Spare parts storage ideas

[CarlsComputerCare]

Hello all! I wanted to reach out to you all and get some ideas for parts storage and organization in our back room. For years now, we’ve just put dead and donated laptops in plastic bins by brand and model, and then just labeled the bins. Then if we needed spare parts from a certain laptop, we would just disassemble as needed and place the remaining parts back in the bin. We now have literally hundreds of laptops stored in the back, and I’m wondering if there is a better way.

I’ve been considering having an employee start disassembling all of these laptops and start sorting and storing by part types; screens in one bin, motherboards in one bin, keyboards, housings, RAM, chargers, etc. To add to that, I’ll also start inventorying all these parts as we break them down.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on using one method vs. another? Should I just leave them assembled like we currently have them, or should we start breaking them down and inventorying? What have you found works best? Thanks in advance!

 

[frase]

I don't recycle dead laptop parts for other clients laptops. I purchase brand new components, though if I can I use some refurbished laptops for clients if I can repair them. So if a client needs a loaner laptop whilst awaiting new parts. I generally just send them to e-waste though.

 

[sapphirescales]

I won't pretend that I don't have a "boneyard" of old computers but it's very rare that I actually go fishing through there nowadays. If a client needs a laptop back sooner than we can order a brand new part, then we just trade it in. Good quality business class laptops are pretty cheap and easy to find and I'd rather sell/fix business class than most of the consumer grade junk that's out there nowadays.

 

[Your PCMD]

I started doing that at the very beginning of my business, disassembled every lap top and desktop, and still do on occasion. I have bins for screens, memory, DC jacks from dead laptops along with various other bits, fans, track-pads, optical drives and KB's. I only do it for HP, Lenovo and Dell though. Each bin has a label with the manufacturer along with the model #'s. Each part has a sticker with only the model # on it. I only have 8 bins though with most of them having dividers to store quite a few models in each bin to save space.

I do not keep more than 5-10 pieces of one model to save space and ONLY go back 3 years circulating older stock out and dumping them at the recycling center.

You may think "thats an awful lot of parts", but it's really not. I get parts from customers machines and through donations as I am also a e-waste drop off point. I also buy laptops from the 2 pawns shops here in town every so often at around $1-$10 each depending on condition and issue and in many cases, I can really fix those and sell them as refurbs.

I use a program I bought several years ago to keep up with all the stuff I have, Inventoria, which you can still get and its cheap.

 

[Philippe]

Not to hijack, but any good ideas for stocking RAM sticks? I mean in a nice & orderly way...

 

[sapphirescales]

Not to hijack, but any good ideas for stocking RAM sticks? I mean in a nice & orderly way...

I get these for free all the time because I order RAM wholesale in bulk, but if you're a smaller shop you can buy them off eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-RAM-Mem...612597?hash=item237816c175:g:7TgAAOSwg3FUf~ME

 

[ninive_]

i have a huge barn as a boneyard, everything just chaoticly there, that way i always find what i need by smoking a cig and taking a look around.

 

[Your PCMD]

Not to hijack, but any good ideas for stocking RAM sticks? I mean in a nice & orderly way...

I have these for SODIMM and these for DIMM's. You get 2 trays with each holding 50 pieces which is plenty IMO for anyone.

 

[Philippe]

Thanks! I didn't even know these boxes existed Will try to find some at a good price.

Edit: PS: Found this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-DIMM...-50-x-Memory-Storage-Tray-Holder/401897951699

 

[Sky-Knight]

I have a stack of static shells from 3.5" platter drives kicking around, I found out ages ago they work really well for DIMMs. SODIMMs are a bit different, but I don't have too many of them.