Computer Refurbising

[Mushin]

I have a whole tone of extra space avaiable that we are not using at the moment and I am trying to decide upon the best use of that space.

I am considering a recycle/refurbish type of service that will

1.) Recondition / Repair / Rebuild Computers or Monitors
2.) Recycle unusable / un-needed items.
3.) Resell and donate Items


I am looking for advice and suggestions from people who have have done something similar. I know that there are the obvious issues of proper disposal but what are your general thoughts?

 

[ATSCF]

I would go for #1 to try and make a few extra bucks. Some people don't care how fast it is as long as it gets on the internet for the right price.

 

[B3ng]

Like the idea of number 3 from a PR point of view. Say you could knock up some useable PC's from old parts and dish them out to local charitable organisations\schools\underprivellaged families etc. would make for some nice press releases and generally raise your raport within the local community.?

Im not a business owner by any means and am not sure whether this would be feasable, just a thought.

 

[vdub12]

Like the idea of number 3 from a PR point of view. Say you could knock up some useable PC's from old parts and dish them out to local charitable organisations\schools\underprivellaged families etc. would make for some nice press releases and generally raise your raport within the local community.?

Im not a business owner by any means and am not sure whether this would be feasable, just a thought.

Don't take this the wrong way but if your not a business owner then what are you doing here. This forum is not for end users, its for professionals.

On the subject of donating I have ran in to problems with that before. Many organizations will not except donations. I'm not sure why but I have tried many times with my daughters school and they always turn me down. I think its kind of funny, they need new computers but all they want is money, not the computers themselves.

 

[Styxbound]

Refurb

If you have free time to fool with it the refurb can work out well. I'm basically retired and that is mostly what I do. Since I have other people who sell for me I don't even have to be tied up with that; I work when I want to_and how I want to. Typically I sell p4 machines with acc and an lcd for $175_200. I don't do a lot because I don't want to, but my impression is that I could sell a considerable lot if I wanted to.

 

[Mushin]

I guess my post was not fully clear. If we do this I plan to do all three of the options.

Repair Resell what can be sold
Recycle what can not be repaired or donated

Does anyone know much about the Microsoft program that allows system recyclers or refurbishers to get OEM copies of Windows for low prices?

What do you think the best outlet would be for selling the reconditioned items? I am thinking e-bay, craigs list, Yearly Town yard sale that attracts 1000's of people. Am I missing any?

 

[Styxbound]

Refurb

I have flea markets who sell for me. And both for their sake and mine I strongly backup what we sell. Most of our sales come from people referring their family.

 

[Thedog]

Don't take this the wrong way but if your not a business owner then what are you doing here. This forum is not for end users, its for professionals.

On the subject of donating I have ran in to problems with that before. Many organizations will not except donations. I'm not sure why but I have tried many times with my daughters school and they always turn me down. I think its kind of funny, they need new computers but all they want is money, not the computers themselves.

Maybe he is a professional but doesn't own a business, aka employed?

 

[Mushin]

I have flea markets who sell for me. And both for their sake and mine I strongly backup what we sell. Most of our sales come from people referring their family.

This is 100% true. Dealing in used or refurbished equipment is a worry because of the added chance that something breaks.

 

[CPU]

We sell refurbs as is on craigslist and ebay, then for the recycle a local guy picks them up and I think he scraps metal.

 

[Mushin]

What is a good tool to streamline posting items on craigslist or ebay

 

[CPU]

Not sure about the pc, we run them on iphones the apps are there for each and you can use the pics on the device, real quick to post. Think ebay has a turbolister program or they did 3-4- years ago I used it.

 

[Mushin]

CPU... you will like this one.

If we go this route we may hire some cheep labor to handle the refurb, scrapping out parts, and recycle parts of the process.

This can be a technician in training so to speak since it is easy for people to cut their teeth on OS installs and driver downloads.

 

[agile]

I have almost always found selling refurbished products tends to be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[minc3d]

Refurbing machines and selling them on ebay is a good side moneymaker for me when I have time and have systems worth listing.

Systems that clients decided not to repair or that they have upgraded with new machines are commonly refurbs I list. Not an earth shattering amount, but enough to keep it worthwhile.

