Wirehead Prime wrote:
> I'm sure other cities have groups, however, that are reputable and
> ethical so the above is not intended to cast aspersions on other groups.
> And, as I say, all I hear are rumors so I can't confirm it.
Louisville has a similar group and gets anything and everything. On occasion I
even get some of the items that they can't use and would otherwise go to the dump
(which are my usual freebies for shipping only). They have people all over 6 or 8
counties doing donated work and by the time they get to a firend of mine they're
down to machines that are total crap (for them anyway) or stuff they can't use,
such as mca PS/2's. I in turn swap them for a reasonable amount of items they can
use for the other donated machines such as SIMMs (which most donations are
stripped of), video cards, etc. So in a round about way I pay for them the same
as anyone here does when they barter or go to a thrift or conignment shop. The
real problem here is that they work with visually impaired end users that need
specific equipment and the donations are generally too limited. They do get some
really nice machines, such as 486 and Pentiums but more often than not they get
286, 386SX and DX machines. Some can be used, some can't. The do appear to have
reputable people in the Louisville building but the items they know nothing about
or need parts from are in bad shape by the time they leave, usually piled in
boxes of mixed items.
> Generally, I cannibalize them for parts to fix machines at work or to
> repair friends' computers or my own computers.
Since I pay for the parts I swap them for, I usually sell them for a few cents on
a dollar profit, or use in repairs of local household users to keep the costs
down. A 386 PS/2 is a great beginner or kids machine for a family that has a
limited budget and wants to get into the age of automation or wants a utility
machine for the kids to be able to do term papers and other school related tasks.
This keeps that main machine open for household accounting, games, extensive
educational programs, etc. My biggest use of the parts I swap for or get cheap is
a church homeschool group. They have a ton of PS/2's donated by Ford Motors in
L'ville but of course industry has no use for items such as sound cards, but they
do and I have a heck of a time locating any to get for them. Sure, they could buy
new mca sound cards for $160, if they had the bucks to do it.
The real bugger is when I have to file these even swaps (for business purposes)
with the IRS. You have to do a complete form for EVERY transaction you do like
this. I don't normally worry about my personal items, like the stuff I pick up
here and there for myself, not connected with my part time (yeah right) business.
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Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake_at_bbtel.com or rhblake_at_bigfoot.com
Website:
http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ # 1714857
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
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Received on Thu Apr 09 1998 - 23:56:30 BST