Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    martyweil started this thread.
    martyweil's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    75
    Thanks
    53
    Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts

    What's a Fair Trade? Working MPSUs for Non-Working MBs

    In other threads, I have read recommendations suggesting trading working computer power supplies (MPSUs) and/or CPU fans for non-working motherboards (MBs) or memory cards. In none of those posts did it say what a fair trade would be. In other words, how many working MPSUs should I offer in exchange for non-working MBs (assuming, of course, the motherboard hasn't been degraded). Or, how many working CPU fans for non-working memory cards?

    I'm not looking for an exact exchange rate--just a ballpark will suffice (e.g., five power supplies for one motherboard).

    Anyone have any horsetrading experience in this area?



  2. #2
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Just use your common sense and look at value of the items that your thinking about trading. Power supplies can go for $5.-10 ea. on C.L. for certain ones. Dead parts aren't worth a lot to someone who does not know the in's and out's of this scrapping thing. Only you know the value of dead parts.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  4. #3
    martyweil started this thread.
    martyweil's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    75
    Thanks
    53
    Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    Just use your common sense and look at value of the items that your thinking about trading. Power supplies can go for $5.-10 ea. on C.L. for certain ones. Dead parts aren't worth a lot to someone who does not know the in's and out's of this scrapping thing. Only you know the value of dead parts.
    Yes, I do know the value. Part of the reason for my question was to get a better sense of trade exchange rates--from others with experience in actually making such trades with computer technicians and repair shops in their area. Another reason for my question was to facilitate discussion about this avenue of building an escrap supply chain. So, to the second part, I'm hoping others will decide to provide a more helpful response that might move this discussion forward more profitably for everyone, especially newbies and relative newbies who might not understand the value of dead parts as well as someone with your depth of knowledge and experience. I mean no disrespect in this reply, Mechanic.

  5. #4
    Jeremiah's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    437
    Thanks
    147
    Thanked 381 Times in 138 Posts
    Were talking dollars for dollars here. If you know that you can sell a part on Ebay for $20 but don't feel like going through the hassle you could simply calculate what your time is worth and use that as your ratio

    Example. $20 part on ebay (minus listing fees) takes 30 mins to list/package/ship.

    You value your scrap time at $20 an hour, meaning you make $10.

    Thus, if someone would be willing to exchange $10 in mother board weight for your $20 part you would be happy

  6. #5
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,972
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,350 Posts
    To me this trading crap never works out.....The guys wanting to refurbish the equipment are to paticular for me......I tell them it's just all parts and weight to me and they want to monopolize my time by sifting through large amounts of parts looking for a needle in the haystack.........My time is better utilized breaking down scrap and going to get more than dealing with these "computer guys" Anyway that's my two cents for whatever it is worth

  7. #6
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    UT
    Posts
    65
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked 48 Times in 23 Posts
    Here is my 2 cents.

    First off most shops don't want to buy used goods. They take a risk on a product that could be near its end of life and has no warranty. New products at least have a warranty. Power supplies in particular are not a highly coveted item and they can ruin a perfectly fine system. From my experience the only ones that have any decent re-sale value must contain several items.
    1. Good quality name brand
    2. Sata Connectors
    3. 500+watts
    4. Provide at least 18amps on the 12v rail for the higher end video cards.
    Every shop is different but odds are you will not find many willing to take used product. The ones who might be more willing would be your basement type hobbies that build them on the side.
    I would take a different approach. Perhaps offer a price list of what you’re willing to pay for each bad item? Or offer your "removal" service for free. Every shop is different and you may have to pound the pavement a lot to get some good "cliental". At the end of the day you need to create win/win scenario for you and your future clients and what works for one client may not work for the next.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to bcoop for This Post:


  9. #7
    parrothead's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Treasure Coast, FL
    Posts
    2,416
    Thanks
    667
    Thanked 2,067 Times in 953 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mikeinreco View Post
    To me this trading crap never works out.....The guys wanting to refurbish the equipment are to paticular for me......I tell them it's just all parts and weight to me and they want to monopolize my time by sifting through large amounts of parts looking for a needle in the haystack.........My time is better utilized breaking down scrap and going to get more than dealing with these "computer guys" Anyway that's my two cents for whatever it is worth
    I agree. I have a guy that spent all kinds of time sorting through and testing. I gdid however get to trust him enough that now I can just hand him a box full of stuff that I know he is interested in, and tell him to return whatever works and we then make a deal to swap whatever he has that does not work for what did work.

    Actually I have a couple of parts suppliers that I can do this with. I also end up getting education from them as well.

    As I have stated before, I trade these guys even up stick for stick, or power supply for power supply. It builds a good working relationship to ensure they keep coming back, and 9 times out of 10 the old 128m RAM stick weighs more than the newer 256m stick. Same goes with power supplies.

    I look at it to break even on the trades based on the prices I pay. It ends up being a win/win for both parties as well as the continued relationship.
    "64K should be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates 1981
    http://www.treasurecoastelectronicrecycling.com/

  10. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by parrothead:


  11. #8
    msearl3244's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Waterloo, Iowa
    Posts
    218
    Thanks
    234
    Thanked 289 Times in 96 Posts
    I have a working knowledge of computer parts and what is current and what is not. Trading usually works out for me. We trade both ways actually since we have a shop ourselves. If we end up having a few hundred sticks of 1 gig ram because of my scrapping we trade other shops for their scrap stuff. The whole idea for me is that neither one of us has spent money that did not need to be spent. This matters for whole host of reasons, taxes especially in my case.

    Good working relationships are priceless!
    There may a million better places to live than Iowa, but none of them are home!

  12. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by msearl3244:



  13. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Anyone know of a buyer for working switches
      By BRASSCATCHER in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 21
      Last Post: 04-06-2014, 01:45 PM
    2. Where to sell working electric motors
      By asandahl in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 17
      Last Post: 11-25-2012, 08:01 AM
    3. finding scrap while working
      By huntscrap in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 04-28-2012, 08:06 PM
    4. Idaho | Buyer - Non-working hotel a/c's
      By freonjoe in forum Scrappers Classifieds
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 04-15-2012, 09:06 AM
    5. So much for not working on the weekends!
      By GeorgeB in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 10-29-2011, 04:44 PM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook