E GUYS I need some advice.

All computers have processors, older Imacs will have a motorola processor instead of an Intel or AMD. Macs are just another brand of computer....

As far as making money, I think Easy says you can get between 12 and 15 out of a complete PC. A big chunk of that is memory.

I'm not sure what the value of the mac processor is, but it will still have memory, a high quality motherboard, hard drives, and accessory boards i.e. finger boards.

I haven't needed to buy any computers yet, I get all mine for free. If I did, I would be careful at this price. This seems high. I processed around 20 - 25 yesterday. $150 after shipping for boards, processors, and memory. $24 for the cases (400 lbs). Some aluminum and wire. Probably $200 max for all of it. I see $8-$10 per computer, but this may be a little high.

So, at $7 I would pass or counter offer. Depends on how fast you can get through these and what you time's worth.

wdaddy, not sure where you're selling, but on 25 pc's I usually average about 300 - 350 that should bring between about $14 per complete PC.

I could make money all day on 7 dollar PC's not as much as free, or 5 dollars, but, at the end of the day turning 100% profit for my time is okay with me. I'll take that 175 an hour. I'd like 200 an hour, but scrappers can't be choosers.


I had to get into my office and look at my books before I could be certain.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong then. Here's the offer I just sent to my buyer... Now, not all my PCs had memory or cpus and all were missing HDDs, Unless selling for more then scrap, I don't see anything I'm missing.

37 lbs - Motherboard grade - @$4.50 = $166.50
7.5 oz cpu p4 with alum. top @$9.25 / lb = $4.33
10 oz memory @= $15 / lb=$9.37
4oz slot processors @$12.50 = $3.12

total = $183.00

Minus shipping I figure will be around $30-$40.

and I took the 400 lbs of cases out this morning. $120/ton for "frag feed" = $24.00

I have processed the floppy and cd roms already....

The aluminum I took out and copper was a mixed load from before so I can't say exactly how much that gave me.

I haven't processed the power supplies, but I have to separate them out because no one here buys them so I need to cut wires, take steel out, take aluminum out and knock the copper parts off for the motor bucket.

I have the ide cable and wires piled up and have to trim the ends. This price isn't in my quote yet, but it isn't a huge amount.

So, where are you guys finding the extra money that I'm missing?

I see you're missing accessory boards, and hard drives. PCI boards and hard drive boards have a decent cash value. Hard drive shells are aluminum. And platters can be sold on ebay for $3 -$4 a lb

I've never had a problem selling PCI boards for far more than motherboard prices.

Just saw a 2lb lot of pci boards close for $25.50. That's 12.50 a pound. For a handful of obsolete high end video cards that's about 3 bucks a piece. Throw 25 pci boards into your motherboard box you threw away between 50 and 75 dollars.

Also the older the computer, the higher chance of it having an accessory board.

Even sheared platters are worth more than aluminum scrap to the guys processing in their garage.

Good to know. I will look into selling the cards separate. Another thing I have heard of is that DDR ram is really getting lots of money now. Something else to keep an eye on.

Olddude. I have to guess between 20 to 25, but I didn't accurately count them.. just what I had here to pick up. I think lots of people would jump at the chance for this deal. According to everyone else's numbers you can easily double your money... provided you can raise the capital to make this purchase. Good luck. Invest in a high speed light weight screwdriver and a looooong bit for it.

See, always learning.

OldDude,

I guess to give you a few more ideas.

