Some Possible Stratigies For Getting More Products

With all the information i've learned here, I feel the need to pay something forward. I'm still new to e-waste but in four weeks i've filled my entire basement with computers and electronics using the following strategies. Maybe one of these stratigies will help someone here.

1) Craigslist: A professional craigslist add involves more than simply “I buy computers”. You need to have keywords so that your add comes up in more searches aside from simply clicking the wanted section. Here is my craigslist add https://post.craigslist.org/manage/2787592250

2) Don't feel restricted to one location on craigslist. You can advertise to location within a 60-100 mile radius using a similar add but make note that you only service med-large accounts within these areas. I recently traveled 60 miles for 45 computers, 12 laptops and four totes of mis cables/parts. Easily worth the expense.

3) Distribution Lists: Where do your family members and friends work? Do they have company email to which nonbusiness related adds are ok? As i've said elsewhere, I'm a math instructor at a local college with 10,000--12,000 students and 600 employees. I've sent one nonbusiness related email out and have secured over 14 leads and have picked up maybe 15 free computers so far.

4) Facebook: We all know you can post “I buy old computers” in your status on facebook but ask some local friends with various outside circles of friends to share your link.

5) Local classified adds are always a no-brainer if they are free

6) Name Recognition. With my lawn care business (yes I work three jobs :) I have various days of the year where I sit up a booth in Kmart in the lawn and garden section simply answering questions about how to maintain a healthy yard. I also raffle off a free month of mowing. I do this for free in order to shake hands and meet people. People remember you and your company this way. Why not bring in a free bucket with your companies name on it to all local stores and ask if they will place all batteries in it in order to keep them out of the landfills. Granted, you will be sitting on a huge supply of Alkaline batteries that you can't sell. But, who do you think they will call when its spring cleaning?

7) Earth Day: I've already secured a huge kiosk at my college for earth day where we will be buying computer donations and accepting any electronics donation. I hope to plaster my school with flyers and collect a massive amount of goods during that day.

8) Give away stuff. I currently have 15 printers and about 40 keyboards (not counting my clicky ones). I have no desire to part through mounds of printer-plastic for a decent board and a few electric motors nor take apart keyboards for .20 worth of silver recovery. I plan on giving them to thrift stores in order to shake hands and make connections.

9) Other scrappers. I still get lots of calls from people giving away scrap metal, microwaves, TV's, etc, refrigerators, etc. I give away all this stuff to local scrappers under the condition that they give me their computers. It may be a net loss, in terms of dollar-for-dollar. But, i'm not interested in scrapping out refrigerators anymore and thus I no longer have to worry if someone is putting a computer by their curbside because if they are, chances are, one of my scrapper friends will find it and call me.

10) Favors: Often times I get phones calls from people wanting to get rid of their one
cell phone less than a year old. I would love to have it but I instead opt to tell them they are better off selling it on ebay. If I'm near a computer I will pull up the prices for them. I know i've lost a sale but I'm really hoping they will remember me in the future and maybe tell someone about me. I never let them off the phone without thanking them for the call and wanting to participate in our recycle program and that if they know of anyone with old,broken, out-dated electronics to refer them to me. We'll see if such a strategy pays dividends over the long run.


I hope this helps someone, somewhere. Thank you guys for your wonderful support and information!

I would have to disagree with some of your strategies......But good luck anyways

Good stuff. Your CL link doesn't work.

I really would like a copy of your CL add I need a better one then I have now.

Sorry Guys, here is the link http://winchester.craigslist.org/wan/2787592250.html

Great ad for someone who is just getting started!

All I can say is that it is a good thing you have multiple jobs.

your price point on payout is pretty low in my opinion. you masy have someone that goes to their garage and weighs up the 10 pounds of motherboards and thinks "only a dollar?", and just chuck them in the garbage bin. Rather than a set price I send people a price range (1.50-1.75 green mother boards). I then usually go with the higher range as that makes them mfeel good, but the lower range is still there for small loads that are further away.

One other problem I see is that thrift stores from my experience don't want computers or anything related to them. Especially key boards. Good initial thought though.

Other than that, everything looks pretty good and you have a very nice start.

J, I like a lot about your CL ad, but I think it is WAY too long. I like the link to the weights IF the video about processing wasn't on the same page. I'd be afraid that most people with a large supply would start processing for themselves after viewing that. And some people with just one or two will think they have a gold mine in their garage. Thanks for all the tips though...and good luck.

Don't forget government surplus auctions, and other company surplus auctions. I just bid on 3 different "small" auctions that started off at $5. If you have deep pockets you can go after auctions like this: (10k bid)

You will be bidding on 1 Lot of Used Computers and Monitors plus some keyboards, mice, and power cables (over 752 items on 23 pallets). Approximately 376 CPUs and Approximately 376 Monitors (103 are flat screen monitors). Most of the computers have hard drives and most are pentium 4 (detailed info below). These computers were being used by Florence School District One when taken out of service this past school year. The computers are shrink wrapped on pallets (23 pallets total). This property is located at the Surplus Property Office in West Columbia, South Carolina. The overall condition of this property is unknown to the Surplus Property Office. Bidders are encouraged to inspect the property prior to bidding. Inspection times are Mon-Fri from 9am til 3:00pm.
Detailed Lot Info:

1. Most of these computers are by HP, Intel Pentium 4, 3.20 GHZ Processor, 10/100/100 NIC, 512MB to 1GB Megs of RAM, DVD Rom Drive, 80 Gig Hard Drive (cleaned) and 17" CRT Monitors.

2. Approximately 376 CPUs & Approximately 376 Monitors (103 are flat screen monitors) plus some keyboards, mice and power cables.

*This item is for pickup only at the Surplus Property Office in West Columbia, South Carolina. We will assist with the loading of this property by forklift only.*

I had a guy contact me about low end boards, i currently pay 8 cents a pound for them. After talking he decided to keep throwing them into his shred pile for 12 cents a pound.

Though he is now keeping motherboards and such for me :)


Just saw all your prices.. OMG. Prices that low i would rather throw them away than have some stranger in my home take my equipment then turn around and hand me 4 bucks

10 cents a pound? You really need to come up on that price.

I see my pricing like this.

1. I need a high enough price that it peaks some ones interest
2. The price needs to be low enough so that i still make a decent buck and don't tie up too much capitol doing it
3. The price needs to give the person selling you the junk that they didn't get ripped off.

This is my list, still leaves me lots of wiggle room

Computers: $1.50 - $5.00 Per
LCD Screens: $1.00 - $2.00 Per
Cell Phones: $2.16 per pound
High quality boards: $2.70 per pound
Mother boards: $2.10 per pound
Low Grade boards: 9 cents per pound
Power Supplies: 11 cents per pound
Ram: $3.40 per pound
Hard Drives (Whole): 27 cents per pound
Hard Drive Boards: $3.50 per pound
Hard Drives (Boards removed): 20 cents per pound
CPU’s: $5.00 – $25.00 per pound
CD roms – 17 Cents per pound
floppies – 11 cents per pound
Finger Cards - $1.45 per pound
Battery Backups – $1.00 – $15.00 Per
Printers / Mice / Keyboards - These items are evaluated onsite.

I sent out an email blast to the local school tech coordinators. I've made some friends and some pick ups. even got a free working lcd projector!

My website details that I'll make a donation to the charity of their choice, or if I choose it'll go to the high school band boosters. I've not tried TTTOOOOOOO hard because this is a sideline for me...but have seen quick success. Check out mailchimp.com for free email service (Like constant contact)