[Tfug] Mower stuph fur sail

[Bexley Hall]

Hi, Steven,

--- Steven Bowers <steveb7 at simplybits.net> wrote:

> Bexley Hall wrote:
> > --- Steven Bowers <steveb7 at simplybits.net> wrote:
> > 
> >> .....but the really good stuff is in the back
> room
> >> ;-) (Cisco switches, routers, Wireless APs, VoIP
> >> phones, Compaq servers from 1U to 4u, etc).
> > 
> > Note that this is not "by design" but, rather, a
> > simple consequence of the fact that most of the
> > folks who drop into the store are not interested
> in
> > those types of things.
> > 
> > One aspect of my posts here re: WorldCare
> offerings
> > is to see if there *is* any demand for these sorts
> > of items -- so we don't waste time trying to clean
> > them up and repair them (if no one will want
> them!)
> 
> While it is true that the typical person who visits
> the World Care store 
> would not be interested in these types of items,
> there are others who 
> are looking for these types of items and that is why
> I mentioned it. 
> Lists such as these have people who want that quad
> core server, a piece 
> of Cisco gear or other commercial grade piece of
> hardware that somebody donated.

Sure.  But I've been posting items for quite a while
and I haven't seen many of those items "purchased"  :<
I can spend the time that it takes to write up
these items refurbishing a dozen computers for
redistribution.  What's the best use of *my* time?
(like most folks, I have to balance my $WORK with
my other activities -- including volunteer time)

> I have been in the store and have been asked by
> other people shopping 
> there if World Care had video cards, network cards,
> CD or DVD ROM 
> drives, etc. The store is not set up for that, but
> there is a market for 
> people looking to buy certain types of used computer
> hardware. These are 
> the people who do not shop SWS because they are
> building something out 
> of spare parts and do not want to spend $30 on a
> brand new nic.

Actually, all of the above are *in* the store.  :>

> Personally I would recommend either a single post
> once a week to this 
> list detailing the commercial hardware available,
> i.e. the servers, 
> rackmount switches, etc or a simple web page off of
> the worldcare.org  site that lists them.

A great idea!  WC is *always* in need of extra
volunteer help.  This is a relatively easy task
for someone to do -- drop in once a week, take
an inventory of the items that are there, write
it up (heck, include *photos*! :> ) and post it
on their web site.  (of course, you will also
have to make sure you promptly *remove* any items
that get sold so folks don't complain that they
drove all the way down there and the items was
"previously sold"  :< )

Likewise, someone could catalog the "collectible"
items that come in and peddle them on mailing
lists frequented by those folk.  There is a lot
of "stuff" that comes in and ends up being recycled
that I'm sure *someone* would cherish!

There are a *lot* of things that WC can do.  The
problem is finding the resources to do it all.
This involves people (time) as well as *space*
(to store things while a buyer is sought).  Despite
the size of WC's current facility (30K ft2), there
isn't really any room to spare.

Consider 2,000,000 pounds of goods processed in
2006; ~7,000 pounds per day.  It takes a lot of
effort to move that much material in -- and then
*out* -- to keep the storage space under control.

Currently, we don't even bother trying to refurbish
P2 machines -- we just have too many P3's and P4's
for the staff available to work on them!  As a
result, most of them find themselves recycled as
"materials" instead of as "systems".  This is
disheartening as many of these machines are quite
capable (e.g., I still run a dual P3/600) and it
suits me quite well.

WC gladly welcomes any effort folks can make to
help them achieve their goal.  Hopefully, some
folks with some time that they can devote
*regularly* will find this worthwhile...

Thanks,
--don


      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for last minute shopping deals?  
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.  http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping