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Do you have a shelf full of obsolete computer equipment or a drawer full of old, but working mobile devices that you’re thinking of hauling to the curb?
If so, I have a suggestion for you: Don’t trash them, sell them!
You might not realize it, but there’s probably someone out there in this big world of ours that would love to buy your old, unwanted gear and be willing to pay you a decent amount for it.
Why would somebody want to buy an outdated computer or mobile device? Well, there are several reasons:
1 – Nostalgia
Remember that ancient Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I, Commodore Vic 20 or Apple II computer that you absolutely loved decades ago but eventually got placed on a shelf in your basement after you bought something newer and more powerful?
Or how about that old “brick” style Motorola mobile phone that you gladly stopped using when smaller and easier-to-use models came out?
There’s a good chance that someone out there used to have one like it as well, and they’d like to have another one to keep around as a keep-sake.
Whatever your obsolete and unwanted gadget might happen to be, there’s probably a market for it out there. Advertise it on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook MarketPlace and find out. You just might be pleasantly surprised.
Bonus tip: In the very unlikely event that you have an original Apple I computer sitting somewhere in a closet you could well be in possession of a virtual gold mine. (Hey, it never hurts to check, right?)
Another option is to check to see if your unwanted gadget can be traded in at Amazon (#ad) in exchange for an Amazon gift card.
2 – Frugality
Not everyone who is looking to buy a computer, phone or tablet needs (or can afford) a new one. Many folks would be perfectly happy to buy that two-generations-old laptop, tablet or smartphone for a few bucks just to keep from having to pay a lot more for the latest model.
3 – Spare Parts
This applies more to desktop computers than laptops and mobile devices, but older gear that’s still in working order is often sought after “for parts”.
Lot’s of folks own a computer they absolutely love that has a bad motherboard, video card or other component, and they’ll pay good money for a machine just like it so they can cull a replacement part from it and repair their broken machine.
Of course you’re not going to get rich by selling off your old tech gear, but it’s a great way to “earn” a few bucks and keep stuff out of our landfills at the same time. And you just might end up helping someone keep enjoying a treasured item of theirs!
And here’s something else you should know: If your old device is broken, it still might be worth something to someone else. Lots of non-working computers and gadgets are sold on eBay every day, and some of the prices paid for them are surprising.
Why not list your broken item and see what happens? Just be sure to clearly and completely describe the condition of the item in the sales listing to avoid having disappointed (and probably angry) customers complaining to eBay and leaving negative feedback.
And now, one final recommendation…
If you’re planning to sell a computer I recommend that you either reset the machine back to it’s factory default settings or at least wipe the hard drive of any photos or info that you wouldn’t want a stranger to see.
If the computer is broken and won’t boot up you can simply remove the hard drive (be sure to mention that in the item listing on the sales page).
Mobile devices should be reset back to their factory default settings before handing them over to a new owner. If you don’t know how to reset a device you can send me an email with the brand and model of the device and I’ll send you a link to the user manual that (should) have instructions for performing the reset.