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  1. #1
    eggsalad started this thread.
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    Can't see how to make circuit boards viable - show me the light or I give.

    I never bothered saving circuit boards. But then one of our forum members, JJinLV, opened a site here in town to buy boards (and other stuff). I figured I'd see if it was worth my time. I took 24 boards to his place of business today - a random mix of everything from low-grade stuff up to RAM modules.

    A very nice lady named Melissa gave me $8.50 for this collection. Actually, the value was $8.50 but she gave me $9 because she didn't have change. Over 24 boards, that's about 35 cents per. At the low end, I figure it took 5 minutes to get at each board - from microwaves, TVs, and other electronics I found in the trash.



    Thirty-five cents a board times 12 boards an hour makes me $4.25/hour. That's not taking into account the 45-minute round-trip drive and fuel. I can set that aside for a minute, because that cost would be the same for one board or a thousand.

    I realize I'm small-time, but I wouldn't take a job paying half of minimum wage, so how could I make a side business of it?


  2. #2
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    I doubt you will acquire many high grade boards "curb shopping".........This is kind of a specialized business and I have spent the last 7 years cultivating contacts for high grade ewaste..........Point being to get the better stuff you will more than likely have to purchase it and try to flip for a profit

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  4. #3
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    I agree with Mikeinreco
    If your going to do EWaste go to computer shops, and if the first one or ten says they have a pick up. Call back in a month or two. You can also blast stuff on Facebook pages (the buy and sale section for your area. If people are hesitant to give you (and yes I said give you) there old computers Reassure them you will give them a COD. I did that to my computer shop in town, and today I got a bunch of RAM and other stuff. Low Grade boards for me I put with my shred and give it to the metal recycler in town, who also takes printers off my hands for free. Anyway that's my 2 cents.

    I almost forgot, I also bought some scrap RAM off of ebay and now I pay about 80% for his scrap with him paying for his own shipping. I even mentioned to him where I send it but he sends it to me because of shipping. So don't over look any opportunities to find potential customers.
    Last edited by CapitalRecovery; 05-04-2018 at 11:00 PM.

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  6. #4
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    Yep it takes along time to get enough stuff at the curb I have gotten 422 lbs. of ewaste over 6 - 7 years including low grade stuff I sell locally, and out of all that the total was $340.
    Last edited by hobo finds; 05-06-2018 at 01:11 PM.
    Better than the dump!

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  8. #5
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    My first box was received on 5/11/2016, I have sent 8 box that I shipped to Ewasted @ 69lbs a box that's approximately 552 lbs. totaling $728.70. This isn't counting the stuff I sent to other people and from ebay. I would have to estimate its over $1000. My point is always think of ways to get material. Find the need and fill it with your service.
    BTW all this is with now shred price because I give my shred away.

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  10. #6
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    Ewaste is a specialized area of scrapping and the learning curve is pretty steep. Another thing is that you're generally running on a pretty thin margin of profitability so you need volume.

    It just isn't realistic to expect to just walk into it and start making good money.

    A lot of it is trial and error to figure out how to make it work in your own particular situation.

    If you like a tough business challenge this one is lots of fun.

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  12. #7
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    Boards and ewaste can be very profitable if you know what you are doing. As others mentioned the learning curve is long and steep.
    Low grade boards from TVs VCRs etc are worth nearly nothing. I never bother with those. You need to go for computers, servers, network and telecom equipment to make money with this. You will seldom find these on the curb side. You need to go to businesses that use a lot of this equipment. As others said computer shops are a good start. For me some of the best are IT departments in larger businesses, as a lot of the equipment they get rid of still have some better than scrap components in them. Computer shops will usually cherry pick all of this. The re-sale part is again another long learning process, but all the info you can find right here.
    As far as profits go, it all depends how much effort you put in and what kind sources you have. In many cases, you may need to pay for larger lots of the better stuff. At least that is my experience.
    I have been doing this for 7 years, as a serious part timer. My last shipment of scrap boards, RAM, CPU, cell phones, etc was about 2100 lbs net weight and paid out about $8200. Took me about 3 months to collect and disassemble. That is pretty good money in my book. The stuff I sold to the local scrap yard and any re-sellable items are in addition to this.


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  14. #8
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    I've been averaging around 2.00$/lb after deducting operating expenses & shipping.

    It's a fairly good cross section of higher value consumer boards with a smattering of telecom, 386 era processors, and memory. Focusing on the higher value stuff helps to pull the average up against the lower value items where the margin is thin.

    If you can break through to doing volume it really pulls the shipping costs down. The only downside is that you're apt to incur more time and travel expense to get the bigger loads.I think the IRS figures that the real cost to run a pickup truck these days is somewhere around .40 - .50 cents a mile so it's all a numbers game. Sometimes you lose a little on one end and gain on the other. You just have to figure out what works best in your own particular situation.

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  16. #9
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    Another way to think about it, don't concentrate on ewaste but when you get good material save it. If you have the space save until you can ship a pallet.

    I suspect you will find much more ewaste as you go along and read the old threads and the advise you've been given in this thread. 73, Mike
    "Profit begins when you buy NOT when you sell." {quote passed down to me from a wise man}

    Now go beat the copper out of something, Miked

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  18. #10
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    Your theoretical $4.25/hour wage seems like it could apply to more than just computer boards. I could probably say that isn't far off for copper, aluminum, brass and steel that I take to the scrap yard. Another way to look at it- often times I pick up something from nearby businesses and load up my car before bringing the load home to put in my backyard. Then, when it is time to go to the scrap yard I load the car again only to unload it at the scrap yard. That is four separate times that I handle the same stuff. And in case someone asks the logical question "Why don't you go directly to the scrap yard?" Well, I like to have certain minimum amounts of items before going to the scrap yard. Also, I often pick things up late at night when the scrap yard is closed and don't want to leave everything just sitting in my vehicle as I don't have a garage to park in.

