county school system<help

I have done many school ewaste buys, but got a call from a local county school board president. They want us to handle the county school system. Problem, in order to handle the contract we have to take all or none. this includes TVs and CRTs. Advice and thoughts please. We are fortunate enough to be able to walk away from this potential client if we want to. mcw

unless you have an outlet for the CRT's I wouldnt touch it.

if you have a best buy near you...you can get rid of 3-4 a day depending on that particular store. You ALSO can speak with the manager and explain you get several and wondered if you could just bring a pallet once a week of them. I know I took a bunch (probably 15-20 or so) at an event and just spaced them out. Most goodwills DO still take CRT's ONLY (no TV's)...so there is an outlet for that too.

I guess you really need an estimate on the NUMBER of tv/crt's and then you can make a better decision weighing the outlets I mentioned above as a place to offload them.

Do you know how many there are? They will likely be the last batch, or close to it. If you can weather this storm, then you should be free and clear in most cases.

Originally Posted by Scrappah

This could be a good client. Rather than assume anything, I think I would go down and investigate to see what's really there. There might be a bunch of "bubble backs" -or- they might have phased them out years ago. It never hurts to go down and ask questions. Maybe get a better idea of what's there and what kind of gear might be coming your way over the next few years ?

It's kinda grim but you are getting up there in years. You have to figure that at some point the wife and kids are going to have to pick up the torch and carry on for you. Maybe give some thought to your legacy ? You said before that it didn't seem like they were interested in going into it as a career. If that's still the case you might actually want to scale back the operation and tie up all of the loose ends before you finish up.

You make it sound like he has one foot in the grave

I'd find another fellow scrapper around local and feed them all the monitors/tv's and other non computer electronics, maybe a newer scrapper just starting out. That's if your area has an outlet for the tubes. Then again might be like Scrappah said, could have updated to flatscreen already.
I know our local school systems has, they may just have an occasional one (tube type) that was stuck in a closet.

I'd think that what they have now won't increase. It would be almost impossible to purchase newer CRTs.

Can you do something with what comes in? Prepare for a beating in the storm, and calm weather ahead....

Originally Posted by hobo finds

20 TV's / CRT's ok, 200 no way! LOL What else is there?

Typical school junk overhead projectors, printers ect.

Originally Posted by matador

Do you know how many there are? They will likely be the last batch, or close to it. If you can weather this storm, then you should be free and clear in most cases.

I am meeting with him on tuesday, will have a better picture then.

Originally Posted by matador

I'd think that what they have now won't increase. It would be almost impossible to purchase newer CRTs.

Can you do something with what comes in? Prepare for a beating in the storm, and calm weather ahead....

My thinking too, looking to the future if I can get past this hump.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

I'd find another fellow scrapper around local and feed them all the monitors/tv's and other non computer electronics, maybe a newer scrapper just starting out. That's if your area has an outlet for the tubes. Then again might be like Scrappah said, could have updated to flatscreen already.
I know our local school systems has, they may just have an occasional one (tube type) that was stuck in a closet.

Very good Idea!

Originally Posted by mikeinreco

You make it sound like he has one foot in the grave

Actually I do, or at least feel like it

Originally Posted by Otto

This would depend on your risk tolerance. If you can deal with breaking even or a small loss, it may be worth landing a long term revenue source. The amount of CRTs in the e-waste stream is rapidly decreasing. I would try it for a bit to see how it develops, but I have a more long term approach to business.

Kinda my thinking too, could lead to other county systems if the family has new interest it may be worth it ??????

I'm new to doing e-waste but if you were able to snag say 200 desktops and only had say 15 CRT's to dispose of.. I think the cost of disposal vs the profit from the other would work for me personally. I had a pickup recently that was an "all or nothing" It cost me $25 bucks to properly dispose of the CRT's but made quite a bit more from the rest of it that the $25 bucks was simply "cost of doing business" to me.
My 2 copper coins.