If the machine(s) don't sell, I have a trusted recycler that actually comes out to me and gets the stuff I can't sell. They are a larger recycler here in the Chicago area and I know they are properly disposing and recycling components. Win win for me and the environment.

 

[NeutronTech]

Since I don't sell new computers, mostly because I don't want to handle warranty work, it's even less likely that I will ever sell refurbs. I take in whatever I can get for free, pick through it for anything that I can use myself, then donate or scrap the rest.

So far I've kept 2 flat panels, 2 decent desktops, and 1 decent laptop. The laptop is now my office computer, as of today. I was running one of the desktop's with linux, but I was running into more programs that wouldn't run on it. I didn't have any extra copies of Windows for the desktops, and I didn't want to buy one for the office, but the laptop has Vista on it. So, the laptop and one of the LCDs, I've got a decent office machine.

 

[minc3d]

Neutron, just curious why you refuse to sell new systems? What ties you into warranty work?

I have clear terms on any new machine sale stating that "warranty is provided solely by xx and can be contacted at xxx-xxx-xxxx" and I have yet to have an issue with this. If they want me to assist with any warranty repair I am more than willing to do so at my normal hourly rate.

I usually sell quality systems so I don't see my machines in that often for parts-related failures, but when I do (even those I didn't sell) I gladly assist in the warranty process and people generally appreciate the hand holding. Many are willing to pay for convenience and the peace of mind that comes with someone like myself helping in the warranty replacement or repair process.

It also builds confidence with clients and opens the door to other facets of service like proper AV installation or backup software/plans. Maybe I'm off but this is how I approach systems sales.

Some of my best referrals have come from happy new systems customers.

 

[Mushin]

I have almost always found selling refurbished products tends to be more trouble than it's worth.

What types of trouble have you run into and how many/ how often do you sell refurbished computers?

Also what types of specs did the refurbished units have?

I am currious because there are many times that a computer is condsidered refurbished becasue of a bad hard drive or some other simple problem. I consider something like this more of a repair. So with this in mind it is not much different than repairing a computer for a customer.

 

[minc3d]

Selling refurbs on ebay couldn't be easier. Stating in your terms "sold as IS with NO returns for ANY reason beyond DOA issues" has been my best friend. Everyone knows what they are getting into up front, and yes, you probably undersell for a few bucks compared to what you could make, but saves you any hassle of having to deal with returns or part failures.

I've got 100% feedback on ebay under this same screen name and have been using this method for all my sales since 2004.

 

[NeutronTech]

Neutron, just curious why you refuse to sell new systems? What ties you into warranty work?

I have clear terms on any new machine sale stating that "warranty is provided solely by xx and can be contacted at xxx-xxx-xxxx" and I have yet to have an issue with this. If they want me to assist with any warranty repair I am more than willing to do so at my normal hourly rate.

I usually sell quality systems so I don't see my machines in that often for parts-related failures, but when I do (even those I didn't sell) I gladly assist in the warranty process and people generally appreciate the hand holding. Many are willing to pay for convenience and the peace of mind that comes with someone like myself helping in the warranty replacement or repair process.

It also builds confidence with clients and opens the door to other facets of service like proper AV installation or backup software/plans. Maybe I'm off but this is how I approach systems sales.

Some of my best referrals have come from happy new systems customers.

Well, for one, it's not worth the money. The profit margin isn't enough to mess with it. Two, the warranty. I know I can have the manufacturer do the warranty, but I'd still have to deal with it. Either by telling people to contact someone else or be expected to handle other issues. Like if the system gets a virus or is just running slow. The virus is pretty easy to explain that it's not covered and that i have to charge them. Although, I don't want to have to mess with explaining this either. The running slow, phantom problems, etc I just don't want to deal with at all. Some people, no matter how hard you try and explain something to them, they always expect so much more than what they pay for. Even if you explain what they are getting before you order it.

There's just too much to mess with. Right now anyways, I just prefer to do strictly service. I don't even really do upgrades. I have done a couple, but they were specific cases with people I knew. I don't advertise it and I don't stock much for parts. I don't want the overhead. I really just want to do service and that's it.