Where to Buy Cheap Transceiver and How to Find a Reliable Supplier

Optical transceivers are not cheap! 10G SFP+ and 40G QSFP transceivers are even more expensive! If you are a purchasing manager, you may often struggle with these costly costs. Most possible, the price of buying four original SFP transceivers is equivalent to the actual cost of your network switch. In some cases, purchasing optical transceivers is even more expensive than buying a new networking switch. And here’s another hard truth: finding lower prices on these expensive OEM or original Cisco, HP, Brocade, Juniper, or Extreme optical transceivers is a huge challenge – because online stores all have similar prices.

But first, what does OEM mean?

We mentioned OEM earlier in this article, so let’s understand what OEM means. The acronym “OEM” refers to the original equipment manufacturer. In this case, the OEM brands are Cisco, HP, Brocade, Juniper, Extreme, etc.-that is. They are the companies that make the switches and the optical transceivers used in the switches. Typically these OEM optical transceivers are very expensive and only come with a three-month to a one-year warranty. When network builders find that OEM optical transceivers are overpriced, many look for affordable non-OEM alternatives. But why the transceiver are overpriced?

The secret to the high price of OEM transceivers

Brand-name switch executives believe that high prices are necessary because of the expense of researching and manufacturing these optical transceivers. They want to steer customers toward the optical transceivers they provide, give many reasons why, and advertise to customers that buying third-party compatible optical transceiver replacements will suspend the warranty – however; this is not true. Some customers may be unhappy with inferior third-party products. For some generic manufacturers, this may be true – not all-optical transceivers are so good.

What is a generic brand?

Many IT managers have been using third-party non-OEM optical transceivers. These generic optical transceivers work for us because they are more affordable, less expensive, and perform as well as the original transceiver. By the same token, the same can be said for third-party switch transceivers.

However, reputable suppliers of quality optical transceivers do exist, you just need to know how to find them.

Compatible transceivers are even 80-percent cheaper than brand-name transceiver optics. That’s a big difference over time! If you have a Cisco switch support SFP port, you don’t have to use only the Cisco SFP transceiver. Buy compatible SFP transceiver to save money.

But, Since universally compatible optical transceivers are more affordable, why doesn’t everyone buy them?

• The first reason, the fear of compatibility issues with optical transceivers. This concern is justified, as the switch recognizes an incompatible optical transceiver and cannot communicate properly. Essential communication functions are not possible.

• The second reason, concern about the quality of compatible optical transceivers. It is a well-established fact that there are third-party optical transceivers on the market that are not comparable to the quality of OEM optical transceivers. However, some suppliers ignore their quality standards and production methods when manufacturing optical transceivers. These companies with lax quality checks have given third-party optical transceivers a bad name.

But an important fact is that more responsible suppliers are using high-quality optical components and ICs, and controlling the production process strictly to ensure that the sold optical transceivers can match the performance of the original brand optical transceivers.

How do you know which optical transceiver suppliers are high quality and reputable?

Many IT managers have been using third-party non-OEM optical transceivers. Some many manufacturers or distributors offer generic equivalent optical transceivers under their name. If you are shopping online, a good choice is an E-commerce store such as OPTCORE. Knowing which brands are reliable and affordable, as well as your choice of third-party optical transceivers is the key to saving a lot of money and ensuring the performance of your networking switch. Not all generic optical transceivers are made equal. However, good brands that pride themselves on their products offer incredible deals for customers looking to save valuable money. They can provide products that are more affordable and perform as well as the original optical transceivers.

So how do you know which brands to look for?

Here are some helpful tips.

• Ensure the compatibility of optical transceivers. Good compatibility requires a lot of real switch testing, repeated verification, test, and continuous feedback from many customers, which helps optical transceiver suppliers continuously improve, upgrade, and better adapt to different network environments and equipment.

• Choose an established brand. The first way to ensure you get a good deal on an optical transceiver is to choose an established company. However, the company does not need to be an original brand name. Some generic optical transceiver suppliers have made a name for themselves by selling high-quality optics at lower prices. You can quickly know who is already on the block, from the position on the search page to the number of their reviews and how high their review scores are. Remember to make sure to choose an established company that has been around long enough to stock a large number of optical transceivers, has real testbeds, and knows what is worthwhile. A vendor that has been in business for 5 or 10 years is likely to have better product quality standards and reputation than a vendor that is only two years old.

• Warranty. Most original OEMs offer warranties of 3 months to 1 year. Good third-party optical transceiver suppliers even offer a three-year or even lifetime warranty, which is another good sign that you can have confidence in your purchase (after all, they are!) Companies that give you strictly defined returns on defective products are likely to be avoided. Avoid these companies in particular if you plan to buy optical transceivers in bulk, as you may discover faulty optical transceivers weeks or months after your initial purchase.

• Easy returns and customer service. Even brand-new, name-brand optical transceivers (such as Cisco/Extreme) can occasionally fail, and the same applies to third-party compatible optical transceivers. IT managers should understand this principle and ensure that suppliers can quickly provide functional replacement optical transceivers. Before purchasing an optical transceiver, determine how long the vendor’s warranty lasts, how to return it, and also try contacting the company’s service staff first to test their service attitude and see if they can provide reliable service.

• Customer reviews. Online customer reviews are still one of the best ways to determine if a product meets the requirements. Sure, many people use the review section to vent their emotions, but over time, other customers who are happy enough with the product to take the time to respond will win out. Read reviews of your products and maybe even dig into a few of the products sold on your company’s website to see how much thought they put into quality and service.

Final Words

I’m sure you already know how to choose a reliable and low-cost optical transceiver supplier with these tips. Remember to be careful at all times to make sure that the supplier’s history, customer reviews, and especially optical transceiver compatibility are guaranteed so that you are less likely to be confused. You can build a reliable and stable network with a limited budget. OPTCORE Online transceiver store has the best line of compatible optical transceivers with the best pricing. If you are looking for an alternative low-cost optical transceiver, try buying a few samples to test, you should not be disappointed. OPTOCRE also offers a variety of secure payment options, coupon deals, and codes that can be applied at checkout to get even more discounts.