Selling PC's to parents

[RTi]

Hi,

 

We have some old computers and rather than dispose of them, we would like to sell them on to staff/parents. What is the best practice regarding this. The PC's have MS Office and XP. I'm assuming we can't sell them with XP and MS Office?

 

I was planning to wipe the drives and install Ubuntu on them.

 

Thanks

[plexer]

Depends on how they are licenced tbh.

 

Probably ok with the OS if they have a sticker still attached.

 

Ben

[twin--turbo]

Is this to make money?

 

1) if it has a COA sticker then you can re-install the operating system on the sticker. Else Linux.

2) Must be datawiped.

 

Things to consider.

1) if they are paying for it and it goes wrong what are you going to do when they come to you?

2) if they get linux and can't use it and come to you what are you going to do?

3) it will need to be electricaly tested befor transfer.

4) if giving them linux how will you make it useful to them

5) what happens if they dump it in a skip in 18 months and the waste management company finds your school details on it.

 

It's a MineField.

 

we wanted shot of a batch of staff laptops. they got them for £1 and were told never to darken our door with any question at all about them what so ever. They were also told that the units could never be sold on and should end life being recyled in accordance with the WEEE directive.

 

Rob

[plexer]

You record the sale and provide a VAT invoice if there were found fly tipped in the coming months you are covered.

 

Ben

[RTi]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Yes the head would like to make some money back by selling them. £25 with Monitor, kb and mouse.

 

Most of the PC's still have the COA stickers attached, think I might still install Linux on them though..

 

1. They will be made aware that we will offer no support.. and it's pretty much "sold as seen"

2. I will have a demo unit with Linux, so they will see it's not Windows.

3. Do you mean a PAT Test? I believe they were tested earlier this year (I only started in September) so they should all have a label.

4. I was planning on downloading Open Office and some educational programs

5. Hmmm.. I might get them to sign a disclaimer..stating they must dispose accordingly.. and log serial numbers. It might not stop them, but we will have proof that we took appropriate steps and have the paperwork. The disclaimer will also state about the no comebacks and no support.

[featured_spectre]

1) if they are paying for it and it goes wrong what are you going to do when they come to you?

Sell it with no warranty or repair agreement

2) if they get linux and can't use it and come to you what are you going to do?

As above, offer a costed service to put Windows on it if they pay for windows, and again, sell the service with no warranty or repair agreement

3) it will need to be electricaly tested before transfer.

PAT testing each one, can be covered in the cost of the machine

4) if giving them linux how will you make it useful to them

Have a link on the desktop pointing to a user manual which can be written for less able users

5) what happens if they dump it in a skip in 18 months and the waste management company finds your school details on it.

Sell it with a VAT receipt and keep a copy, that way if it is dumped, you have a record of who purchased it, and the police/authorities can go after the buyers.

[twin--turbo]

How much is your time, how many can you get through checking them, wiping them, building them, doing the paper work working with finaince on the paper work, taking money, processing, dealing with the customer, finding the software.

 

£25 is only worth £25 if that's the end proffit.

 

Rob

[twin--turbo]

Also, have it should realy be re-pat-tested with the power cord set that it is going to be sold with prior to sale.

 

Rob

[RTi]

This is suddenly looking like a lot of work..for not much return..

 

As a primary school how would we supply a VAT invoice? We don't have a vat number..

[plexer]

If you don't have a vat number you wouldn't need to as you would have paid but no reclaimed the vat on the original purchase and so the tax man already has his share.

 

Ben

[RTi]

If you don't have a vat number you wouldn't need to as you would have paid but no reclaimed the vat on the original purchase and so the tax man already has his share.

 

Ben

 

Well as a school we dont pay vat on purchases.. I'll speak to the business manager about this..

[twin--turbo]

This is suddenly looking like a lot of work..for not much return..

 

That's why many many Schools don't do it.

 

And by the time you have spoken to the business manager for half an hour, got the admin staff to send out letters, totted every other intangiable up then you will loose money.

 

So if it's about making money think long and hard.

 

If it's about correct disposal then look for a computer recycler who will do all the hard work for you.

 

Rob

[speckytecky]

No question in my mind. I have been using IT Disposal | LCWS Computer Recycling for close on ten years now. Superb service, they take the lot and put it to good use. Any thought of selling on doesn't work for me, too many pitfalls and potential waste of time and effort for peanuts return.

[lionsl2005]

Ok We are on the same board. Is there any new legislation to say that old IT equipments needs to be sold in current value and the money returned to Treasury? We have been told about this new legislation by the director.

 

could anyone please kindly share any documents prepared for the PCs Eg. Term and conditions template etc..

[tj2419]

We thought about this in the past. Asked the staff to sign a document so they knew what they were getting and we wouldn't support etc and then asked for a 'donation' not payment.

[hardtailstar]

we just wipe and install orginal OS back on to laptop/computer

 

The finance department deal with all paper work, I just supply the serials and models for them to put on recipt.

 

As far as I know, Its sold as seen and no refunds unless serious problem.

 

No help in setting up/repairs unless they pay for my time. - I do offer free advice for a few questions

 

Recipts are given to buyer and a copy is kept on our system for future asset/audit checks.

[cpjitservices]

We always sold PC's in bulk rather than individually. Hard Drives were removed. If they wanted a Hard they would have to pay extra and they would be wiped according to UK CESG Standards (Which they would be anyway). All PC's were PAT tested and tested until a certain date. Invoices issued with VAT upon purchase.

 

IF a person wanted Windows then we would charge a bit extra for that, aslong as they had a legal license to use with it, if not they could purchase one through us. OR we could use the license attached to the sticker on the machine.

 

Machines would be advertised on Internal Portal, Students and Staff would see the adverts. IF we got no takers then we would send them back to were we bought them from and would usually get something back for them but again we would send them back with no hard drives.

 

The odd time we kept a few older PC's for lab / testing purposes.

Edited December 4, 2013 by cpjitservices