Untested equipment

[Willie Cade]

R,

 

I would highly recommend that people stop the practice of providing untested equipment or equipment on an as is basis.  We have a hard enough time with the perception that we provide just junk as Refurbishers.

 

Can we come up with a uniform good policy so we don’t get blindsided?

 

Willie Cade

 

CEO

PC Rebuilders & Recyclers, LLC

Home of the Computers for Schools Program

 

3053 N Knox, Chicago, IL 60641 (Warehouse)

3642 N Springfield Ave (Snail mail address)

Chicago, IL 60618-4029

 

Wil...@PCRR.com

 

773-545-7575 Voice

773-545-7502 Fax

773-562-3377 Cell

 

www.pcrr.com

www.eWasteCalendar.com

 

[Sean Dion]

AHHHH ... there lies the difference between a junk dealer and someone who actually refurbishes equipment.

 

I compete with a couple of dealers up in Canada - their quality and service is pathetic.  Warranty parts often get stuck in customs (if they actually ship the parts at all, that is).  Their prices are better than mine - no doubt.

 

If I wiped down a machine with a wet rag, it sure would be cheaper than actually refurbishing it...

 

Sean Dion
TKO Electronics, Inc.

31113 Via Colinas
Westlake Village, CA  91362
818.879.2233 Office
818.879.2299 Fax

AIM: TKOSeanD

sd...@tkoelectronics.com

 

---

From: Willie Cade [mailto:Wil...@pcsforschools.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:10 PM
To: refurb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

--

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[Thomas Webb]

During the life of the SEEDS program, we donated several thousand
computer systems to schools in Pueblo county. We rapidly learned that
quality
control was a much bigger problem than we thought it would be. We were
an all volunteer organization, and our troops were pure of heart, but we
did give out equipment that wasn't up to snuff. You can rapidly develop
the reputation for passing out junk if you aren't careful. I would not
recommend giving anything away unless you knew it worked. It's very hard
to change perceptions, and bad perceptions seem to be easier to get than
good ones :-(

Tom Webb
Pueblo, Colorado

Willie Cade wrote:
>
> R,
>
> I would highly recommend that people stop the practice of providing
> untested equipment or equipment on an as is basis. We have a hard
> enough time with the perception that we provide just junk as Refurbishers.
>

> Can we come up with a uniform good policy so we don�t get blindsided?

>
> Willie Cade
>
> CEO
>
> PC Rebuilders & Recyclers, LLC
>
> Home of the Computers for Schools Program
>
> 3053 N Knox, Chicago, IL 60641 (Warehouse)
>
> 3642 N Springfield Ave (Snail mail address)
>
> Chicago, IL 60618-4029
>
> Wil...@PCRR.com
>
> 773-545-7575 Voice
>
> 773-545-7502 Fax
>
> 773-562-3377 Cell
>
> www.pcrr.com
>
> www.eWasteCalendar.com
>

[waltfischer]

I remember working on a standard several years ago at the refurbishers conference in Chicago. The wiped HD, and the warranty were the sticking points.

 

Walt Fischer

Board Chairman

Cincinnati Computer Cooperative

www.cincinnaticomputercooperative.org

 

From: Willie Cade [mailto:Wil...@pcsforschools.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:10 PM
To: refurb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

 

R,

--

[Don Singleton]

In terms of the main thing we provide, refurbished computers, I will agree. But the question we were asked were what do we do with ink jet printers. Parts are not compatible between manufacturers, they are designed to be thrown away, because they make their money on the cartridges. It is much like giving away razors, and making the money on razor blades.

 

What are we to do? Refuse to accept cheap printers, and let them go to a landfill, or honestly telling people if they want it they can have it, but with the understanding that we have not refurbished it, and it may or may not work.

----- Original Message -----

From: Willie Cade

To: refurb...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:09 PM

Subject: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

--

[Thomas Webb]

I think it makes sense to give them to people who need them, so long as
they are clearly labeled. The cost of ink is a big problem with older
printers. You might look into partnering up with a recycler of ink
cartridges (or become one) Could be a source of revenue to help out with
other expenses in your operation. We have several cartridge recyclers
here in Pueblo and some are family owned. I'm sure they would be
interested in supporting an effort like yours, especially if it improved
their traffic.

