Mechanics
How the exchange works, end to end.
Everything the rest of this site claims, explained in full — for buyers, for sellers, and for anyone deciding whether this is the right place for a piece of equipment.
The model in one paragraph
MedEquipExchange is a marketplace for US-sourced used, refurbished, and surplus medical equipment, selling to buyers worldwide. Seller companies apply, are vetted, and are approved into the network before they can list anything. Each approved seller lists individual pieces of equipment with a price attached, a description of condition, a list of what is included, photographs of the actual unit, and the freight terms for that item. Buyers browse without an account, see the price on every listing, and purchase at the number shown. The seller ships on the terms their listing states. MedEquipExchange does not own the equipment — it is the exchange the equipment is listed on, and it holds the sellers to the standards they were approved against.
For buyers
Buying, step by step.
Find the equipment
Search and browse by category, manufacturer, model, condition, price, and location. No account is required to look, and every listing shows its price without an inquiry.
Read the listing carefully
Condition, included accessories, photographs of the actual unit, documentation, freight terms, and physical location. If something you are counting on is not named, ask the seller before you buy — questions go through the exchange and the answers stay on record.
Purchase at the listed price
The price on the listing is the price paid. There is no round of messages to establish what an item costs and no waiting to find out whether a purchase went through.
Settle the freight arrangement
If freight is included, nothing more is needed. If it is quoted at purchase, you confirm the delivery address and access and receive the quote before committing to it. If the item is collection-only, you arrange the carrier or the pickup directly with the seller.
Receive and check the equipment
Inspect on arrival against the listing: the unit, its condition, and every accessory named. Note any freight damage with the carrier at delivery, while it can still be documented. If what arrived does not match what was described, raise it with the seller and with us straight away.
For sellers
Selling, step by step.
Apply
A short application covering your company, what you handle, how you describe and photograph equipment, and how you ship. It takes a few minutes and it is read by a person.
Review and conversation
Applications are reviewed individually and we come back to you either way. If it looks like a fit, we talk — about your inventory, how you work, and whether the exchange suits what you sell.
Terms and approval
Fees and terms are reviewed with you in full and agreed before anything is listed. Nothing is charged and nothing goes live until you have seen the whole arrangement in writing.
Inventory intake
You provide equipment details, condition, accessories, photographs, and freight terms. Listings are built to a consistent structure so that buyers can compare your equipment against anyone else's on the same terms.
Listings go live at your prices
You set the price on every item. You decide what is listed and when, and you can change or withdraw a listing while it remains unsold.
Sale and shipment
When an item sells you are notified with the buyer's delivery details, and you ship on the terms your listing stated — freight included, freight quoted, or collection.
Proceeds
You receive the proceeds of the sale, with fees applied as agreed during approval. Timing and method are set out in your seller terms so there is nothing to work out per transaction.
Pricing
How pricing works.
The seller sets the price. The price is shown. The price is what is paid. That is the whole mechanism, and it is deliberate.
Every listing on the exchange carries a price the seller chose and can see at all times. A buyer sees that number without creating an account, without submitting an inquiry, and without waiting for a reply. When they purchase, they pay it.
MedEquipExchange does not set prices, suggest prices, or characterize what any piece of equipment ought to cost. That judgment belongs to the company that owns the equipment and knows what it has. What the exchange does is make sure the number is visible, so a buyer comparing three similar units is comparing three prices rather than three response times.
A seller can change the price on an unsold listing whenever they choose. Once an item sells, the transaction is at the price that was showing.
Condition
How condition is described.
Used equipment is only as buyable as its description is honest. Every seller in the network is approved against a single standard: what you describe is what you ship.
Functional and cosmetic, stated separately
A unit can work perfectly and look tired, or present beautifully and have a fault. Collapsing those into one word helps nobody, so listings describe them apart from each other. Known faults are stated rather than left for the buyer to find.
Included items, named individually
Accessories, cables, probes, handpieces, rotors, pads, controls, and trays are listed by name. On used equipment this is where most disputes begin, so a listing names what ships instead of leaving it to a photograph or an assumption.
Photographs of the actual unit
Real images of the specific item, including any damage the description mentions. Catalog images of the model are not a substitute and are not accepted.
Documentation, described plainly
Where manuals, service records, or accessory documentation exist, the listing says so. The exchange states what is present; it does not interpret what it means for your setting, and neither buyer nor seller should treat a document list as a statement about the equipment's fitness for a particular use.
Inspection arrangements
Equipment is sold as described. Where a seller provides an inspection arrangement on a specific item, the listing states it and sets out its terms — a per-item arrangement rather than a policy that applies across the exchange. Where a listing says nothing about inspection, none applies, and the right time to ask questions is before purchase.
When something does not match
If an item arrives materially different from its description, raise it with the seller and with us. Accuracy is what companies are approved on, and a company that cannot hold to it does not stay in the network.
Logistics
Freight and logistics.
