So I'm a little bit angry today. I'm going to blog about it because i think other people should know.
It was a pretty good move by Green PC to discontinue their $99 PII 366Mhz system. At the place I work and volunteer, we recycle this level of computer. While this computer came with a modem, it still wasn't worth $99.
Today I discover that another group, Charity Computers, are offering a PII 266Mhz>, 4gig+ HDD, 64MB RAM, 15" monitor, CD/SND and modem for $100. We had someone call up to find out if this was a misprint. It sure was. The price was supposed to be $125. Why the high price? It came with a 12 month warranty.
The computers Computerbank give out come with a three month warranty. We charge $15!!! for a PIII 450-500Mhz, 192 RAM, 4.3G HDD, CD/SND, 15" monitor. A modem is $10-15 extra. We also have (buzzword warning) product stewardship, this means we will recycle the PC's we distribute. So, a person could buy 4 * $15 computers from where I work/volunteer, under warranty, plus an external modem for $15 and still save money.
When we look at the prices of P4's we see:
Green PC Pentium IV 1.6+ Ghz , 256 MB RAM, 20 GB HD, CD/SND, 17" CRT = $425. For this you get a modem and speakers. The system comes with a 3 month replacement warranty. Prices for higher spec PIV's go up and up. The dearest computer is $550. For that you get a PIV 1.6Ghz, 512Ram, 20G HD, DVD Burner, Sound, 15" LCD, 56K modem, speakers. Support costs are higher than Charity computers, IXA Assist once published the costs of support. I think it was around $40 an hour. Packages were also available. Green PC were running a Victorian State Government funded Community Jobs Program (CJP) which gave them funding to employ trainees. I'm not sure if they are still running CJP.
Charity Computers PIV 1.3GHz, 256 MB ram, 20 gig HD, CD burner, sound, 17” monitor and 56k internal modem = $350!! 12 month warranty. Reasonably priced inhouse after support option of $25 an hour. Has Work for the Dole (WFD) participants and volunteers. Possibly students as part of a fee paying course.
WorkVentures PIV 1.8Ghz, 256RAM, 40G HDD, 17" CRT, CD/SND. No mention of modem or speakers. = $350. 3 month warranty. Unknown after support costs. Possibly WFD and trainees.
Wesley Mission PIV 1.6GHZ, 512 RAM, 40G HDD, 17" CRT, CD Burner/SND, modem and speakers = $420. 3 month back to base warranty. Unknown after support costs A PII, 128 RAM, 3-4G HDD, CD/SND and monitor is $50. Unknown participation.
Computerbank PIV 1.4Ghz, 256 RAM, 20 GB HD, CD/SND, 17" CRT monitor, 56K modem, and speakers = $125 with 17" LCD = $185. We give a 3 month warranty and have very affordable after support costs, $22 flat fee inhouse support, doesn't matter how long it takes. We also provide free training, free internet/email support and a free user guide. Our users can attend 'Show Me How' days for free no matter how long they have had their computers.
Computerbank's dearest computers are around $300. That gets you a PIV 2.0Ghz, 512 RAM, 40G HDD and DVD Burner (new), modem, and speakers. Add a 17" LCD for $60.
Surely the costs of recycling computers can't be that high for these well established groups and charities? Why do they need the outrageous profits?
We use Open Source Software...maybe thats the reason we can keep prices so low. No paperwork. No licenses. Not having to deal with Microsoft.
We have 4 part time and casual staff, as well as a core (8) team of dedicated volunteers who manage our operations. We have another 6 or so volunteers who help out on a regular basis. We have been around for 9 years, we have been the longest running, nationally spread community computer recycler. We have had great success in Victoria, activity in other states has been varied. Computerbanks and affiliates are autonomous.
Last year we gave out 465 computers. We recycled even more. We have around 300 computers in stock and receive a regular stream of donations and e-waste. Rather than charge an arm and a leg for our computers, we are building up other fee based services (with reasonable charges).
We are mostly volunteer based, but in time, hope to employ more people (like our sister organisation, Free Geek, in the US). We get a regular turn out of volunteers each week. We train unemployed people via a WFD project we run. Lots of people have obtained jobs due to their experience at Computerbank.
Visit our website, you can access it from my blog links. :)
