Computer liquidators make equipping your office for all your technology needs a much less daunting task. New networking equipment, computers, laptops and peripherals are expensive. One of the best ways to save money and get up and running quickly is to purchase these items from a computer liquidation surplus store.

Follow these tips on finding great deals for equipping your office by making the most of computer liquidators:

1. Purchase used computers in wholesale lots from used computer liquidation stores.
2. Get the best wholesale liquidation deals on all your peripherals.
3. Buy all the networking equipment you need in bulk from computer equipment liquidation stores.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy used, refurbished or off-lease computers in wholesale lots from computer liquidation services

Equip your office with all the used desktops and used laptops you need in one fell swoop. By purchasing in lots, you drive the individual unit price down. You can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars by outfitting your office with computers in this manner.

I recommend: Bid on lots of used and refurbished computers at Liquidity Services. Often you can pick up small lots of laptops or desktops for less than $300 per unit. ComputersPayLess.com is another great site where you can snag excellent deals on used computer lots.

Order your peripherals in bulk from a computer surplus store

If you decide to outfit your office with desktops, you'll be needing peripherals as well. Wholesale lots of desktops are usually just the towers. It's a good idea to furnish these desktops with monitors, keyboards and any other peripherals at the lowest cost to your business. Computer hardware liquidators will give you the best bang for your buck.

I recommend: Usedmonitorshop.com offers great deals on large lots of LCD and CRT monitors. Buy individual keyboards and mice at liquidation prices from Consumer Depot.

Buy used and refurbished networking equipment from a computer liquidator

Depending on the size of your enterprise, you can buy used networking equipment item by item, or in massive wholesale lots from computer surplus stores. Always make sure that your refurbished equipment comes with a solid warranty.

I recommend: Get used and refurbished Cisco networking equipment at a discount from A-Z Computer Liquidation. Liquidation Station regularly receives lots of switches, hubs and other networking equipment vital for your office. Network Liquidators put all of their refurbished and used networking equipment through an extensive inspection, refurbishing and testing process. They also ship them out with a lifetime warranty.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't forget that when it's time to upgrade and replace all of your equipment, you can sell it back to the computer liquidators. This is a great way of recouping some of the money you spent, and recycling it back into the company.

Staying competitive in today’s tech-dependent business environment means upgrading your computers every few years. But what do you do with the old units? Legally, you can’t toss them in the trash. And if you want to donate them or sell them, you need to ensure that confidential customer data and company trade secrets are wiped clean before you hand them over. And if you want to be viewed as an environmentally conscious firm, you’ll need to find an eco-friendly way to dispose of them. Finding a responsible way to recycle or dispose of your old business computers, monitors and printer cartridges—often called e-waste—is not a waste of time.
Responsible e-waste disposal can:

1. Prevent data from falling into the wrong hands.
2. Free up storage space at your business location.
3. Provide tax deductions for your business (if you donate to charity).
4. Improve your image as a good corporate citizen.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

If your computer is working, pay it forward

Your working computers and monitors may still have life in them. You can give them away or sell them to someone or to an organization that can really use them. Some charities will even come and pick up your used computer equipment.

I recommend: To give away your computer, try Freecycle, a service that allows you to give items to your local community, or list it as a freebie on Craigslist. Techsoup can link donors with nonprofit recipients. Ebay also has tools for selling and trading in computers.

Find a compliant local recycler

Although federal law mandates guidelines for e-waste, your state laws may differ. For example, California's landmark Electronic Waste Recycling Act made it illegal to dump computer monitors and computer equipment containing hazardous materials in public landfills and imposed a fee at the time of sale. Always ask the recycler if they are conforming to state and federal laws. Find out where your e-waste is going and how it is going to be handled. The value of your computer is in the heavy metals; unscrupulous recyclers may sell the computers to traders who ship them to third-world countries with no environmental laws to protect workers or the environment.