Tom Webb
Pueblo

Don Singleton wrote:
> In terms of the main thing we provide, refurbished computers, I will
> agree. But the question we were asked were what do we do with ink jet
> printers. Parts are not compatible between manufacturers, they are
> designed to be thrown away, because they make their money on the
> cartridges. It is much like giving away razors, and making the money
> on razor blades.
>
> What are we to do? Refuse to accept cheap printers, and let them go to
> a landfill, or honestly telling people if they want it they can have
> it, but with the understanding that we have not refurbished it, and it
> may or may not work.
>
> ----- Original Message -----

> *From:* Willie Cade <mailto:Wil...@pcsforschools.org>
> *To:* refurb...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:refurb...@googlegroups.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:09 PM
> *Subject:* [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

>
> R,
>
>
>
> I would highly recommend that people stop the practice of
> providing untested equipment or equipment on an as is basis. We
> have a hard enough time with the perception that we provide just
> junk as Refurbishers.
>
>
>

> Can we come up with a uniform good policy so we don�t get blindsided?

[NextStep]

We charge $3.00 per inkjet donated. $4.00 for FAX machines and scanners. This is to ensure we can properly recycle the printer, should it fail our refurbishment process, or be a model we do not spend (waste) time refurbishing.

We refurbish ink jets, plotters, and lasers - only certain models of ink jets of course. HP, Canon, a few business class Epsons. Never any Lexmark/Kodak/Dell/Compaq/Brother ink jets. We have volunteers who pick their “favs” and we funnel them to the appropriate volunteer. We are able to fully refurbish 20 or so a week. We store donated ink for the units we cull out of the donation stream for future testing. We guarantee the units we sell or gift for 30 days. They are sold with full or nearly full cartridges.

We pay to recycle the non-refurbishable units. We use a NW processor who handles the material domestically.

Before the 2009 Oregon E-Cycles law, it was no problem to educate our community about the importance for paying for the recycling fee. Now, because the DEQ promotes free recycling, it is much more of a challenge - even though the free recycling is only for computers/monitors/TVs – nothing else.

We do not accept printers if the donor does not wish to pay the recycling fee. We can’t be responsible for the community’s waste bill. We are not supported by the government – as many in our community believe. But, we can provide a fabulous resource that ensures that our community’s waste is handled in an environmentally sound manner - and doesn’t end up on international shores.

We tried refilling cartridges, but, it was not worth the investment. We recycle our empty carts with Cartridges for Kids in Colorado. They pay well for the cartridges and do not require a whole lot of packaging extras.

lorraine
---
Lorraine Kerwood Executive Director, NextStep Recycling
http://www.nextsteprecycling.org
transforming technology for the next generation
twitter: nextsteprecycle
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LorraineKerwood
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nextstep.recycling

---

From: Don Singleton <d...@helpingtulsa.org>
Reply-To: <refurb...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:56:05 -0600
To: <refurb...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

[njcw...@aol.com]

We charge $3 for printers-we fix and reuse what we can and the rest are recycled. Most get recycled.

--

[Milton McLean]

We don’t handle printers of any kind. Too much trouble!

 

From: Don Singleton [mailto:d...@helpingtulsa.org]
Sent: November 18, 2009 10:56 PM
To: refurb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

 

In terms of the main thing we provide, refurbished computers, I will agree. But the question we were asked were what do we do with ink jet printers. Parts are not compatible between manufacturers, they are designed to be thrown away, because they make their money on the cartridges. It is much like giving away razors, and making the money on razor blades.

[Sean Dion]

too many moving parts:)

Sean Dion
TKO Electronics, Inc.
31113 Via Colinas
Westlake Village, CA 91362

PH: 818-879-2233 FX: 818-879-2299
sd...@tkoelectronics.com
AIM: TKOSeanD

-----Original Message-----
From: Milton McLean [mailto:milt....@mts.net]
Sent: Thu 11/19/2009 8:27 AM
To: refurb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment

We don't handle printers of any kind. Too much trouble!



From: Don Singleton [mailto:d...@helpingtulsa.org]
Sent: November 18, 2009 10:56 PM
To: refurb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Refurbishers List] Untested equipment



In terms of the main thing we provide, refurbished computers, I will agree. But the question we were asked were what do we do with ink jet printers. Parts are not compatible between manufacturers, they are designed to be thrown away, because they make their money on the cartridges. It is much like giving away razors, and making the money on razor blades.



What are we to do? Refuse to accept cheap printers, and let them go to a landfill, or honestly telling people if they want it they can have it, but with the understanding that we have not refurbished it, and it may or may not work.

        ----- Original Message -----