Photo by permission. Founder Brett Mosley,taking apart broken iPods.
Emma Lazarus said in her poem which is engraved on the pedestal of the Statute of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Although not as dramatic, Brett Mosley, founder of Buymytronics.com has taken that same philosophy and pays you for your broken or just used electronics to keep them out of the e-waste stream. Instead of just recycling the electronics, the Company gives them a second life. I can’t think of a better monetary and environmental incentive to empty those drawers, or think before you pitch.
“We offer a fast, simple, and eco-friendly way for you to get money for your iPod, iPhone, Nintendo, Microsoft, Zune, Sony or PSP Game Console. We accept iPod Classic, Touch, Video, Photo, Nano, Mini, 4th to 1st Generation iPods, iPhone, Zune 2 and 1, Wii, DS Lite, Game Cube, Playstation 3, 2 and 1, X-Box, X-Box 360, PSP game consoles. We don’t care about the condition of your electronics. We will accept a Bricked iPhone, a Sad Faced Hard Drive iPod, a New PS3, an X-Box with a Disk Read Error or an old Wii. We will pay you top dollar for your unwanted electronic devices – guaranteed! Keep your eWaste out of the landfill and get some quick cash in return!”**
The Company accepts the following from anywhere in the world: iPhone 4GB, iPhone 8GB, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Video, iPod Photo, iPod NANO, iPod MINI, iPod Fourth Generation, iPod Third Generation, iPod Second Generation, iPod First Generation, Shuffle First Generation, Shuffle Second Generation, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo GameCube, Playstation 3, 2, and 1, X-Box, X-Box 360, PSP, PSP Slim DS Lite and Microsoft Zune MP3 Players.In addition, the Company will soon be accepting high-end cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices.
Here is a staggering thought. According to the EPA, in 2005, only 345,000 to 379,000 tons of electronics were recycled out of approximately 1.9 to 2.2 million tons of unwanted electronics.
“In addition to lead, electronics can contain chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc, and brominates flame retardants. When electronics are not disposed of or recycled properly, these toxic materials can present problems. Extending the life of your electronics or donating your most up-to-date and working electronics can save you money and save valuable resources.”1
The Company offers the perfect solution for recycling your old electronic equipment. From personal experience, my children have gone through a couple versions of iPods that no longer work because their blasted batteries ran out rendering the iPod useless. I still have them in a drawer. Perhaps, you have a perfectly good iPod or iPhone, but you change your electronic equipment like your underwear (you know who I am talking about), selling it on eBay is just not your thing or you do not want the hassle.
Obviously, many people are in the same situation, and Brett has received electronic equipment from such far away places as
Why does the Company accept your water damaged electronics? Brett takes them apart and uses the parts to fix others. He then recycles all unused parts and sells the refurbished and used electronics in a secondary market. When I asked him what makes him different than some of the other companies who are buying electronics, he replies that he pays within 24 to 48 hours of receipt by either issuing a check or paying through Paypal.
In addition, if there is a disagreement as to the condition of the electronic device, he personally calls you in most cases rather than sending you an email. He thinks it is important to have this personal touch when dealing with customers. Brett goes one step further to keeping waste out of landfills. He reuses the packaging that people send to him.
Brett is from the generation where electronic equipment is just second nature to them. Kind of like how your arm is to your body. He is attuned to all the electronic equipment out there that is being thrown away or left in drawers. Continue to check the website to see if the Company will be accepting any different electronics other than those listed above.
Whether money or the environment is your incentive, check out Buymytronics.com and give your electronics a second life not a prison term in a landfill.
**Update 2/11/2008: The Company is now buy used or broken cell phones in addition to all the other electronics noted above. In addition, the Company’s offices are being powered by wind.
Source:
1EPA, http://tinyurl.com/ytl7pz
Wow I didn’t know there was a company out there willing to pay for all my broken junk electronics. Thanks for the link.
This is a really innovative business model, as there will always be unwanted electronics out there. Best of luck to them!
nice business model, that could be the future way. Cool article.
I have so much old mobile phones and Mp3 players and so on which are broken…. Nice to know!
i have to agree, the whole electro-stuff in my basement is killing me.
thats a good project it needs to be supported.
I love your blog. I’m a huge nature lover and this is one of the best blogs I’ve come across. Appreciate the effort taken. Cheers
I have so much old mobile phones and Mp3 players and so on which are broken…. Nice to know!