Buying used parts and devices as a business owner.

Haroon92

Haroon92

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Jamaica
Where can I get a proof of payments for customers that sell me stuff? the technibble business kit doesn't have one.Or I can use a normal reciept?
 
Jamaica could be different... but...

Here, along with a purchase receipt, we also gather all their personal info and a copy of their ID (drivers license). We also have them sign a form stating they own the device and may sell it.

Getting all this information and documentation when purchasing something from a customer helps to cover you later if something comes up.
Such as the item was actually stolen.

It generally helps prevent you from buying stolen goods as most won't want to give this info if there is anything shady about them selling it.
Then, if it does happen, you have a paper trail and documentation to give to the authorities.
 
Haroon92 said:
Where can I get a proof of payments for customers that sell me stuff? the technibble business kit doesn't have one.Or I can use a normal reciept?
Click to expand...

Curious as to what you think the receipt might be useful for.

There are a few different scenarios that I can think of, but only one has a consequence that even the receipt will not save you from (at least here in the states... don't know about Jamaica).

If you bought something that is later reported stolen, and the authorities come around, best case is you can prove you didn't buy the item knowing in advance it was stolen. They will still take it from you either way. To me the receipt is silly in all cases. Even IF the buyer knew it was stolen, they are still going to have the seller sign one of those forms. Doesn't prove the buyer didn't know. Just proves they covered their backsides.

I'd just draft up my own statement. Basically stating they own the item and are legally allowed to sell it to you. Record a form of ID, contact information, the amount paid, the date, and have them sign and date it.
 
brandonkick said:
Curious as to what you think the receipt might be useful for.

There are a few different scenarios that I can think of, but only one has a consequence that even the receipt will not save you from (at least here in the states... don't know about Jamaica).

If you bought something that is later reported stolen, and the authorities come around, best case is you can prove you didn't buy the item knowing in advance it was stolen. They will still take it from you either way. To me the receipt is silly in all cases. Even IF the buyer knew it was stolen, they are still going to have the seller sign one of those forms. Doesn't prove the buyer didn't know. Just proves they covered their backsides.

I'd just draft up my own statement. Basically stating they own the item and are legally allowed to sell it to you. Record a form of ID, contact information, the amount paid, the date, and have them sign and date it.
Click to expand...
This. There is no perfect protection is the event of buying stolen goods. But the signed statement transferring ownership to you at least gives you a paper trail. Either the guys trying to dump stolen good on you will leave or they will just lie and perjure themselves.
 
MichaelBits said:
Jamaica could be different... but...

Here, along with a purchase receipt, we also gather all their personal info and a copy of their ID (drivers license). We also have them sign a form stating they own the device and may sell it.

Getting all this information and documentation when purchasing something from a customer helps to cover you later if something comes up.
Such as the item was actually stolen.

It generally helps prevent you from buying stolen goods as most won't want to give this info if there is anything shady about them selling it.
Then, if it does happen, you have a paper trail and documentation to give to the authorities.
Click to expand...
Do you have a copy of that sort paper work you could share?
 
I don't "buy" anything from clients.
Known (and trusted) clients can and will give me stuff.
I'll take "trade-ins" of course but only from known and trusted clients.
There is too much rigmarole here with the "Prescribed Goods Act" to start buying stuff from unknown people - especially electronics.
 
really ?

we buy in customers old equipment for a low price and get a decent markup on it.
All hardware is tested prior to buying, if the device is too old we just tell them to scrap it.

some people (not often mind) give away really decent kit, currently got a 2012 iMac 27" in with a failed drive, customer went and bought a brand new one and we agreed to waive our diagnostic fee of £45 in exchange.

£45 + £30 for a 2nd hand SSD for a fully working 27" iMac!! madness!!
 
Big Jim said:
really ?

we buy in customers old equipment for a low price and get a decent markup on it.
All hardware is tested prior to buying, if the device is too old we just tell them to scrap it.

some people (not often mind) give away really decent kit, currently got a 2012 iMac 27" in with a failed drive, customer went and bought a brand new one and we agreed to waive our diagnostic fee of £45 in exchange.

£45 + £30 for a 2nd hand SSD for a fully working 27" iMac!! madness!!
Click to expand...
That's what I'm talking about; Buying broken stuff for a very low price and resell it with good markup, and some person just have these stuff lying arounf doing nothing later on they will just throw them away.
 
Big Jim said:
really ?

we buy in customers old equipment for a low price and get a decent markup on it.
All hardware is tested prior to buying, if the device is too old we just tell them to scrap it.

some people (not often mind) give away really decent kit, currently got a 2012 iMac 27" in with a failed drive, customer went and bought a brand new one and we agreed to waive our diagnostic fee of £45 in exchange.

£45 + £30 for a 2nd hand SSD for a fully working 27" iMac!! madness!!
Click to expand...

Ahhh - that's the stuff! It's always nice to get great trade-in's like this. Although I would have used a brand new SSD. iMac's are a real PITA to take apart. I'd hate to have to do that SSD replacement twice!

I do a LOT of work on custom builds. I build them new, sure, but I also get in custom builds that clients either built themselves, bought from a boutique PC builder (Velocity Micro, CyberPower PC, etc.), or had another local shop build for them. I get to keep their old parts 99% of the time. Today I had a client that wanted to upgrade his old motherboard, processor, and RAM. He had a nice ASUS $400 motherboard, 32GB of RAM, and an i7-6850K processor. He upgraded to the i9-7980XE processor, 128GB of RAM, and a $450 motherboard. Made over $3,500 in profit from building that system and HE LET ME KEEP HIS OLD PARTS!!! Those old parts are worth about $1,000. Now I'll build a "new" system with those parts and put it on the shelf for sale. I make probably an extra $100,000/year just from free stuff I get from clients that have me upgrade their systems.

As for BUYING used equipment from clients, I'll give them decent trade-in value towards something else, but I won't pay much in cash for anything. I made an exception for a good past client of mine who got a free iPad from work still sealed in the box. I paid her $250 for it, then flipped it in my shop for $450 later that same day. LOL. I only paid that much because:

1. She was a GOOD past client
2. The iPad was still sealed
3. Apple stuff practically sells itself

As for stolen goods, it's usually pretty obvious when someone is trying to peddle stolen stuff. These are some telltale signs that what they're trying to sell is stolen:

1. They're nervous
2. They're willing to sell it for almost nothing and don't try to haggle
3. They're high/drunk
4. They don't know much about the product
5. They "forgot" their password
6. They have an expensive product but look poor
7. They refuse to let you scan their ID
8. They demand CASH and won't accept a check
9. The don't want to sign the paperwork for the trade-in or just scribble for their signature (I know people do this on those electronic pin-pads, but I use PAPER forms for trade-in's. In my experience, people usually take a paper form a LOT more seriously.)

I once had a bunch of low-life looking guys come in trying to sell me practically a truckload of all brand new sealed electronics. Laptops, TV's, smartphones, tablets, etc. I knew something was up so I called the police. They ran out of the shop so fast it was unreal and they left the stuff they had unloaded. The police came by and picked up the stuff. I later found out that a truck driver had been robbed at gunpoint by these same guys just the day before they came trying to sell me the stuff. You'd think these guys would be smarter than that, but no. Most criminals are unbelievably stupid and have no common sense. The smart ones never get caught.
 
Last edited:
sapphirescales said:
Ahhh - that's the stuff! It's always nice to get great trade-in's like this. Although I would have used a brand new SSD. iMac's are a real PITA to take apart. I'd hate to have to do that SSD replacement twice!

I do a LOT of work on custom builds. I build them new, sure, but I also get in custom builds that clients either built themselves, bought from a boutique PC builder (Velocity Micro, CyberPower PC, etc.), or had another local shop build for them. I get to keep their old parts 99% of the time. Today I had a client that wanted to upgrade his old motherboard, processor, and RAM. He had a nice ASUS $400 motherboard, 32GB of RAM, and an i7-6850K processor. He upgraded to the i9-7980XE processor, 128GB of RAM, and a $450 motherboard. Made over $3,500 in profit from building that system and HE LET ME KEEP HIS OLD PARTS!!! Those old parts are worth about $1,000. Now I'll build a "new" system with those parts and put it on the shelf for sale. I make probably an extra $100,000/year just from free stuff I get from clients that have me upgrade their systems.

As for BUYING used equipment from clients, I'll give them decent trade-in value towards something else, but I won't pay much in cash for anything. I made an exception for a good past client of mine who got a free iPad from work still sealed in the box. I paid her $250 for it, then flipped it in my shop for $450 later that same day. LOL. I only paid that much because:

1. She was a GOOD past client
2. The iPad was still sealed
3. Apple stuff practically sells itself

As for stolen goods, it's usually pretty obvious when someone is trying to peddle stolen stuff. These are some telltale signs that what they're trying to sell is stolen:

1. They're nervous
2. They're willing to sell it for almost nothing and don't try to haggle
3. They're high/drunk
4. They don't know much about the product
5. They "forgot" their password
6. They have an expensive product but look poor
7. They refuse to let you scan their ID
8. They demand CASH and won't accept a check
9. The don't want to sign the paperwork for the trade-in or just scribble for their signature (I know people do this on those electronic pin-pads, but I use PAPER forms for trade-in's. In my experience, people usually take a paper form a LOT more seriously.)

I once had a bunch of low-life looking guys come in trying to sell me practically a truckload of all brand new sealed electronics. Laptops, TV's, smartphones, tablets, etc. I knew something was up so I called the police. They ran out of the shop so fast it was unreal and they left the stuff they had unloaded. The police came by and picked up the stuff. I later found out that a truck driver had been robbed at gunpoint by these same guys just the day before they came trying to sell me the stuff. You'd think these guys would be smarter than that, but no. Most criminals are unbelievably stupid and have no common sense. The smart ones never get caught.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot, but I will have to go over it a couple more times. Peace
 
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