Getting Value Back on Electronics in Education

When schools, colleges, universities or other educational institutions consider IT equipment refreshes for the new school year, planning efforts should always include assessing the remarketing or residual value of the current technology assets being used.  Knowing if obsolete or unwanted technology still holds value and understanding the importance of safely and securely selling, disposing or recycling electronics allows schools to determine the viability of leasing or purchasing new IT equipment.

GETTING VALUE BACK FOR USED SCHOOL IT ASSETS

Common types of IT equipment and electronics used in schools that may still hold value even at their end of use include tablets, iPads, Apple products, Chromebooks, laptops, desktop computers, networking gear, and more. A priority for many schools is to gain a return on these IT assets before they become a liability due to obsolescence, disposal, or recycling costs. Value (or lack there of) for each device is determined on the age, condition and market demand.

BEWARE OF THE BUYBACK

Many brokers or IT asset liquidators offer buyback options for outdated school equipment where money is offered upfront and equipment is hauled away for free. Schools in particular should be very weary of these offers, as often times they only want the valuable equipment and have no plans to properly dispose of the “junk”, leaving the education institution on the hook as the generator if IT assets are improperly dumped or sold through resale channels without proper data sanitization or destruction.

GETTING VALUE BACK SAFELY

When trying to get money back for used electronic equipment, schools should look for vendors with certifications like SERI R2 and e-Stewards. This ensures valuable equipment will be fully tested, wiped of data, and sold through proper resale channels as well as guaranteeing the legal and safe disposal of any equipment that does not hold value.

Certified ITAD providers can help schools assess the value of the equipment they have before being processed, then share the resale value after IT Assets have been tested and sold for the highest value possible. This mitigates data security risk from liquidating equipment and can provide a tangible impact on the bottom line of IT Departments before the value of school electronic equipment depreciates.

When working with a certified electronics reseller or recycler, make sure a certificate of data destruction is provided, backed by industry recognized certifications. The provider you choose should be able to make your IT Services Administrators job simple, with one call or email and the rest being handled. Onsite pickups, serial number tracking and hard drive shredding are just a few examples of the convenient services available for school electronics recycling. With every school being different, find a vendor that can meet the demands and by-laws of your school district or board to accommodate your specific needs.

SCHOOL ELECTRONICS LIQUIDATION AND RECYCLING OPTIONS

For schools located in South Dakota, North Dakota, SW Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska, SEAM can help. Schools and businesses can easily assess the value and best disposition option for their IT equipment with the help of SEAM, making the process safer, easier, and potentially offsetting the cost of new IT equipment purchases. SEAM provides a full-service, transparent and trackable solution for school computer liquidation, IT Asset resale, and electronics recycling. With in-depth reporting and Certificates of Destruction, SEAM’s reliable resale and recycling services help schools manage confidential student data and alleviate all risks involved. Contact SEAM today to find out why we’re a trusted partner for the education industry in South Dakota, North Dakota, and beyond for used computers, laptops and mobile devices, to servers, networking equipment, peripherals and telecom equipment. We make it seamless.