Scrapping printers and computers?

I was just offered a metric crapload of desktop PCs and printers for scrap. Couple of dumpsters filled to overflowing. The printers are fairly heavy (HP Laserjet 2200 and similar) but I know there are is a lot of plastic in them, so I'm really wondering if it's worth the trouble?

Currently, they are paying some schumck to take it away, after it has been sorted. That seems like a ripoff to me, but I'm used to scrapping cars. Are the economics of scrapping this stuff really that different compared to scrapping cars? Their current scrap guy has trouble showing up on time, and they want it out of their way.

What would SMF do?

Check out the E-scrap forums here on SMF - they show you how to break everything down and get the most money for it. If you do some basic research it will be more than worth the money to pick those dumpsters of equipment up.

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Originally Posted by 4barrel

Check out the E-scrap forums here on SMF - they show you how to break everything down and get the most money for it. If you do some basic research it will be more than worth the money to pick those dumpsters of equipment up.

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Or....where are you? There may be an Escrapper on this forum near you who will buy it from you if you don't want to or have the time to process it.

You scrap cars too............can you just add a few pieces to each car and get rid of them that way..? If they're free, it would be worth it.
That's what I'm doing with monitors and printers. Load the cars to the extent that the yard will accept them.

Personally, I'd jump at the chance, if nothing for just the learning experience on scrapping PCs. From what I gather, all of those components, once sorted, can net some serious $$$

I wish I could find an e-scrap buyer. I wouldn't mind yanking the motherboards and CPUs to sell to an e-scrapper and junking the rest. It sounds like a lot of freakin labor to break them down completely (get the gold bits out of the CDROM drive and whatnot).

What really worries me is the printers...is there any money in them without spending all day tearing them apart? I know a guy who will buy them for weight if all else fails.

Anybody have any idea how much $$ there is to be made on PCs/printers without breaking them down to bits? Got atleast a dozen printers and easily double that in PCs that I could see. PCs are missing RAM and HDD.

If someone will buy the printers for weight, its better than nothing if you get them for free, and you don't have to do anything.
As for the PCs, missing ram and HDD devalues it since you really only have the motherboard, cpu, cd drives and power supplies. Since they are free, I would take them anyways, they are pretty easy to take apart, maybe 5 min apiece? Especially once you get in a routine. If you get them, separate them by brand and you will go alot faster once you start breaking them down since you will get to know where all the screws are

If you got the space grab the load. Read here and learn as you go.

I agree with everyone. If you got the space, and they are free, I would jump at the chance. There is plenty of money to be made and there are many excellent buyers right here.

You said you would like to find a buyer but you don't give anyone a location area. Just look in the buyers thread and choose one close to you. All the knowledge is right here for the taking. good luck

I say sell off the printers as a load, and keep the computers to break down. You will have more plastic than you know what to do with after tearing into that many printers.

Also on the printers, don't forget about the print cartridges. They can be sold to places online that will pay for the cartridges and shipping.

There is alot of buyers in the buyer/seller section. The pc's can be worth 6.00/7.00ea with out the ram or the hd and I get 10.00 per 100# for coppiers and printers at the scrap yard. I used to break them down, now I just snip the cord and bring them to the scrapyard. Please tell us were you live maybe some on here would buy them in bulk from you.

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Originally Posted by tski72

I agree with everyone. If you got the space, and they are free, I would jump at the chance. There is plenty of money to be made and there are many excellent buyers right here.

You said you would like to find a buyer but you don't give anyone a location area. Just look in the buyers thread and choose one close to you. All the knowledge is right here for the taking. good luck

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As soon as everything is official, I'll post info and start looking for an e-scrap person. Don't have all the i's dotted and t's crossed yet.

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Originally Posted by ryanw

I say sell off the printers as a load, and keep the computers to break down. You will have more plastic than you know what to do with after tearing into that many printers.

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I was thinking the same thing.

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Originally Posted by kevs79

Also on the printers, don't forget about the print cartridges. They can be sold to places online that will pay for the cartridges and shipping.

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Unfortunately, I've been told that the cartridges are probably gone. Otherwise, I'd be all over that.

Pull easy to get to boards and ram rspecially on business o es...cartridges have either gold foil or a gold counter on them...easy to pull. Sell rest as shred after clipping easy to clip wiring...too much time for the little extra $$$ to break down.

Also check the manu website...some have a buyback program for more than scrap value and they pay shipping. Easy chessy.