I usually tell them I pay 2-3 dollars per tower, and a bit more if they are really old. That way when you get there you can adjust for missing parts. I like to do the math in my head and give them a total price, as opposed to a per unit price.



One trick for a quick visual inspection (without having to open the cases) is to look for the certificate of authenticity. This tells you what operating system it was shipped with, and can be a good judge of what is inside. I start with 2 or 3 dollars per tower and go from there. If they are waffling and they are windows 98 machines, I offer 3 or 4.

Another thing I do with the repair places- Tell them to call me if they need an older or hard to find part. I am happy to part with a few ram sticks to ensure a steady supply of junk desktop towers in the future.

3.00 each is a good deal. That way, as long as it has at least a motherboard, you should still be covered.