- DDR memory is worth a lot more to some people. Find out how to identify it and sell it in lots.
- Some processors are worth money. Sometimes from $10-$20 each. Authentic Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz or better sold in lots. Dual Core or above processors are money!
- Hard drives 80 GB or better are worth selling. Serial ATA (SATA) drives are worth money. Format them and sell them. If you can't get it to format, scrap it.
- Some Video and sound cards are Gamer quality and have some value.
- Check model numbers of all cards. Some special cards are out there that have value. Some scsi scanner cards or lab equipment cards or control cards.
- Take any and all cords. Power cords sell at my scrap yard for $1.25 /lb. Small pc cables and printer cables and monitor cables - clip and sell the ends for gold recover. Sell the cables for communication cable. About $.80 / lb.
- Newer and complete computers can be formatted and sold for a good price. I bought 6 at $5 each and ebayed them for $60 each. Only install an Operating system if you have a sticker on the case for that OS. Don't install Microsoft office unless you have a license for that machine that will go with that machine.
- 70% of LCD monitors I have worked with can be repaired fairly easily with a little soldering experience and about $1 worth of capacitors. Burnt out backlights can be replaced for around $10 -$20 per monitor and then it can be resold for around $50. LCDs have very little scrap value.
- When selling untested parts, make sure to note that in the auction and accept returns easily. I don't even require a return, just a pic of the part after the buyer took a hammer to it. That saves on return shipping and makes the buyer know you weren't out to take their money. It saves on the feedback scores.
- Very old machines have 5.25" floppies. They have some value to collectors.
- UPS (uninterpretable power supplies) have a life span of 5-7 years, then the batteries are shot. It's more expensive to replace the batteries then it is to buy a new one. Pick these up. Huge transformers, heavy wire, lots of Alum. heat sinks and lead batteries.
- Power supplies. Most standard power supplies are worthless, but small proprietary power supplies are worth about $10 on ebay. Make sure to open them up and make sure the caps aren't popped and the fans run. plug in an old hard drive and make sure it spins up. Test the voltage or get a cheap power supply tester. http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-20-24-Pin-Pow...item2a13316160

So, depending on your skill level, there may be way more then double your money in these machines.

Here I am rambling. You probably already know all this...

Must be a slow day at work.

Originally Posted by easyrecycle

I very well could..but I pay darn good on all my scrap..I dont only pay good on one or two things an pay real bad on others...I pay good for even the cheapest items like computer fans!! So when you come to me with a large load I can pay better an in some cases far better than the posted price..but it all comes down to weight and how much work I have going into it and MONEY that has to be invested as well.

bring a small amount...you get the posted price...bring a good load..I may pay better on one item or another...bring me a good truck load..and we are talking about a whole new price sheet. Unlike many yards they have ONE price sheet...I/our company will work with you, your load an how often you come to us...the more you come/ship us items the more likely we will bump you up on prices. Reason being we want YOU to be happy.

When you place your stuff on ebay..yes it may sell for $25 for two pounds...but do that again and again...someone just over paid for it. But on top of that you have to count paypal fees ebay fees an what are YOU going to do if the buyer says you send him a empty box? You are out your money...and your goods. As sad as it is...that happens ALOT. Ebay is a great site to sell on...but there are high risks...with me...there is no risk...a pound is a pound!

P.s for anyone who was not able to catch on...I am the owner of Easy Recycle that is based out of Dallas Texas. I have many accounts all over the us as any other e-waste company...I am not to worried about getting your 20pounds of scrap..I am here telling you how it is. But don't get me wrong..I love buying from you...and other small scrappers as well.

I am going to end it at that...but be careful on ebay...what you get today...you wont get tomorrow...not a good way to make a living when you don't know what you will get or even if it WILL sell or not.

Easy I am glad you addressed the ebay issue. I get that from customers and non customers alike quite often. Hell there is one guy on ebay who appears every few months on there and pays 7.00+/lb for motherboard then disappears after a week.

You also bring up a good point about matching some competitors prices of 4.50/lb. They may not have the same overhead or business model as you and I have. Also when a customer brings in a large load we have the ability to give up some profit because of the volume to a point. At the end of the day we are all in business to make money and feed our families. Around here insulated wire brings around $.80/lb at the local scrap yards and some people wonder how I get more than that. Its all about this size of the load. I bring an average 4-6k pounds of wire monthly to the one local processor I deal with.