Starting up my E-Waste business - recent load, plans, business cards - pics included

**EcoSafe** · 07-01-2012, 05:38 PM

ok you can dissagree. I just gave an opinion. I am in the ewaste business. and my projection is 5 years. and you need to go big. I do wish you well. don't get me wrong. my first year was dealing with computer shops churches and individuals. I did not break even when fuel and time are a consideration. due to the economy the shops have dropped to half, many have gone out of business. ewaste buyers are paying 70 % of what they did last year and I expect for this trend to continue. if you hasve the resorces to go big there is a lot of money there over the next 5 years, but think in terms of warehouses and semis not storage lockers and pickup trucks. understand I am giving you a years worth of hard earned ecperience here, good luck in what ever you choose to do.

P.S. the silver in key boards is the silver greay stripes on the mylar (sometimes black) it is easy to process. there is about .10 worth in each keyboard.

a heavy hammer and a 1 in wood chisel is one of your most important tools when working e waste.

**martyweil** · 07-02-2012, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by olddude

ok you can dissagree. I just gave an opinion. I am in the ewaste business. and my projection is 5 years. and you need to go big. I do wish you well. don't get me wrong. my first year was dealing with computer shops churches and individuals. I did not break even when fuel and time are a consideration. due to the economy the shops have dropped to half, many have gone out of business. ewaste buyers are paying 70 % of what they did last year and I expect for this trend to continue. if you hasve the resorces to go big there is a lot of money there over the next 5 years, but think in terms of warehouses and semis not storage lockers and pickup trucks. understand I am giving you a years worth of hard earned ecperience here, good luck in what ever you choose to do.

After months of research and experimentation with ewaste, I have to agree with Old's conclusions. He truly is providing you with years of hard earned knowledge. Listen to him.

OLDDUDE is particularly astute in his assessment that the opportunity exists if one were to go big over the next 5 years.

Even with the most important hurdle solved (available capital to invest) in "going big," I'm stymied by the inability to source the quantity of old computer towers necessary for a BIG model to succeed. So, you see, even with capital resources, there are still seemingly insurmountable challenges (e.g., sourcing, storage, transport, etc). Based on my calculations, going big would require a minimum purchase of 100,000 pounds of computer towers (between 7,000 - 10,000 pre-1998 towers). Anyone know where those can be had at roughly what Dell is paying Goodwill per pound for them? If so, you've got yourself a business. If not, listen to Olddude. He knows.

**Koldes** · 07-02-2012, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by martyweil

After months of research and experimentation with ewaste, I have to agree with Old's conclusions. He truly is providing you with years of hard earned knowledge. Listen to him.

OLDDUDE is particularly astute in his assessment that the opportunity exists if one were to go big over the next 5 years.

Even with the most important hurdle solved (available capital to invest) in "going big," I'm stymied by the inability to source the quantity of old computer towers necessary for a BIG model to succeed. So, you see, even with capital resources, there are still seemingly insurmountable challenges (e.g., sourcing, storage, transport, etc). Based on my calculations, going big would require a minimum purchase of 100,000 pounds of computer towers (between 7,000 - 10,000 pre-1998 towers). Anyone know where those can be had at roughly what Dell is paying Goodwill per pound for them? If so, you've got yourself a business. If not, listen to Olddude. He knows.

Thanks, Marty. It's not that I don't believe olddude, but it's going to be a part time/side business for me. Essentially, I want to scrap, but due to my limitations, this is the most logical way. As it has been stated, even if I can only do it for a couple years before the supply runs out, maybe my business will evolve into something else by that time. That's still a couple years of profiting, learning, and working hard (in addition to my 9-5 M-F job.)

**martyweil** · 07-02-2012, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Koldes

It's not that I don't believe olddude

My point wasn't that you weren't believing what he was saying; my point was to listen to what he was saying.

That, however, wasn't even the main point of my reply. While I think you should listen, I was trying to elevate the key point of Old's message, which, if I may be so bold as to condense it into a nutshell is "go big or go broke." This is where I'm in complete agreement with Old. And, to move his point a step further, I was trying to point out how difficult it is to go big even if you have the capital to invest in the business. The fact is that acquiring a critical mass of computer towers seems to be an insurmountable obstacle at least from my point of view. Perhaps someone else has solved this problem. And likely, I assume, if someone has solved it, they're probably not going to share the secret here (although they can PM me).

**martyweil** · 07-03-2012, 06:09 AM

a heavy hammer and a 1 in wood chisel is one of your most important tools when working e waste.[/QUOTE]

OLDDUDE, you've mentioned this method a few times including here. How do you keep the board from moving around? Do you clamp it to your bench or what? The method works, don't misunderstand, but the board doesn't stay put which makes things very difficult. Please explain further.