  19. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by recyclersteve View Post
    Your theoretical $4.25/hour wage seems like it could apply to more than just computer boards. I could probably say that isn't far off for copper, aluminum, brass and steel that I take to the scrap yard. Another way to look at it- often times I pick up something from nearby businesses and load up my car before bringing the load home to put in my backyard. Then, when it is time to go to the scrap yard I load the car again only to unload it at the scrap yard. That is four separate times that I handle the same stuff. And in case someone asks the logical question "Why don't you go directly to the scrap yard?" Well, I like to have certain minimum amounts of items before going to the scrap yard. Also, I often pick things up late at night when the scrap yard is closed and don't want to leave everything just sitting in my vehicle as I don't have a garage to park in.
    Yep moving stuff 4 times sucks especially steel as you said, get item load it up. Bring it home unload it. Then break it down and reload it and then unload it again for the last time at the scrap yard!

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  21. #12
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    There's not a lot I can add except to thank everyone for taking the time to post all of the good info above.

    I sell my boards once a year and usually have between 1800 to 2200 pounds.

    I'm not sure what the OP was expecting to get from just 24 boards.

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    No goats yet?... Well how about a song!

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  26. #15
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    Also my Ewaste prices have ranged from $135.00 a pound to $.15 a pound for low grade stuff. So separate and stack when you have enough of a item then sell that item... Do I wish that I had more than .4 ounces of the item that paid $135 a pound sure! But even $.15 a pound for low grade is better than shred price.

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  28. #16
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    I just wish I could figure out where the hell to find more 386/486 chips! Ive gotten 1 since I started a year ago. 10 pallets to mario and gorven and boxes of ram to PTS later, its very profitable.

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  30. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by eggsalad View Post
    I never bothered saving circuit boards. But then one of our forum members, JJinLV, opened a site here in town to buy boards (and other stuff). I figured I'd see if it was worth my time. I took 24 boards to his place of business today - a random mix of everything from low-grade stuff up to RAM modules.

    A very nice lady named Melissa gave me $8.50 for this collection. Actually, the value was $8.50 but she gave me $9 because she didn't have change. Over 24 boards, that's about 35 cents per. At the low end, I figure it took 5 minutes to get at each board - from microwaves, TVs, and other electronics I found in the trash.

    Thirty-five cents a board times 12 boards an hour makes me $4.25/hour. That's not taking into account the 45-minute round-trip drive and fuel. I can set that aside for a minute, because that cost would be the same for one board or a thousand.

    I realize I'm small-time, but I wouldn't take a job paying half of minimum wage, so how could I make a side business of it?
    Another view of this situation is that someone is paying you $ 4.25 an hour to get an education and be more productive in the future. This seems to be a bargain considering the U.S. student loan debt just hit a new record.
    Give back more to this world than we take.

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  32. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Patriot76 View Post
    Another view of this situation is that someone is paying you $ 4.25 an hour to get an education and be more productive in the future. This seems to be a bargain considering the U.S. student loan debt just hit a new record.
    Of course you have been an educator other wise you would sound like me. Just saying "Very well stated" 73, Mike

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  34. #19
    eggsalad started this thread.
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    Quote Originally Posted by jimicrk View Post

    I'm not sure what the OP was expecting to get from just 24 boards.
    I didn't know, either! But I'd rather go in with 24 boards and find out it's not worth my time than put in the time and effort it takes to accumulate a (literal) ton of boards to find out it's not worth my time.

    And I did. I don't begrudge anyone who scraps as a primary source of income or a side business, but that's not for me. I was just trying it on a small scale for beer money and (maybe) to do something nice for the planet.

    So circuit boards are not for me. I'll just stick to cutting cords off stuff. That's faster and easier, and more worth my time and effort.

    Thank you all for your thoughts and best of luck to you all!

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  36. #20
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    This all has great value in it. But, you have to look at what circuit boards you are looking at collecting and where they are coming from. I run my business as a B2B only, I collect from only businesses, I did away with any residential customers because the quality and quantity was not there. I'm also picking the stuff for free where as many of the "big" business that do the same service charge an arm and a leg for so when I get into a business that was shopping around for an e-waste disposer, they know the value of my service to them. They are more than willing to clean up their space and continue to keep it clean and free of piles. I have heard quotes of upwards of 700 bucks to pickup from companies.

    With that said, you tend to get a sizeable loads when you go for a pickup. If you start to learn what and which boards are what and separate them somewhat accordingly, you will see a higher return per load. Residential e-waste will never get you any where, unless you have a drop-off location where they can bring it to you. I run out to one of the buyers here that is just north of me and usually walk out with at least 300 monthly, sometimes more. Just bringing in 24 boards is by far not the best gage, but I would start with collecting a garbage can full of low grade boards first and you will see a difference.

    Just doing business only has it draw-backs though, you need to find the right person to pull triggers and not dilly around with you.

    Hopes this helps you a little better and doesn't push you away from the e-waste, it is a big learning experience that is always evolving. I have probably said to much.

    Good luck
    Last edited by tski72; 05-12-2018 at 02:36 PM.
    Cleaning up the e-waste one company at a time

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