More than Scrap Value E-Waste
As a scrapper, one of the best opportunities to make money out there is to sell parts for more than scrap value. From the questions that I've answered and the lots that I've processed, I have some tips on maximizing your "More than Scrap" items:
*Full Disclaimer- I am a More than Scrap buyer. Some of these tips may not apply to all buyers. Warning: What you are about to read should only be accomplished by trained professionals. Injury or death may result from underinflation or overloading. Do not attempt at home! (Just kidding about the last parts!)
1. Common machines need parts. For example, there are millions of Dell OptiPlex computers in circulation. If you have some, odds are that there will be parts that can be reused.
2. Factor in your time. Time is money. It may be worth it to take a little less per unit, if you save a lot of time. Also look into selling systems complete if your buyer will pay for them as a whole. You don't have any breakdown time, and the components will be properly cradled to minimize the risk of damage.
3. Consistancy Counts. If you have a lot of a certain item, contact your buyer. If all of your RAM is a certain brand, contact the buyer. You may recieve a price premium.
4. Understanding Shipping Reimbursements/Prepayment: A lot of buyers will help on shipping. Read up on their policies, and ask any questions. Prepaid shipping costs will depend on the box size and weight, while a reimbursement will not (in the same way). I've seen a lot of RAM lots packed into the USPS Small Flat Rate Box. I can't speak for all buyers, but my policy is to reimburse up to a certain value ($20/Lot Currently), regardless of the box size being used. Because of this policy, you have no reason to cram stuff into the Small Box, when the Medium Box would be reimbursed. In fact, there are a few reasons not to use the Small box for some lots:
5. It has to be working for more than scrap value: That failed RAM that you have will fail testing on the buyer's end. There's nothing that you can do about parts that came to you damaged. But, your goal should be to not damage any parts in transit. When parts are damaged in transit, everyone loses. Below are pictures of two different lots that I've received:
I'll never know what sticks were damaged before sending, but I can give you the pass/fail rates of those two lots. The lot of sticks that was neatly wrapped acheived a 96% pass rate. The pile of random sticks- 49%.
6. Please Sort as best as you can: Some buyers will dock for sorting (At the time of writing, I don't). But, it takes us time to sort your lot. That means that you'll be waiting longer for payment. Know what you have. Server RAM and desktop RAM look identical, but there is a huge difference in pricing. A desktop stick worth $6.50 may only be worth $1.00 as a server stick. That adds up (Actually, subtracts) quickly!
7. Packaging RAM: Bubble wrap it. You don't want sticks to move around. When that happens, sticks will become damaged, and will fail. Don't throw the sticks in a box or in sandwich bags. The bags will tear, and you'll have a mess. If you have Anti-Static bags, use them. If not, use bubble wrap. We have a store in town that will sell plenty for a RAM lot for $1.00. If the bubble wrap saves one stick, you're money ahead. I rubber band my lots together, and then wrap them tightly. You want the RAM to be as sturdy as a brick. See the first photo above. We hate failed sticks as much as you do- that's money that you won't receive, and we end up with scrap RAM. MY goal as a processor is to help you get as much stuff to me without damage as possible. If you need packing tips, please ask. I am more than happy to spend a minute of my time to help both of us on your lot. Everyone wins when sticks arrive in good, working consition.
8. Hard Drives are as fragile as an egg: Remember when you carried an egg for a day in High School? Treat your hard drives that way (Unless you failed the assignment!) They need to be wrapped up tightly with a lot of cushioning. Imagine a phonograph working at 5400RPM (Or faster). That's basically how a hard drive works. If it is banged around, it likely will fail testing.
9. Wrap CPUs Individually: This tip applies to both pinless and pinned CPUs. Pinned CPUs have over 300 pins on them- if one is bent, the CPU is scrap. For pinless CPUs, if the contacts become dirty, they'll often fail testing, too.I had a lot come in with a bag of pinned CPUs all thrown together. By mixing the valuable CPUs with the scrap ones, and not wrapping them, this client lost over $100. Bubble wrap is your friend!
10. Don't Cram!: Going back to Point #4, you don't want to force your items in the box. If your buyer is paying for shipping, you won't lose anything by using the correct box. If your buyer doesn't pay for shipping, the parts that you save will offset the extra costs. It's not worth the risks. If your lot fits comfortably in the Small box, use it. Do you have to lean on it and force it to close? Stop! Use a little larger box, and you'll be less likely to lose parts to damage.
11. Leave Your Information in the Box: Please leave your name, contact information, payment information, and if applicable, your SMF username, in the box. As a processor, one of the worst things that can happen is a box without a name. If we don't know who sent the box, we can't process it. We'll be able to track you down, but that scrap piece of paper makes our lives a lot easier- and allows us to process your lots more quickly.
12: If in doubt, ask: Don't know if your buyer pays for something? Want some shipping tips? Don't know what you have? We're all more than glad to help. Any reputable buyer will want to help you. We're just a phone call, E-Mail, post, or Private Message away!
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