Resources for buying and selling of computers (online)

• Craigslist. Buy and sell computers and other gear locally. You typically meet the seller in a public location and pay in cash.
• Nextdoor. A private social network active in our area. It’s not hard to get an invitation to join and get connected to local people. Occasionally electronic gear shows up on the “Free” and “Classified” notices.
• eBay.  Buy and sell computers and other gear nationally. Unsurpassed for finding obscure parts.You can buy used computers in lots of 2 to 100+.
• Freecycle. Giving and getting free stuff. I haven’t seen much electronic gear on offer.

Resources for buying and selling of computers (bricks and mortar)

• Stanford Surplus, Stanford campus.  Computers, peripherals, and parts from Stanford University. Ask at the desk for hard drives. Office furniture, tools and much. miscellaneous is also for sale.  (Patch article). Open Wednesday and Thursday.
• Weird Stuff,  Sunnyvale. A warehouse full of odd and perhaps still useful electronics. See the Tour, for a taste of this iconic store.
• HSC Electronic Supply (aka Halted), Santa Clara. Recommended by Eitan and the New York Times: “one of the last of a dying breed — a rough-around-the-edges electronics wonderland.”
• Electronics Flea Market, DeAnza College. Swap meet for radio and electronics. Second Sunday of each month.
• Computers for Everyone, Menlo Park. Refurbishes computers and other gear. Accepts donated computers.
• Western Pacific Pulp and Paper, Newark. A huge recycling facility which often has laptops for sale.

Resources for recycling

• Green Citizen, Burlingame. Recycles electronics. Burlingame office may have disk drives for sale.  (SF Chronicle article).
• Recycle Works. Listing of local recyclers.
• The City of Palo Alto accepts electronics in their curbside pick-up. Put them in the blue recyclables container.
• Goodwill in San Mateo, Marin and SF Counties accepts electronics at various locations.
• Best Buy Stores accept computers and other electronics for recycling.