How much is a complete computer tower (motherboard, ram, processor, etc) worth?

Hello,

I was wondering how much on average a complete computer tower (motherboard, ram, processor, etc.) is worth. Im going to start advertising in my area that I buy computer towers. I wanted to know how much on average they are worth (how much I will earn for one tower by parting them out and sending them to ewasted). I also wanted to know how much I should pay to buy them off of people? I saw someone post that they are buying them off of people for $5 and then parting them out and making a profit. Is $5 the going rate or can I do less?

Your comments would be much appreciated.

thanks

It’s been my experience that price is of very little importance. The key is to get someone on the phone (you can do this buy advertising that you buy computers). Once on the phone, you should sell your services as recycling, free pickup and free information safe hard drive destruction. The price is simply a bonus and should be sold as an incentive to get people to recycle. Most donate for free. You can also have success bundling services like free hauling of old monitor/TV with computers.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/elect...-computer.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...rth-scrap.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...-computer.html

Thanks for taking the time to look these links up. From what I got from the links I can buy them for about $2-$6 and sell them after break down for $10-15

I went ahead and broke down a computer and scaled it up using the prices from Ewasted. Here is what I got:

DVD Drive........................................1.75l bs. @.22 = $.39
HD................................................ .1.25lbs. @1.10=$1.28
Ram.............................................. .05lbs. @14.30=$1.43
Processor...................................... .05lbs. @ $34 =$1.70
Mother Board................................. 1.30lbs.@3.60=$4.68
Case............................................ 8.85lbs.@ .08=$.71
Power Supply............................................ .........=$1

Total............................................. ..................$10.29

So, my numbers matched up pretty good with the numbers from the others. I always like to see the breakdown of things.

Any PCI cards in that machine? Plus, the heatsink and fan that you probably removed to get to the processor, and any wire value. That could probably boost your value a bit.

Originally Posted by mrsamsonite

Thanks for taking the time to look these links up. From what I got from the links I can buy them for about $2-$6 and sell them after break down for $10-15

I went ahead and broke down a computer and scaled it up using the prices from Ewasted. Here is what I got:

DVD Drive........................................1.75l bs. @.22 = $.39
HD................................................ .1.25lbs. @1.10=$1.28
Ram.............................................. .05lbs. @14.30=$1.43
Processor...................................... .05lbs. @ $34 =$1.70
Mother Board................................. 1.30lbs.@3.60=$4.68
Case............................................ 8.85lbs.@ .08=$.71
Power Supply............................................ .........=$1

Total............................................. ..................$10.29

So, my numbers matched up pretty good with the numbers from the others. I always like to see the breakdown of things.

That is all assuming a typical P4 computer. You start getting some 386/486 PC's where the CPU's are over $100 a pound, and the bottom line will increase.

Come on guys, cut me some stack. I took 5-10min to weigh some stuff and share some number and you guys point out all my errors.... haha. Good points. I left out a couple of components.

Things that someone should take into consideration if doing this type of business:
-Gas and shipping cost
-Time
-Prices for different types of components

Martyweil:
I do think that it could be worth it. I wouldnt make it my only stream of income but it can make for good supplemental income. Let say that we could make 10-20k instead of 50k. And factor in that a large portion of the towers will be collected for free or less than $5. I thought about giving other intensive for giving away computer tower like a free coupon for a hamburger at a local restaurant.

yea... I hope this discourages a wholeeeeeeeee lot of folks in my area.

While the numbers may =X, I find, by experience and not just the math, that once I have made a contact for computers, I often end up with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W and often times a load of Z, which in turn has added up to a total of... xx,xxx.xx, much of it costing me 0 <--dat ah zero, nada, nutin, zip jus sayin BroJer

The other thing to keep in mind is if you are doing that kind of volume, you can deal refinery direct. Ewasted and easy are great guys, but at 7000 towers annually, that's gonna be over 8,000 pounds of mobo alone. You are thrn going to get what they get paid, not what they pay you. The question is, do you have the financial ability to stockpile the goods and not sell until you hit that point?

Originally Posted by BroJer

yea... I hope this discourages a wholeeeeeeeee lot of folks in my area.

While the numbers may =X, I find, by experience and not just the math, that once I have made a contact for computers, I often end up with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W and often times a load of Z, which in turn has added up to a total of... xx,xxx.xx, much of it costing me 0 <--dat ah zero, nada, nutin, zip jus sayin BroJer

That's an excellent point... but I have no interest in dealing with A-Z scrap--just computers. So, each person has to evaluate their own situation based on unique circumstances. For me the numbers don't work, but for many, many others I'm sure they certainly do. The world wouldn't turn if it didn't.

i don't believe you can put an accurate price on a computer, there are too many variables. How much is a car?

If the computer is older than a P4, it's more efficient to scrap it - and you should be able to double your money easily.

If the computer is P4 or newer, refurbish it and sell it. There are still plenty of people who would be willing to shell out $50 for a working computer for the kids, if not for themself.

Heck, create a niche for yourself - buy them for $5, refurbish them, and sell them on credit to people who otherwise would never be able to own a computer. Start out with $10 to $15 down, with weekly payments of $10 for 6 weeks. Even if you only receive 2 or 3 payments, you should still come out ahead.

Originally Posted by Bear

i don't believe you can put an accurate price on a computer, there are too many variables. How much is a car?

Good point. I guess I was just trying to get a ballpark number on their value. Its always good to have an idea about what something is worth so that you can make good decisions.