IT Asset Management
Which IT equipment is worth selling rather than scrapping?
Servers, enterprise storage, business laptops, networking equipment and components are almost always worth evaluating before scrapping. Consumer peripherals, damaged displays and destroyed storage media usually are not. The reliable test is whether the item is intact, identifiable and available in quantity.
The three-part test
Before deciding anything is scrap, apply three questions. If the answer to all three is yes, it is worth an evaluation.
- Is it intact? Physically whole, not crushed, snapped or drilled.
- Is it identifiable? A model and specification can be established, even roughly.
- Is there quantity? Enough units to justify handling and freight.
Usually worth selling
| Category | Why |
|---|---|
| Servers and enterprise hardware | High residual value; components remain saleable even when the unit is not. |
| Enterprise storage and drives | Value density is high; intact drives always have a route. |
| Business laptops and desktops | Strong international demand, especially in consistent fleets. |
| Switches, routers and firewalls | Frequently retired while fully working. |
| Memory, processors, boards and PSUs | Outlive the machines around them; reusable across generations. |
Usually not worth shipping
- Consumer peripherals in small quantities — keyboards, mice, cables sold individually.
- Displays with cracked panels. Bulky, heavy and worth close to nothing.
- Storage media that has been drilled, hammered, degaussed or broken.
- Equipment so far out of date that the freight exceeds the value. Ask if unsure — the line moves by market.
The mistakes that destroy value
These come up constantly, and all four are avoidable.
- Stripping racks before evaluation. A complete server is usually worth more than its parts.
- Separating accessories. Rails, caddies, chargers, stands and transceivers are worth more attached to their equipment than in a box of their own.
- Mixing everything together. Basic sorting costs little and changes what can be offered.
- Destroying media by default. Unless policy requires it, keeping drives intact preserves every option.
If you are not sure
Ask before scrapping. A short list sent to TAR costs nothing and takes minutes; scrapping a pallet of enterprise storage cannot be undone.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked
Is old networking equipment worth selling?
Usually yes. Network hardware is frequently retired for architectural reasons rather than failure, so much of it is fully working.
Are broken laptops worth anything?
Often, as component sources. Memory, drives, boards and screens all have separate value.
What is the minimum quantity worth shipping?
There is no fixed number. It depends on the category, the value density and the freight route. Describe what you have and TAR will tell you honestly.
Next step
Have equipment this applies to?
Send a rough list. TAR will tell you which lines are commercially interesting and which are not.
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