Get Cash and Credit for Your Old Gear
According to CNN (which just published a nice roundup on what to do with your old gear), TechForward Inc. is trying to get American consumers used to the idea of temporary ownership. For a small fee -- $9 on an iPod at the time of purchase -- you'll be able to send your gear back to TechForward for cash. Granted, at $40 for a year-old iPod ($20 for 2 years, etc.), you could do better on eBay, but TechForward will provide you with packing materials and pay for shipping and handling. Plus, you don't have to worry about checking feedback or having strangers from CraigsList showing up at your place.
New Co. is also trying to get eco-friendly and breathe new life into old gear. The company runs the warranty programs for BestBuy and Wal-Mart, and will be launching ecoNew in those stores in the second quarter of this year. Unlike TechForward, New Co. charges no fee, and no shipping. Instead, you'll deliver your old equipment to a participating outlet and receive store credit for it, though estimated prices weren't available. Some of your dust-gathering gear may not be eligible for ecoNew however. Non-LCD monitors, printers, and cell phones are not eligible for either credit or New's free recycling program.
From CNN
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karen Petherbridge @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:11PM
Try Elemental Inc. Philadelphia PA. Recycling old electronics since 1996.
Karen Petherbridge @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:12PM
Elemental Inc. in Philadelphia PA has been recycling old electronics for over ten years. Fees for some, but nothing is refused and computers are free.
Tiffany @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:29PM
I don't think people are gonna see Tech Forward as a feasible option to dumping it in the trash. People just aren't buying into the 'paying to recyle' idea when things are as tough as they are. It is one thing to set a recycling bin on the curb, but quite another to pay a couple years in advance for recycling a chunk of metal. New Co giving store credit for items. Now that's an idea even if its only a couple bucks. Lets just hope we aren't giving it to someone to ship to a dump overseas in a 3rd world country!
Elaine @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:06PM
i've got so much stuff (cell phones, cameras, computer) that I'm not sure where to start. I"m desperate for some cash at the moment so if anyone knows how and where (I live in VA ) I can get rid of these things please let me know!
ray @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:23PM
i live in st peters mo. wheres the nearest store to me , i could give them some stuff for cash
Jossy @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:20PM
Elaine says:i've got so much stuff (cell phones, cameras, computer) that I'm not sure where to start. I"m desperate for some cash at the moment so if anyone knows how and where (I live in VA ) I can get rid of these things please let me know!
BEST BUYS GIVES YA A STORE CREDIT FOR YOUR OLD TV, VCR, RADIO,ETC. AND MAY DO IT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ALSO. NO CASH, JUST A STORE CREDIT TO USE FOR SOMETHING NEW THERE. A PAWN SHOP MAY GIVE A WEE BIT OF CASH IF YOUR ITEMS ARE STILL USABLE, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...A YARDSALE OR AN AD IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER MAY BE THE WAY TO GO TO GET CASH FOR YOUR ITEMS. I TOOK 3 LIKE NEW VCR'S TO BEST BUY, THEY OFFERED A TOTAL OF $45 STORE CREDIT FOR THEM. ALSO $20 FOR A LIKE NEW 13-INCH RCA COLOR TV. I SAID "POO TO THAT" AND WALKED BACK OUT TO MY SUV WITH THEM. THEY ARE ALL IN TIP TOP PLAYING CONDITION SO I'M GIVING, YES, GIVING THEM TO SALVATION ARMY OR GOODWILL. BEST BUYS SENDS THIS STUFF TO BE GUTTED AND BROKEN DOWN AND THESE ITEMS WERE STILL LIKE NEW, HAVE ALOT OF LIFE IN THEM YET, AND POOR PEOPLE CAN USE THEM IF THEY CAN BUY THEM AT THESE CHARITY STORES AT A DECENT REAL LOW PRICE. MEANWHILE, I'LL TAKE A TAX DEDUCTION ON OUR SCHEDULE A FORM WHEN THE IRS TAXES ARE DONE FOR 2008. I FIGURE THESE 4 ITEMS TO BE WORTH AT LEAST $250 TOTAL IF SOLD AT A YARDSALE. WE WENT TO DVD PLAYERS AND NOW I HAVE TWO OF THEM THAT ARE LIKE NEW AND NEED TO BE DUMPED OR SOLD. YEAH, JUST GOT THE NEWEST DVD PLAYER THAT'S ON THE MARKET, IT'S A HIGH DEF DVD PLAYER...MAKES THE OTHER TWO NEW ONES NOW APPEAR LIKE DINOSAURS. THIS IS CRAZY, ELECTRONICS KEEP CHANGING AND MAKING EVERYTHING WE BUY OUTDATED WITHIN A FEW SHORT MONTHS. OH, I GAVE A 27-INCH SONY TRINATRON COLOR TV TO CHARITY IN 2007 AND WILL GIVE A TOSHIBA 35-INCH COLOR TV TO THEM IN 2008. YEAH, NOW WE HAVE TO GET HIGH DEF TV'S. I HAVE A LIKE-NEW VIDEO CAMERA, POLOROID CAMERA, CANNON AE-1 CAMERA WITH AN EXPENSIVE LONG RANGE LENS...NEED I GO ON? THESE HAVE TO BE DUMPED TOO ALONG WITH SEVERAL CELLPHONES. THE WORLD IS MAKING WAY TOO MUCH TRASH AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE GONNA PAY FOR THIS ERROR. OH, I JUST GOT THE NEW PLAYER THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PLAY YOUR OLD VINYL ALBUMS AND TURN THEM INTO CD'S ON YOUR COMPUTER. WE STILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF VINYL ALBUMS. ONCE THIS IS DONE, I PLAN TO TOSS 'EM INTO THE BURNBARREL THAT'S HERE ON OUR FARM AND BURN 'EM INTO NOTHING BUT A WEE BIT OF SMOKE. I DONATED NEARLY 300 VHS MOVIES TO CHARITY AND TOSSED AT LEAST 100 INTO THE BURNBARREL. IT GETS TO BE A PAIN TO HAUL THIS HEAVY STUFF TO CHARITY PLACES, RECYCLING PLACES, SET UP TABLES FOR A YARDSALE. JUST REMEMBER THAT SOMEONE'S TRASH IS ANOTHER'S TREASURE SO GOOD LUCK ON DUMPING YOUR STUFF. BEFORE YOU DUMP YOUR COMPUTER, BE SURE TO RUN THE PROGRAM THAT COMPLETELY ERASES THE INFO THAT'S INSIDE OF IT, ANY PERSONAL DATA. IF STILL IN IT, YOUR IDENTITY CAN BE STOLEN ALONG WITH YOUR MONEY IN YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT, SAVAING'S ACCOUNT, ETC.
TERRY @ Jan 24th 2008 2:44PM
this looks good
Susie @ Jan 26th 2008 7:01PM
"I just started thinking about ways that you could build a company around ... encouraging people to live that lifestyle of temporary ownership," said Jade Van Doren, TechForward's chief executive.
Yes, let's live in a bigger throw-away society! Try freecycle.org to give your junk a second life.
To recycle your old cell phone try www.phones4charity.org or contact your local dog rescue.