I've been away from hardware purchasing for a while and will soon be buying laptops and desktops for several businesses I manage. Do you usually purchase directly from manufacturers such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo, or use a distributor or VAR like CDW, B&H, or another supplier? I'm especially interested in pricing, customization, inventory, shipping, and handling purchases across multiple locations.
5 Answers
CDW is convenient when you need inventory, centralized purchasing, and direct shipping to new hires or different offices. They can also consolidate orders for software, networking, and other vendors, and a strong account rep can make the process much easier.
For most systems, we buy directly from Dell or HP. A good account representative can help with bulk pricing, customization, and advance notice of upcoming price increases.
We buy Lenovo systems directly for laptops, desktops, and workstations, then source monitors and accessories wherever the price and specifications make sense. For urgent needs, local retail inventory can fill the gap, while refurbished equipment is worth considering when the workload doesn’t justify new hardware.
For multiple businesses, I’d lean toward a reputable VAR or distributor rather than treating every purchase as a one-off. You can standardize models, simplify warranties and billing, and have one vendor coordinate shipping. Direct manufacturer purchases still make sense when you need custom configurations or have a strong negotiated contract.
For organizations with government or institutional pricing, B&H can be very competitive and often ships quickly. CDW, SHI, Insight, and similar VARs are also common choices when you need procurement support or consistent equipment across locations.
We use a reseller for international orders because they handle customs and regional logistics. That became much easier than coordinating direct purchases from the manufacturer in every country.
That kind of account support would definitely be useful, especially when planning purchases across several businesses.