HP Trading Cash for Old Gadgets
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 01. 7.09
Photo via kyz
HP is offering more than just credit or a smile for returning old electronics to them. They're offering cash for tech equipment that still has some life in it.
It's their HP Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program, and basically, it's a buyback program like TechForward and others. If you want to get rid of any brand of monitor, computer, printer, digital camera or smart phone that still has some life in it, just hop on the website and input specs to get a quote. You then - at your own cost - mail in the device for a check.
Even if your item isn't worth anything, you can still send it in for recycling.
Looks like it's getting even easier to get a little pocket change from old gear, making it even more difficult for people to justify tossing devices in the trash. But, if you want to make the most money, it's probably best to still sell it yourself on eBay or Craigslist.
Via CNET
More on Buyback Programs
Turn Your Old Gadgets Into Cash
NextWorth Buy Back Program Pays iPhone Owners Enough for 3G Upgrade
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"making it even more difficult for people to justify tossing devices in the trash"
Here's a good justification:
Toss it in the trash:
Cost: $0.
Time spent: 5 minutes
Environmental cost passed on to the polluter: $0.
Sell it on Craigslist:
Cost: $-10 (money in your pocket)
Time spent: 30 minutes
Environmental cost passed on to the polluter: $0.
Send it to HP:
Cost: $10+ (even assuming some value is recovered after you mail it)
Time spent: 1 hour
Environmental cost passed on to the the polluter: $0.
It's worth noting that if the city won't take it in the trash, or otherwise charges a fee to collect it in some form, it's likely to be dumped in an alley somewhere in the middle of the night. I see this happen all the time where I live, where the city has banned E-waste at the curb. They provide no alternative to collection at the curb besides driving to their depot in person (although there's a few companies that will gladly collect it at their more conveniently located depots), which often takes even more time than mailing it back to HP. At any rate, dumping the goods (legally or not) is still the cheapest option for any non-working electronics.