GC-MS Price Guide for New, Used & Refurbished GC/MS Buyers
The first decision you will need to make is the type of GC-MS you need and what configuration best suits your testing requirements. Assuming you already have a good idea of what you need, or at least know one GC-MS model and configuration that will serve your needs, it is time to decide between buying your GC-MS system new, used, or refurbished.
Researching GC/MS Prices, Models & Configurations
If the price of a new GC-MS system is cost-prohibitive, or you're open to evaluating more affordable solutions like a used or refurbished GC-MS system, you'll need to do some research to have the best buying experience.
Start by determining what GC-MS models and configurations will work for your specific needs. Generally, you will find that most older models from leading brands will work just as well as their current GC-MS units for your needs. For example, an Agilent 7890A GC paired with a 5975C MS will generally serve your needs just as well as a 7890B GC system paired with a 5977B MS unit.
Researching GC MS Prices Across Brands
As mentioned above, it is quite common for older models to be able to serve your needs. Beyond researching models from one brand, you'll also want to research other brands and which of their models fit your needs. For example, in many cases, a Thermo Scientific TRACE 1310 GC-MS system will compare well to the Agilent 7890B GC-MS configuration, and the Shimadzu GCMS-QP2020 would do most of what the TRACE 1310 system could do.
New GC-MS Price Vs Used or Refurbished Pricing
When buying a new system, you're definitely getting all the latest bells and whistles, guaranteed availability of a maintenance agreement with the manufacturer, and may have an easier time financing your purchase. (Although financing for refurbished systems is also available.) However, you will pay a considerable premium for the luxury of a new GC-MS system; the price difference from a new system to a refurbished system (both with some warranty) can range from $50,000 to $300,000 or more. Buying a used GC-MS system is a risk; however, the price difference in some instances could exceed $350,000, but you do run the risk of purchasing a $100,000 paperweight.
Refurbished GC-MS Pricing vs Used GC-MS Price
The pricing between used and refurbished GC-MS systems is generally around 30%, depending on a number of factors. As you may expect, purchasing a used unit from a lab that's closing down, being able to see the unit in working order, and having access to the maintenance history is very different from buying an "as is" or "for parts" GC-MS system.
Refurbished units, especially ones that have been refurbished by a reputable entity with a stellar reputation such as AMP Tech Instruments, will generally offer a great balance between affordability and peace of mind. A GC-MS system with warranty, OEM replacement parts, and OP/OQ testing with documentation certified to perform at or above industry standards will still net you a 50% to 70% savings on the pricing of a new unit. Refurbished unit purchases from reputable laboratory instrument suppliers are also easier to finance than purchasing a used system. Refurbished systems with no warranty, no guarantee that OEM parts were used, and little to no testing performed on the units may be a little cheaper (not always) but they provide less peace of mind.