I recommend: Take your e-waste to Basel Action Network’s Responsible E-Stewards and E-cyclers. If you can’t find a local responsible recycler there, click on your state at the Consumer Education Initiative (CEI) Web site. More information about your state environmental protection agency is available from the Environmental Protection Agency’s state listings.

Erase your data

U.S. corporations must comply with a variety of laws and regulations regarding the removal of data from computers they donate, recycle or dispose of. There are several software programs that will erase data from your hard drive. Note that some people believe that if hackers really want to get a hold of your data, they will be able to access it even if you use data-erasing software.

I recommend: Use a data eraser program such as Active@ Kill Disk, BCWipe, WipeDrive, Disk Wiper, Eraser Pro or Drive Scrubber.

Destroy hard drives that have top secret or sensitive data

Prevent confidential data from falling into the wrong hands by having your hard drives destroyed. Make sure you choose a data destruction service that's certified by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) so you can be confident that all the data has been destroyed.

I recommend: Use the search engine at the NAID We site to find a Data Destruction Certified Operator near you. Make sure that they provide clear data destruction policies such as E-Cycle Environmental.

Choose merchants who provide recycling programs

Facilitate removal of your old equipment by purchasing computer equipment from vendors who offer recycling services.

I recommend: When you buy a new Dell desktop or notebook and select the free recycling option at the time of purchase, Dell will recycle your old PC and monitor at no cost to you (even if it isn't a Dell-branded product.) Dell also recycles all Dell-Branded products for free. HP offers free and low-cost recycling programs. Apple offers a free recycling program of old computers and monitors with the purchase of a new Mac. Best Buy offers recycling events.

Recycle printer supplies, too

Did you know that three to four quarts of oil are used to make a toner cartridge? And half a gallon is used to make an inkjet cartridge? Environmentally conscious companies can reduce waste by recycling printer supplies. Many manufacturers and office supply retailers offer recycling programs that make it easy for small businesses to recycle.

I recommend: HP and Dell both offer recycling programs for printer supplies. Office Depot collects printer cartridges and supports PTAs with free boxes and gift cards for collecting cartridges. Toner Cartridge Depot will send you a box for cartridges and either send you a check or donate the proceeds to the March of Dimes. Sell your laser toner cartridges to Toner Buyer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Evaluate recycling programs not by price but by environmental standards.
• •  Don't ever dump monitors or computers.
• •  Don't buy computer equipment that you don't really need.
• •  Don't wait to recycle. Recycle now. About 72% of all retired electronic products are stored for an average of three years. Resale value will be lost, while needlessly occupying valuable storage space.

Computer liquidation companies computer buy, sell and trade off lease, refurbished and used computer systems. Many of them also buy and sell networking equipment and computer accessories like monitors. Used computer liquidation services are also a great way to recycle any used equipment in your office, particularly if you are planning an upgrade.

These computer liquidators basics will show you a few easy ways to capitalize on this service and stretch your business dollars further:

1. Get cash for your used network equipment and computers from a computer equipment liquidation company.
2. Save money by purchasing lots of computers at wholesale prices from a computer liquidator.
3. Browse online computer liquidation companies for great deals on individual computers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Turn your outdated laptops, desktops and networking equipment into cash through computer liquidators

As more and more companies are becoming environmentally aware, they are realizing that tossing their old equipment in the trash is simply not a viable solution. Part of green computing is the safe recycling of computer equipment. Not only is it better for the environment--it will save you money!

I recommend: A-Z Computer Liquidation offers nationwide asset recovery services. Call them at 1-866-666-0340 to schedule a pickup, or fill out the online form. They will give you a fair quote on your excess inventory, and will arrange to pick up any equipment within two business days. If you're in the market to buy, they also offer cheap wholesale liquidation pricing in lots. National Computer Liquidators also specialize in asset recovery. You can reach them by phone at 877-625-4872, or request a quote by filling out and submitting their online form.

