So what do we do when the computers run out - Page 2

Originally Posted by NHscrapman

..... anyones truck have warp drive?

no, but i bet we can name a few with warped drivers

Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Just wandering what my next profitable biz will be...........I am thinking about branching out into other things but used electronics and computers sale so easily.........

Mike, from the things I've read the population is replacing computers and cell phones every 1-2 years as opposed to every 5 years a decade before. I think per # pricing will go down, but volume will go up. Either way, we should be good for some time as long as the big companies don't collude together to push the small players out of the game via new laws.

Speaking, of which, I've been reading the backgrouds of many big players and they average about a 5% reuse rate. I would hardly call that great recycling. I try to sell every working part I can to maxamize profit and get the most use out of the part before sending it to be stripped. Reuse if the the best recycle.

just don't buy a cummins, the tranny will blow upon re-entry.

my best answer is that there is enough computers electronics and scrap out there for me to retire on by about age 45 maybe sooner if I work a bit harder so I guess I am not so much worrying since right now I am about to turn 31 in july and I may not be rich but I make good money and even work a part time job that I love just to make more on the down times or like when gold has taken such a hit I can just sit on boards and not worry just for on ebay sales since I always have weeks of backlog sales to do

Originally Posted by drozenski

We really dont need to worry about running out of items to recycle

currently the maximum of IP connected devices is 4,294,967,296

Were about to run out, that equals at least 4,294,967,296 current devices.

However this does not take into account private IP address's other wise known as "non routable IP's". These address's are internal networks for ISP's large corporations or even your home.

These ranges include 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 and 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

Each of these ranges adds their own variables to the mix.

The 10.x.x.x network adds and additional 16,777,216 end points
The 172.x.x.x network adds 1,048,576 end points
The 192.x.x.x network adds 65,536 end points

Now knowing this these are internal IP's a ISP such as Time Warner, Earthlink or AOL will have a Class A or 10.x.x.x internal network. This will allow them to have a very large network up to 16,777,216 internal servers, switch's ect. So while this ISP may only take up say 100 of the routable IP's from the maximum of 4,294,967,296 the can have millions of internal devices.

So if you think about it. we wont be running out of things to recycle in this life time. With IPV6 coming we will have 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,45 6 address's

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_network

Sorta but not exactly. Each IP address doesn't equate to a unique device sitting on the internet. There's big companies out there sitting on a rather sizable, unused lot of addresses. Also, one device can have multiple IP address's. Take a Comcast business modem for example. Many companies purchase multiple static ip address's which are all then assigned to their one modem. You can then point those address to servers, sites, whatever. Servers can host multiple websites so you can basically have a bunch of static ip addresses pointed to a single box.

And on and on it goes.

But ya, ip6 will be nice. Some day. In the distant future.

Oh, never mind. I shoulda thoroughly read over your entire post.

Ya, you covered it.

I was in the same position, almost out of computers. A tax client called this afternoon and said that one of members of their non-profit organization was the IT guy for a Fortune 500 company. It seems the company changed out the entire computer system, the IT guy asked if he could keep everything to donate to the non-profit and the company said yes. My client asked if I was interested in doing an e-waste drive next month and including all of these computers in the drive. After a few minutes of conversation, we set up a deal. I asked what size of truck to bring and was told, I would need a 24' Budget rental truck just for the computers.

I think we better quit worrying about things running out. When people find out what your business is, the material just starts to appear. (of course, still having a regular job does help a bit!)

Been the same here, BC. Things slowed up for a few weeks. Couple loads here and there. Now, getting swamped. One of the IT company's is getting ready to move. Sent me an email to get ready, allllllll the stuff in the store room has to be emptied out. #sweetbakedtaterandapplepie I know what was in there last month, and they have been adding to it.

I believe that every change in technology, will bring new opportunities, new byproducts, more opportunity for resale/re-purpose. Sooooo if they run out...imma gunna take a nap, THEN move on to whatever happens next.

Speakin of naps....

Personally, I think it is fairly easy to see that the desktop computer market is going to get tougher and tougher. There are less units being sold and the ones that are sold have less scrap value. Laptops will still have some value for a while....but they are not profitable to scrap. Better to sell those to a refurbisher. We have lots of people making far more money sending us laptops than they ever got scrapping desktops. Lots less work too.

The cell phone collection business will also continue to be strong for a long time. More and more people are getting cell phones and replacing them faster and faster.

I also think that finding a niche that does not have a ton of competitors is a great way to make money. We talk to computer stores all over the country that take their li-ion laptop batteries to batteries plus to GIVE THEM AWAY. In other words, they have to transport them and then get nothing for them. That is why scrappers tell me they got batteries (often hundreds of pounds) for anywhere from 10 cents to $1 a pound. They then sell it to me for $2 a pound. Most recyclers do not want them because they do not know what to do with them.

I know that we have stopped buying boards and desktops. We are just focusing on laptops and cell phones (and their batteries) and business is booming. Just my 2 cents.

I agree that in the home market, desktops sales have dropped dramatically. However, most businesses still use them and when it comes to updated systems they updare with newer desktops. As far as the business sector goes, I think we are at least 20 years away from them running out.