How much is a complete computer tower (motherboard, ram, processor, etc) worth?

Hello,



I was wondering how much on average a complete computer tower (motherboard, ram, processor, etc.) is worth. Im going to start advertising in my area that I buy computer towers. I wanted to know how much on average they are worth (how much I will earn for one tower by parting them out and sending them to ewasted). I also wanted to know how much I should pay to buy them off of people? I saw someone post that they are buying them off of people for $5 and then parting them out and making a profit. Is $5 the going rate or can I do less?

Your comments would be much appreciated.

thanks

It’s been my experience that price is of very little importance. The key is to get someone on the phone (you can do this buy advertising that you buy computers). Once on the phone, you should sell your services as recycling, free pickup and free information safe hard drive destruction. The price is simply a bonus and should be sold as an incentive to get people to recycle. Most donate for free. You can also have success bundling services like free hauling of old monitor/TV with computers.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...-computer.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...rth-scrap.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...-computer.html

Thanks for taking the time to look these links up. From what I got from the links I can buy them for about $2-$6 and sell them after break down for $10-15

I went ahead and broke down a computer and scaled it up using the prices from Ewasted. Here is what I got:

DVD Drive........................................1.75l bs. @.22 = $.39
HD................................................ .1.25lbs. @1.10=$1.28
Ram.............................................. .05lbs. @14.30=$1.43
Processor...................................... .05lbs. @ $34 =$1.70
Mother Board................................. 1.30lbs.@3.60=$4.68
Case............................................ 8.85lbs.@ .08=$.71
Power Supply............................................ .........=$1

Total............................................. ..................$10.29

So, my numbers matched up pretty good with the numbers from the others. I always like to see the breakdown of things.

Originally Posted by mrsamsonite

Thanks for taking the time to look these links up. From what I got from the links I can buy them for about $2-$6 and sell them after break down for $10-15

I went ahead and broke down a computer and scaled it up using the prices from Ewasted. Here is what I got:

DVD Drive........................................1.75l bs. @.22 = $.39
HD................................................ .1.25lbs. @1.10=$1.28
Ram.............................................. .05lbs. @14.30=$1.43
Processor...................................... .05lbs. @ $34 =$1.70
Mother Board................................. 1.30lbs.@3.60=$4.68
Case............................................ 8.85lbs.@ .08=$.71
Power Supply............................................ .........=$1

Total............................................. ..................$10.29

So, my numbers matched up pretty good with the numbers from the others. I always like to see the breakdown of things.

That is all assuming a typical P4 computer. You start getting some 386/486 PC's where the CPU's are over $100 a pound, and the bottom line will increase.

Nice breakdown. A few things generally available but not on your list PCI cards, cables internal and external, DVD drive boards are higher grade and easy to strip, Also floppy drives are still common and higher than shred price, Keyboard, mice and other peripherals are often included. I rarely pay for any ewaste, but it took time to get established. When I do buy it is from PC repair shops I pay $.25/lb for PC's and take the rest for free as a benefit to the business.

Thanks for the breakdown numbers. Matches my own numbers pretty well. I myself offer $5 per computer and $3 per laptop. I have gotten a handful of computers/laptops for free when I ask people. I do storage auction's and yard sales as a hobby. When I see a monitor, keyboard, or anything computer related I always ask if they have any old or broken computers they would like to recycle. I also always wear my "Recycle Your Trash" shirt made from recycled coke bottles. The other weekend I picked up a dell laptop for free. I pair this up with a old dell power supply, reformat the drive, reload VISTA and I now have a laptop to sell.

Any PCI cards in that machine? Plus, the heatsink and fan that you probably removed to get to the processor, and any wire value. That could probably boost your value a bit.

Come on guys, cut me some stack. I took 5-10min to weigh some stuff and share some number and you guys point out all my errors.... haha. Good points. I left out a couple of components.

Things that someone should take into consideration if doing this type of business:
-Gas and shipping cost
-Time
-Prices for different types of components

Martyweil:
I do think that it could be worth it. I wouldnt make it my only stream of income but it can make for good supplemental income. Let say that we could make 10-20k instead of 50k. And factor in that a large portion of the towers will be collected for free or less than $5. I thought about giving other intensive for giving away computer tower like a free coupon for a hamburger at a local restaurant.

yea... I hope this discourages a wholeeeeeeeee lot of folks in my area.

While the numbers may =X, I find, by experience and not just the math, that once I have made a contact for computers, I often end up with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W and often times a load of Z, which in turn has added up to a total of... xx,xxx.xx, much of it costing me 0 <--dat ah zero, nada, nutin, zip jus sayin BroJer

Originally Posted by BroJer

yea... I hope this discourages a wholeeeeeeeee lot of folks in my area.

While the numbers may =X, I find, by experience and not just the math, that once I have made a contact for computers, I often end up with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W and often times a load of Z, which in turn has added up to a total of... xx,xxx.xx, much of it costing me 0 <--dat ah zero, nada, nutin, zip jus sayin BroJer

That's an excellent point... but I have no interest in dealing with A-Z scrap--just computers. So, each person has to evaluate their own situation based on unique circumstances. For me the numbers don't work, but for many, many others I'm sure they certainly do. The world wouldn't turn if it didn't.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

If you don't want to hassle with them, then get them free or low cost and sell them to me or another ewaste scrapper that wants to make some good money.

I wasn't referring to computers. I was replying in regard to all the other stuff mentioned. My whole point is my interest in computers but I dont see how someone can expect to find thousands of them a year to scrap even if they could keep up a 15 or 25 per hour pace breaking them down.

Originally Posted by martyweil

That's an excellent point... but I have no interest in dealing with A-Z scrap--just computers. So, each person has to evaluate their own situation based on unique circumstances. For me the numbers don't work, but for many, many others I'm sure they certainly do. The world wouldn't turn if it didn't.

I am hinting at more of the natural A-Z that goes along with getting computers. I have not been to, or talk to, anyone who is doing it as big biz, who is not also handling gaylords of wire, aluminum, copper, steel, cell phones, batteries, etc...

One of the calls I got in early May has so far yielded, 250 pc's, 30 servers, 90 crts. 20 flat screens, 12 upc's, 110 printers (mostly old laser) and barrels and barrels of old ram, side cards, power supplies, cat 5 cable, power cords out the ying yang, printer cables, etc. Once I begin to work with a school, business or other entity, I encourage them to do, and continue to do, "electronics decluttering," to go through closets, desks, drawers, shelves... anyplace they have stored the out-of-sight-out-of-the-way kinda clutter. They have had me back twice already.

I have 55 gallon drums sitting neatly out of the way at almost every place I have gotten in the door. Most like the idea of having someplace to just toss it all in, (or put things next to) and someone who will come and exchange them within a day or two of them calling. Many of them do a spring and fall cleanup, or green day, so that is 2 good loads a year, plus all the little ones. IT ADDS UP TO LOTZ.

I think the biggest part of any business plan, large or small, has to be PASSION. I really enjoy the work, fixing computers, tearing them apart, meeting people, learning something new everyday and growing just a little bit each week. So, no matter how it all adds up on paper, if there is no PASSION for it...why do it? jus my 2. off to the yard. have a great day! BroJer

oh yea...what did I pay for all that...um, wellllllll NUTIN! If you market yourself and services right, most places (at least that I have dealt with) are happy to have someone to work with they can trust and glad to get it out, and keep it out, of their way