Outfit an entire office cheaply by purchasing wholesale lots from computer hardware liquidators

One of the most cost-effective ways to quickly outfit a new office is to order wholesale computer liquidation surplus lots. In one fell swoop, you can pick up five to ten laptops or desktops for extremely low prices. Imagine buying everyone in your office a great business laptop for less than $200 a unit! It might not have all the latest bells and whistles, but for most business applications, you don't need them.

I recommend: Liquidity Services offers unbelievable deals on relatively small lots of equipment. They are auctions, so you will be bidding, but if you keep your eye on closing auctions you can snipe some excellent deals. Sign up for an email newsletter of all new lots at Liquidation Station. If you're looking for something specific, either search their online database or fill out their online form and tell them exactly what you need and how much you are looking to pay. They specialize in large lots, and are willing to work with you to help you find what you need.

Check out online computer liquidators for the best price on individual laptops and desktops

You don't have to be stocking an entire office to take advantage of great deals from computer liquidators. Used and refurbished computers can be a great buy, even singly. Make sure that you purchase from a reputable company. Also, always compare the great price you're getting with the cost of the same product on competing websites.

I recommend: TigerDirect.com has a great selection of refurbished "recertified" items. You can even find refurbished GPS units for your company vehicles! They offer extended service plans for under $30--this is always a good idea when purchasing used or off-lease equipment. Newegg sells what they call "Open Box" items, guaranteed for 15 days. Items arrive as-is, and only the barebone item is guaranteed. Any accessories or cabling are not.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When researching computer liquidators, it's important to consider the warranty and standard of service they're willing to offer with the sale of their refurbished computers and equipment. Don't get burned buying a refurbished computer on eBay from someone who doesn't offer any kind of support or return policy!

Whether you are a computer liquidator or plan to perform business transactions with one, knowing computer liquidators key terms gives you an edge in negotiations. It demonstrates to others that you know the ins and outs of the business and shows that you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn and understand the terminology.

Knowing computer liquidators key terms keeps you informed on specific products. It also helps you communicate with other experts in the industry without confusion.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Liquidate

Sometimes parts of companies or full companies such as computer companies end their business dealings. When this happens, they distribute their assets and properties to other companies. In a liquidation process, the company ending its business redistributes inventory to other companies.

I recommend: Auctionbidmart.com works with liquidated computers and explains the way its gets the equipment that it auctions.

Surplus

This term refers to having more inventory than necessary. Computer liquidators often sell surplus products at discounted prices to move inventory.

I recommend: AndoverCG.com consults with business about surplus inventory and offers solutions for unloading excess computer inventory. WiseGEEK defines surplus auction, which is a way many computer companies sell their surplus.

Inventory

Inventory is the terminology used to define what's in stock in a particular store.

I recommend: A-Z Computer Liquidation offers examples of its vast inventory offerings and explains how it comes by its inventory. National Barcode provides a definition of inventory.

Laptop

Computer liquidators frequently sell laptops. These small computers, also called notebook computers, are mobile. A laptop fits on a user's lap, yet includes nearly all the components of a standard desktop.

I recommend: Fotosearch offers a series of images showing laptops, so you can see what to expect when purchasing a laptop from a liquidator.

Pentium

This term refers to a specific type of processor found in many computers sold by liquidators. Intel Corporation makes this processor, and computer prices increase with higher speed Pentium processors.

I recommend: Condé Nast Digital offers a detailed look at the history of the Pentium processor. It includes charts explaining the design and function of the Pentium processor.

Personal computer (PC)

The term personal computer (PC) refers to a microcomputer that has its own hard drive, as well as its own processor. Technically this term refers to all computers that meet these requirements, including Mac computers; however, most people use the term PC as a synonym for IBM-compatible microcomputers.

I recommend: The Blinkenlights Archaeological Institute offers a detailed history and explanation of the personal computer, including descriptions of the personal computer's design.