and Keister stresses that World Data Products is committed to helping its customers "get more for less."

"Our success is due to our customers' loyalty. They keep coming back because we provide warrantied hardware at savings of up to 50% over new. We save customers money because we supply hardware that's as good – or better – than new and have the experience needed to help customers define their hardware needs."

Does your company have a story to tell? Contact us at Tradeloop if you'd like us to profile your company.

Evertek Computer Corporation: An "Extreme Value" Corporation With Low Prices & High Quality Service

Founded in 1990 as a computer and peripheral equipment trading company, Evertek Computer Corporation has grown into one of the world's largest wholesalers of computer and consumer electronics equipment. Evertek's broad product line attracts a loyal, worldwide customer base of wholesalers looking for bargain prices on everything from netbook computers to motherboards to power tools.

Peter Green, Evertek's Director of Marketing, attributes much of the company's steady growth and success to its commitment to low prices. "Our motto is to buy low and sell low," he explained. Evertek is very cost conscious and focuses on keeping supplier costs under control so savings can be passed along to customers. "We want to make a decent profit margin," Green said, "and we want our customers to stay in business too."

But Evertek's customers aren't just looking for low prices. They appreciate the company's large inventory and reliable shipping department, Green added. "We know our customers are counting on us to deliver in a timely manner." Evertek maintains two large warehouses that stock 99% of its products and offers same-day shipment on orders placed by 2pm.

Green pointed out that maintaining a diverse inventory valued at over $11 million can be a challenge. With such low prices, Evertek's profit margin comes from a high sales volume – as well as reliable sources of products. The company's Tradeloop membership helps Evertek locate both buyers and sellers.

"Tradeloop gives us a fantastic return for the money invested and is a consistent winner in our eyes. Our average sale on Tradeloop is much higher than to standard customers. We get good response when we list our inventory. It drives leads to our sales department and helps turn those leads into customers."

Evertek has customers in over 200 countries, so Tradeloop's international membership is an added benefit. International sales at Evertek generate about 30% of the company's revenue. That volume "gives us real strength in international shipments, the documentation, customs declarations, and other paperwork involved. We have great, experienced logistics people," said Green.

A broad customer base has helped Evertek prosper in a difficult economy that's experiencing downward pressure on commodities like computer hardware at the wholesale and manufacturing level, he explained.

"With lower prices, we're able to purchase a greater depth and breadth of inventory and pass the savings along to customers. This has been our core competency for the past 20 years. We know we won't be the only source for our customers, but we'll be the source for their most profitable products."

Evertek's sales team places a priority on building customer relationships through personal service and product knowledge. Sales people build positive, lasting relationships with customers – some of whom have dealt with the company since its founding 20 years ago. That level of loyalty doesn't surprise Green. He credits Evertek's pricing, customer service, and business model:

"Evertek is an extreme value corporation. We're a price point company and constantly watching the market for the best deals. Every action we take is to reduce our cost and provide our customers with maximum value. We want to help our customers succeed because if they don't prosper, neither do we!"

Tradeloop member profiles are a monthly feature on the Tradeloop member blog. Would your company like to be featured? Contact us for more information.

Who's Who on Tradeloop? Check Out The New User & Company Profile Pages

Tradeloop's Dealer Directory is an indispensable tool when you're looking for a reseller in a particular geographic area or one who specializes in certain products or manufacturers. And now we've made it even better. Our redesigned company profile and member profile pages prominently display the important information you need to make business decisions:

• Is the company a Tradeloop member?
  
• For how long?
  
• Are there any pending Ethics complaints?
  
• What do they sell?
  
• How do I contact them?
  

Learn all that - and more - in our new easy-to-read format.

The most important change is in how we identify Tradeloop members. Look for these notations under the company and contact names:

The "System Stats" section shows when the Tradeloop member or user joined/registered at Tradeloop. Members are identified with their "Member Since" date and we display the "Join Date" of registered users.

The User and Company Profile pages contain even more information that's useful to your fellow Tradeloop members. Many prefer to arrange deals only with other members, while others check to see if any Ethics Complaints have been filed before agreeing to a contract.

We know that privacy and security is also a big concern for all Tradeloop members, so we let you choose how much information to display to other members and to public users. Use the options on your Privacy Settings page to:

• Display or hide your email address from other Tradeloop members.
• Display or hide your company profile from public users and search engines.
  
• Display your photo to Tradeloop members or public users.
  

As always, we strongly encourage all members to create a complete company profile. It's a feature that increases your credibility and visibility to other Tradeloop members and is also an excellent technique for increasing your search engine visibility.