How do I get the most money for an old PC and monitor?

Question

I have a few Dell Dimension 4600's and some old 15" CRT monitors. I want to get the most money possible for them but I'm finding out most people don't want to pay much at all for used computer equipment. I tried Craigslist and advertising them in our newsletter and will probably put them on eBay, but wanted to see if anyone knows how to get the best return on our investment for this equipment. By the way, I'm not using this forum to advertise them, so please don't make offers, I'm just looking for marketing suggestions. Thanks.

BTW, the PC is 3 years old. I realize this is ancient in the world of computers, but it's a modified Dell with an upgraded video card. It can run most of the new games without a problem. They don't run with the graphics at the highest resolution, but it gets the job done.

Answer 1

Unfortunately those aren't going to get you a lot of green.

You might be better off donating these to some charitable organization and get the receipts and use them to reduce your income tax. You'd benefit some needy organization with the hardware and maybe save a few bucks that would otherwise go to taxes.

Answer 2

The market for used computers is not vast when you can buy a new lap top for under $500.00 as you can at the moment.

I don't sell my old computers, I wipe them very clean and network them together, this gives me mad more ram and capability. And although bulky having a few old CRT monitors around could well come in handy in the future.

Lots of our computer products are now being made in Third World Countries, and quality, I think is declining. I like having more than one viable system on line. (You Never Know).

Bottom line, if you need the space, reformat the computer and save the good parts, starting with Ram sticks.

Lastly, there are those with software and skills to retrieve data from even a formated computer. You really want to "own" your memory.

If you can find a buyer for your Dell (Im on a 4300 at the moment) it can be your "safe" computer. You can keep it independent by keeping or updating your monitor.

If you have no pressing need to network computers, DO NOT.

Keep your old system tuned up and ready to go should your new system fail.

Or in Geek Speak: Back Up, Back Up, Back Up!

If you are Hell bent on selling, try college bulletin boards.

Personally, I consider my 4300 to be the "tank" of my fleet, it is both the most expendable, and the seemingly most indestructable. AND I HAVE ALL THE SOFTWARE.

My newest computer came preloaded with a lot of crap I did not want, some of which I have not been able to flush, and the notable absense of a Boot Disk, or much of any other software.

I relate cars and computers easily, I have two vintage MG's and an elderly Bimmer. I have some old computers, I can fix all the old stuff on my own.

New not so much.

Answer 3

I think if you try hard enough, you can possibly get 50-100 $s for the CPU tower, and 15-20 $s for the monitor, depending on the software that will come with it. For the most i think after the first six months of owning a computer it becomes ancient, and because of how cheap new computers are today, most people want buy one unless its new or unless there getting a great deal for an old one. I think the best bet is to not sell it on eBay, because the person using eBay would know a little something about computers and thus not want to buy it, i think the best bet would be a rummage sell, being the winter and all i don't think that want be happening anytime soon. I think you should give it to charity, small businesses, and non-profit organization need computers, and as charity you can use it as a tax write, this is the best bet being the tax season and all. eBay---targeting the wrong people, these people can check out better new computers on the Internet, say at wal*mart.com, or amazon.com, rummage sales----this is a better idea, targeting older individuals who may not be technical incline, who want to get with the times, or just like having alot of computers in there home, charity----tax season, tax write off, best choice

Answer 4

Try eBay for the computers.

The monitor are about worthless as no one will buy a CRT these days - especially a 15". That combined with the weight and the shipping costs associated makes them a hard to sell item on eBay.

When last I looked, Dell would take back an old monitor and pay for the shipping. Due to the amount of lead and other items present, many places are charging a $7-$10 fee to recycle these.
(And old computers also)

I'd advertise them locally as a complete PC and monitors sepera I've picked up several 15-17" monitor for $15 - but you might be able to get a bit more.

Answer 5

Some good answers, some very stupid.

I bought 10 dell 17/19/21 monitors at a revenge-garage sale 2 years ago.. And 2 very high end 19"s that were worth a lot all by them selves...for a total of $200.

Kept the two high end for my immediate use and put the two monitors previously used into the pool of 'monitors.

Sold most in my own garage sale for anywhere from $40-90 each. All of these were in perfect condition except for the two that were mine previously .
Mine were 6+ years old and minor issues..
Sold the 6+ year old sony for $20.
Sold the other (a 10+ year old sony for $12).
Overall made approximately 3 times my purchase.

Answer 6

I suggest donating the PC but trying to sell the monitor. People can go to best buy and get a great system INCLUDING flat panel monitor for about $300-400, the 2nd hand market is dead and not profitable anymore.

If you put it on ebay, remember that you will have to pay shipping costs and it will be very heavy if you include the monitor. No one will touch it.

Craigslist may be a safer bet for you, that way you can have someone pick it up.

A word to the wise, FORMAT YOUR HARD DRIVE! You do not want your past history or credit card information to be passed onto the next user. There is a dos based disk formatter called KillDisk (go to www.download.com and search for kill disk).

Good Luck!

Answer 7

I work at a recycling plant and the only way that you will get money for your monitors is if you can find a bulk buyer, but then you will need about 300+ monitors. The best thing to do is to recycle, but if you want money out of the PC you will have to do what everyone suggest, E bay or you can just give it to a recycling plant. They will not make money off of just your PC they will most likely break it down

Answer 8

just advertise them as "ideal for the kids homework" and stick em in the local freebie. On Ebay you have to advertise for the buyer to collect and this puts most people off. Besides, now is not a good time to sell...money is short....

you could consider actually giving them away, but do it crafty. Split them into two batches. donate them to a school or drop in centre for use or for dismantling in electronic projects. Give them a card saying......kindly donated by...... then after a couple of months give them the other half .....again with a card. You never know what the outcome may be. And you would feel better about having done someone a favour.

Well lets be practical...you might not sell em, and pawn shops will steal them from you and you will feel hard done by.

Answer 9

See the problem is that the monitor is worthless. No one wants a CRT any more. The second problem is that you can buy a new computer for less than $400 that is probably twice as powerful as the one you are trying to sell. So in all honesty even if you paid over $1,000 for this machine, I would be amazed if you could get more than $200 for it these days.

I'd go with the suggestions on here, give it to charity and write it off on your taxes.

Answer 10

PC but trying to sell the monitor. People can go to best buy and get a great system INCLUDING flat panel monitor for about $300-400, the 2nd hand market is dead and not profitable anymore.

If you put it on ebay, remember that you will have to pay shipping costs and it will be very heavy if you include the monitor. No one will touch it.

Answer 11

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How do I get the most money for an old PC and monitor?
I have a few Dell Dimension 4600's and some old 15" CRT monitors. I want to get the most money possible for them but I'm finding out most people don't want to pay much at all for used computer equipment. I tried Craigslist and advertising them in our newsletter and will probably...