Selling old computers

tommy2k8

I have just read your brilliant article on boosting your income. However, I have been trying to sell 2 second-hand computers for a while now (they are still in great working condition). They won't sell through eBay, through Facebook, through Gumtree. What are the readers' opinions on the best way to sell old computers?

lincroft1710

My first thought is what make/model, how old and price.

tommy2k8

First one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium (licenses available if necessary - standard Windows 7 license is £55.)
2.2GB Athlon X2
160GB HDD
1GB RAM (upgradeable to 4GB)
ATI Radeon XPress 200 graphics

Second one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium
2.7GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
320GB HDD
2GB RAM (upgradeable to 8GB)
Intel G43 graphics

Oli.s

Problem as I would see it is there old, low spec and unless your practically giving them away there probably not worth it. And you can pick up new and reconditions for less very little so it's not worth upgrading yours particularly with old hardware reliability concerns and availability of compatible parts and the messing around upgrading to bring the spec up.

Also I suppose if someone was minded to buy it and upgrade then the would probably just upgrade their existing machine.

I had a motherboard fail the other week and struggled to source one new and second hands bring further reliability concerns. I only paid £50 more for a brand new machine.

motorguy

tommy2k8 wrote: »

First one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium (licenses available if necessary - standard Windows 7 license is £55.)
2.2GB Athlon X2
160GB HDD
1GB RAM (upgradeable to 4GB)
ATI Radeon XPress 200 graphics

Second one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium
2.7GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
320GB HDD
2GB RAM (upgradeable to 8GB)
Intel G43 graphics

And how much are you asking for those?

Several problems, over and above price.

* Most people, if they want a computer at all, want laptops rather than have a dedicated space / room for a computer.
* Tablets are en vogue too. A lot of people are happy with a cheap laptop for internet access and facebook.
* The most prevalent way to access the internet / social media these days is your mobile phone. People rarely have the need any more for a PC
* Windows XP is seen as ancient. That will put people off
* People arent going to pay £55 for a windows licence over and above the price of the computer.
* To sell at all, it will need a decent sized flat screen monitor and be ridiculously cheap.

I have to be honest here - you've about 15 years too late trying to make money at second hand PCs. They're practically worthless, therefore margins are too slim to be bothered with

motorguy

tommy2k8 wrote: »

Second one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium
2.7GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
320GB HDD
2GB RAM (upgradeable to 8GB)
Intel G43 graphics

Heres one sounds similar, with a 18.5 inch flat screen monitor for £60. I'm sure it could be bought for £50.

I bet his phones not ringing off the hook either

https://www.gumtree.com/p/desktop-workstation-pcs/hp-compaq-sg3-110uk-amd-athlon-ii-2.7ghz-2gb-ram-320gb-harddrive-cq1859s-18.5-monitor-windows-7/1154894328

lincroft1710

Windows XP? How old are these computers? Also as others have said, it's laptops, laptops all the way or tablets and mobiles.

Sorry tommy but I think you have virtually unsaleable items

HappyMJ

tommy2k8 wrote: »

First one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium (licenses available if necessary - standard Windows 7 license is £55.)
2.2GB Athlon X2
160GB HDD
1GB RAM (upgradeable to 4GB)
ATI Radeon XPress 200 graphics

Second one:

HP in perfect condition, comes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse. Comes installed with Windows XP SP 3, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium
2.7GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
320GB HDD
2GB RAM (upgradeable to 8GB)
Intel G43 graphics

How much?

£50 would be far too much for both of them.

I'd just keep them or bin them.

motorguy

HappyMJ wrote: »

How much?

£50 would be far too much for both of them.

I'd just keep them or bin them.

+1

I've a better machine than either of those lying in my garage. Its not even worth my while thinking of advertising it as its not worth the hassle for all the few £s i might eventually get for it, let alone trying to sell dinosaurs like those to make a profit.

tommy2k8

£10 each; I might sell them to a site that buys old technology, or put them on Freecycle (as I have sold old computers like them before (I guess for students who need to do work quickly)

qwiksand

tommy2k8 wrote: »

£10 each; I might sell them to a site that buys old technology, or put them on Freecycle (as I have sold old computers like them before (I guess for students who need to do work quickly)

Why don't you consider donating them to the third world. Seriously, I don't think any student would be in the slightest interested in your machines. But, if the student were in some third world country then I'm sure they would be put to good use. Plenty of organisations would probably accept them (though given their ultra low specs, maybe even they wouldn't). Here's a potential site:

http://www.computers4africa.org.uk/

Good luck.