I need some sage advice

I stopped by a local business today to hand out my business card. The owner took me inthe back and started showing me his computer scrap pile. It looks like about 30 crt's, 6 old towers(late 80's vintage) two ATT telecom boxes from their old phone system, and two Intergraph 730 mainframes, plus 15 or so old printers. I am supposed to go back tomorrow and make him an offer on the towers, and the mainframes. I told him I would give him $4.00 each for the towers and he turned up his nose at that. Can you help me? What should I offer? I have a feeling he wants some big bucks because he mentioned that he payed 500k formthe Intergraphs new.

I am afraid that I am in over my head because of my lack of knowledge.

Would an offer of 500 to $1000 for the whole lot be too much?

Help!!!!!!

Companies around here have to pay the city to get rid of their stuff. I walk away from them if they demand payment for their scrap. Now, I know that isn't everywhere, but that's how it works here for now.

I saw a review for the mainframes printed in 1982... yep, they are old, and yea, I'm sure expensive. Heck, I paid $1200 for my first computer. 486SX.

The mainframe is worth only scrap no matter what he paid for it. He has written it off over these years already as a business expense. The mainframes will have motherboards, some processors, and some memory... maybe still some hard drives. The last large mainframe gave me around 10 lbs of boards, at $3.5/lb (maybe a little less after shipping) this will give you a profit of around $35/mainframe... Computers can bring $8-$12 each... Don't overpay!

yeah stick to 4 or 5 per tower and no more then 20 per server. thats what I do.

In bulk I don't hesitate to give $5 per tower.

Originally Posted by samuel-a

Hell yea.

There a lot of folks out there, that have few old computers and are sure they are sitting on a gold mine.
I think you could up your prices just by little, otherwise.... PASS.

Yup. The IT tech showed me the telcom boxes and said that I could probably get an ounce or two of gold out of them...

Thanks for the responses guys...I am slowly backing away from the ledge as I write. I am afraid the owner thinks that he is sitting on a windfall. I bet that I am
Going insult him tomorrow with my offer. I am thinking that I will offer him $100 for everything...if he let's me use the forklift to load the mainframes.

Thanks again gentlemen...I am glad I found you all!!!
Chris

Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

yeah stick to 4 or 5 per tower and no more then 20 per server. thats what I do.

That $20 per server makes me feel better about last week...I bought two dead Dell servers from an associate for 15 a piece, and was afraid I paid too much. I also bought 6 Dell towers for $5 a piece.

There is a good chance that he will get insulted. You need to keep your cool, be polite and suggest that he price around on it. Tell him if he would like to talk again after that, you will be happy to do business with him.

Originally Posted by CFoote

That $20 per server makes me feel better about last week...I bought two dead Dell servers from an associate for 15 a piece, and was afraid I paid too much. I also bought 6 Dell towers for $5 a piece.

Really depends on how big they are. I baught a sun server at an auction a few weeks ago and paid $20 for it. It was packed full of goodies and weighs 125 pounds. So im guessing its at least 10 in shred after tearing it down.

I am up front with everyone and let them know that I scrap the electronics. I tell them what I will pay, but please feel free to keep trying to get more as usable components. If you can't, please call me and this is what I can pay. It has been working out great so far.