Freight terms are set per item by the seller, because the equipment ranges from a provider stool to an installed system that needs a rigging crew. Three arrangements cover it, and the listing says which applies.
- Freight included. Shipping is in the listed price. The seller crates and ships; the buyer receives.
- Freight quoted at purchase. The item price is set and shipping is quoted against the buyer's delivery address and access. The buyer sees the quote before committing to it.
- Buyer-arranged collection. The equipment is sold where it sits. The buyer books a carrier or collects, and the seller stages the item for pickup.
Delivery access matters as much as distance
Crated medical equipment is priced on dimensions, weight, and how it is received. A loading dock is the straightforward case. A ground-level door needs a liftgate. An inside delivery, a stair carry, or a specific delivery window are separate services that must be arranged in advance — a driver who has already arrived cannot add them.
Larger systems carry more than freight
Installed equipment can require de-installation and rigging at the origin, and site preparation at the destination. These are specialist trades with their own lead times and costs. Where a listing involves them, the terms say so, and both parties should agree who arranges and pays for each stage before the sale rather than after.
Fees
What it costs to sell.
Fees are reviewed with each company individually during application review, and agreed in writing before anything is listed. There is nothing to discover after a sale and nothing that changes without notice.
We publish no fee table here, and the reason is straightforward: the initial network is small, the companies in it handle very different equipment at very different volumes, and the arrangement is settled in conversation rather than assumed from a page. If your company is approved, you will see the complete terms before you decide whether to proceed — and there is no cost or commitment in applying.
Buyers pay the price shown on the listing.
Questions
Common questions.
What is MedEquipExchange?
It is a marketplace for used, refurbished, and surplus medical equipment sourced from vetted American seller companies and sold to buyers worldwide, with individual items listed at fixed prices. Buyers see the price on every listing and purchase at that price. The exchange does not own the equipment; it connects the companies selling it with the practices and facilities buying it.
Is the price shown the price I pay?
Yes. Each seller sets the price on their own equipment, that price appears on the listing, and it is what a buyer pays for the item. Freight may be separate depending on the arrangement stated on that listing.
Is the equipment used or refurbished?
Used and surplus, and in some cases refurbished by the seller. Every listing describes the condition of the specific unit in its own terms rather than relying on a single label, and states functional and cosmetic condition separately.
Do I need an account to buy?
No account is needed to browse or to see prices. An account is required to complete a purchase, so that delivery details and purchase records are attached to something.
How does payment work?
A buyer pays at the time of purchase, and the seller receives the proceeds of the sale with fees applied as agreed in their seller terms. The full payment and settlement details are confirmed at purchase when the exchange goes live.
Who can sell on the exchange?
Companies that handle used or surplus medical equipment: equipment dealers and refurbishers, health system and facility surplus programs, companies managing practice and facility wind-downs, and finance companies handling lease returns. Selling is by application and approval rather than open registration.
How do I become an approved seller?
Complete the application, which asks about your company, your inventory, how you describe and photograph equipment, and how you ship. Every application is read by a person and answered either way. If it looks like a fit, we talk, agree terms, and bring your inventory on.
What does it cost to sell?
Fees are reviewed with each company during application review and agreed before anything is listed. Applying costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Can I see equipment in person before I buy?
Where a seller provides an inspection arrangement on a particular item, the listing states it and sets out the terms. It is a per-item arrangement rather than something that applies across the exchange, so the time to ask is before purchase.
Who arranges shipping?
It depends on the listing, which always says which arrangement applies: freight included in the price, freight quoted to your address at purchase, or buyer-arranged collection from where the equipment sits.
How much does freight cost?
Freight on medical equipment is priced mainly on crated dimensions, weight, and delivery access rather than distance alone. A dock delivery is the least expensive case; liftgate, inside delivery, and stair carries are additional services that need arranging in advance.
What happens if equipment arrives damaged?
Note the damage with the carrier at the point of delivery, while it can still be documented, and photograph it before anything is moved. Then contact the seller and us. Freight damage and description accuracy are separate matters and are handled separately.
What if the item does not match its description?
Raise it with the seller and with us. Accurate description is the standard every company is approved against, and it is the standard a company keeps its place in the network by meeting.
Does MedEquipExchange own or handle the equipment?
No. Equipment is owned by the seller companies and ships directly from them to the buyer. The exchange is where it is listed, described to a common standard, and priced in the open.
Can equipment be shipped outside the United States?
Yes — international buyers are a core part of who this is built for. Sellers are US companies and equipment is quoted FOB at a US port as standard, meaning we handle domestic transport and export clearance and you arrange ocean or air freight and import. Import rules differ by country and some restrict used medical equipment by age or require refurbishment documentation, so tell us your destination country when you send a request and we will tell you what can actually reach you.
When does the exchange go live?
The initial seller network is being reviewed and approved now, and listings open once it is in place. Buyers can join the notification list to hear the day equipment goes live.
Still deciding which side you're on?
Buyers can see what comes to market and how to evaluate it. Sellers can see what approval requires before spending a minute on an application.