All Tesseract’s refurbished corporate grade computers get new solid-state drives and full one year warranty. Photo credit: @tesseractvictoria
VICTORIA – Does it ever feel like by the time you finally have a handle on a new piece of technology, there is already a new one to take its place? Technology may be an essential part of our life, but it often feels as if big tech companies are working against us, making computers with years of life left show signs of fatigue and sluggishness after just three years.
We often abandon our computers early in lieu of the latest and greatest, or under the impression that a lagging device means it’s time to upgrade. The reality is we are giving up on our tech far too soon, and it is these issues that keep Gary Beyer, manager of computer refurbishing company Tesseract 2.0 Computing, up at night.
Gary Beyer, manager of computer refurbishing company Tesseract 2.0 Computing
“We started refurbishing 13 years ago, at that point we had laptops that were two-to-three years old that we were buying from our suppliers. I am still having those same customers coming in with working machines from 13 years ago who finally decided to trade up,” says Beyer. “We are getting an extra 13 years out of a machine that the average person would put into retirement long ago which makes me wonder, why are we letting them go so quick?”
Beyer has been at the helm of Tesseract 2.0 Computing for over 13 years and is now the only independent PC retailer in downtown Victoria. Located conveniently on at the heart of downtown on Douglas Street at Broughton, Tesseract 2.0 is a solution to the unnecessary waste and early retirement of technology that could easily last many more years.
“It is in the business communities’ best interest to go with green computing and refurbished corporate products,” says Beyer. “It saves them money and it makes their carbon footprint smaller because we are keeping computers in use much longer.”
“Businesses should be looking toward value propositions and with Tesseract 2.0, they are getting corporate grade product instead of going to Wal-Mart or Best Buy and buying consumer grade product for their offices. They are getting a better product that will last longer, that is easily serviceable at a reduced price.”
All the computer’s Beyer sources are from two main suppliers across Canada. He chooses which products he wants, has them shipped to himself in Victoria, then works his magic.
“All refurbished corporate grade computers get new solid-state drives and full one year warranty,” says Beyer. “I personally go through all the computers to ensure they are working properly, they get new hard drives, everything gets Windows 11 and Windows 11 Pro for all the corporate stuff, then it goes for sale with one year warranty.”
All products generally come from big corporate clients and are usually in prime condition and seriously underutilized.
“The products we carry are corporate grade, these are the types of products that large banks and governments buy, we get the products when they are three to three-and-a-half years old and still have 10 years of life left, and we can sell it at less than half of what it was new.”
In today’s economic climate, finding computers at a discount can seem like an impossible mission. But with Beyer’s approach, consumers can get their hands on products that could otherwise be out of reach, and with all the bells and whistles needed for the modern worker.
Beyond that, Beyer is proud to build computers himself and work on all kinds of personalized products like machines for gamers, architects and other technical areas. He is also proud to donate a portion of his profits to local charities.
At the end of the day, keeping things out of the landfill, reducing the world’s carbon footprint, and committing to the circular economy are all aspects that make Tesseract 2.0 Computing a staple in Victoria’s business community.
