5 Ways to Determine the Worth of Used Computer Parts

by Travis Pizel · 8 comments

My son worked hard to save his money so he could buy his own entry-level gaming computer. Over the last year-and-a-half he’s upgraded some components, leaving him with a small stash of used computer parts.

To raise some extra cash, he’s interested in selling those extra parts, since they’re not doing him any good just collecting dust on his closet shelf. He asked me to help him put the items on Craigslist, but he’s not sure how much he should ask for his used electronic components.

We came up with a reasonable asking price for his items by following these five steps.

  1. Research other items on Craigslist: We searched Craigslist for similar items and compared them to the ones he wants to sell, and what asking price was given.
  2. Look for similar items on Amazon: Same logic as checking Craigslist, but maybe a little wider perspective given that there are companies attempting to sell the items on Amazon. It may give a more accurate read on what the items should really sell for.
  3. Use websites for comparison: There are likely countless websites that would help estimate the current value of used items. WorthMonkey.com worked well for us, providing an estimated worth of each of the items my son is trying to sell.
  4. Cut the retail price in half: If an item isn’t that old, which is the case with my son’s items, they can still be purchased new. I suggested that he take the retail price of the item, and cut it in half for a possible asking price.
  5. Check with a local reseller: Local resellers of used computer parts can be found in almost any community. If we we are unable to sell his parts on our own, we can then bring them into a nearby computer repair store that buys used parts. They will likely not give us as much for the items since they also have to make a profit. We could also take the parts in just to get a quote from them to get an idea of their worth.

By using these five steps, we were able to determine a fair asking price for my son’s used computer parts. We posted them online, and are now waiting for interested buyers. We have our fingers crossed, and hope to have some extra cash in his pocket soon!

Have you ever sold used computer equipment? Do you have any other tips to share for determining a reasonable asking price?

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{ read the comments below or add one }

  • Richard Schleh says:

    I have a 5 year old e machine. The company stop making them. Is it still worth any money or should I use it for spare parts?

  • Gary @ Super Saving Tips says:

    We probably have some spare PC parts lying around that we should be selling. We sold our old Playstation 3 last year, and it wasn’t even working, but there are people who are interested in buying to either fix it themselves and sell it or use it for spare parts. We used the technique Jon mentioned of looking at the completed Ebay listings to determine what we could reasonably sell it for.

    • Travis @enemyofdebt.com says:

      Dig ’em up and sell them, Gary! There’s no time like the present, and the older they get the harder it will be to sell them, and the less valuable they will be!

  • Jon @ Penny Thots says:

    I’ve gone onto ebay and sorted by the completed listings. Then I browse through to get an idea of what people are paying for said item. It really helps me to narrow in on a price.

    • Travis @enemyofdebt.com says:

      Great tip, Jon….sometimes the best thing to do is see what the “market” is going for. Thanks for reading!

  • David @ MoneyNing.com says:

    Have you thought about talking your son into buying a console for gaming? I used to think I constantly need computer upgrades too, but it was only because I was using the computer for gaming. Now I only use the machine for work and it’s as fast as new 5 years running.

    I know this sounds off topic but shelling out for a new console might end up being cheaper!

    • Travis @enemyofdebt.com says:

      Actually David, he bought a gaming PC on purpose, and sold his game console (he was an Xbox person previously). He felt like the game console was constantly behind in technology, and he can use his computer to do more than just play games. (ie, he can do his homework, research and all kinds of things + gaming on his PC…but if he had a game console he would still need both). Most of his gaming upgrades weren’t really necessity….it’s more of a hobby – takes after his dad a little bit. 🙂

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