Retrobox: Recycling Computers For Profit
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.16.05
RetroBox is a computer recycling firm, which also accepts electronic devices, dismantling them for recycling, but also reselling their components. Pictured here is the CEO of RetroBox, Stampp Corbin. He says there is money to make in recycling, and he wants to spread the word because his company has a business model that works well.
Wiping data is one part of the business model; reselling the equipment is another. "We resell, reuse as much equipment as we can, we get 50,000 hits per day on our site without advertising, and we give back 75 percent of the revenues to our clients. Often, we will hand back a check for more than it cost the company to contract our services."
Business has been good, but it could be even better if the government steps in and gives an extra incentive through an environmental tax credit.
"I used to sell IBM mainframes and if you bought a $2m mainframe, you got 10 percent back, that was $200k because of the investment tax credit available. That was a powerful boost to the the tech sector. We need something like that for companies that are responsible in disposing of their computer waste," Mr Corbin says.
:: RetroBox via Triple Pundit (see also SilconValleyWatcher)
I bought a dual processor system from retrobox way back in `99. The sytems that they have are great for installing linux and having a nice box to experiment with. I used the box as a firewall for my home network. I still have the computer and it hasn't let me down yet. Way to go Retro Box!
I bought an IBM Thinkpad laptop a few years ago from retrobox, it's been plugging along ever since. Kudos!
There are a million resell outfits. What makes Retrobox any better than any other?
I'd like to see criteria that'd provide a standard for resellers.
What criteria distinguish a green reseller?
jynam@technosquare.com
jynam@technosquare.com
Beware of placing an order with them. I ordered a computer from them that was supposed to be $22.10. They placed an initial charge on my credit-card for that amount (plus the shipping and handling.) I then checked their website for the order status and they had the price as being $40.30+s/h (almost double the price for the computer.) When I called them about it, their response was "Mistakes happen and we have a disclaimer about that on the website." (And they do have "Our goal is perfection, however occasionally mistakes do occur. Therefore, errors in configuration or pricing will not be honored. Final pricing will be at the full and total discretion of RetroBox.com." on the site but in small, faint type.) If "mistakes" happen so much that they need a disclaimer, then they have too many mistakes. Any reputable company would eat the occasional mistake in pricing.