If you want to make money, there's no place like eBay to move vintage hardware. If you're more concerned about it going to a good home, show up to any sort of vintage hardware meetup (KansasFest, VCF, etc) and someone will take it off your hands. Generally speaking, most vintage hardware is something that someone else wants, with the notable exception of generic Intel/AMD clone hardware, and even that stuff is gaining traction in the community.
Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
21–30 of 48 posts
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#22I've had good luck selling small stockpiles of "vintage" laptops on eBay (recently, around ten circa 2009 models).
Prepping for sale can help. There seems to be a category of buyers who not only want something clean, but that's had the original software restored, or something like that. For "vintage" PCs, this means putting on a vintage version of Windows, maybe not the one that came with it, but XP or something that people really liked and will run old software they have. For non-PCs, like 8-bits, I'm just guessing there are also buyers who want a good out-of-box experience, to play with for nostalgia, without having it be a restoration project for them.
Also, specs do help for even "vintage" PCs, even ones that don't matter much, and aren't collectible. The larger the SSD you retrofit into it, it seems the more people are willing to pay, like someone is thinking of a Windows XP box as a daily driver for a video collection in 2024. Maybe people just like the idea of a Windows XP dream computer, and big specs help. People also seem to pay more for very minor CPU boost, even if the only difference is a 10% clock rate difference, same cache, and even if the CPU is socketed and they could upgrade it themselves. (It's easier to understand people wanting, say, the slightly faster variant of an 8-bit.)
Condition and cleanliness also helps. Keyboards tend to show wear and accumulate grime you'll never fully get clean, and a $20 replacement keyboard, combined with wiping down the chassis with isopropyl 70% prep pads, can elevate condition of a laptop from gross to great. Older desktop keyboards, you can disassemble them to clean, and this works surprisingly well for some of them, so you're pretty much only cleaning big plastic parts under the faucet.
But -- I implore you -- don't spray an eBay item with Febreeze or a scented duster. In the last couple years, most of the electronics I buy on eBay have had this done to them. Like, there must've been a TikTok, or something, that told people this was a best practice. The VOCs are nasty, and can persist on/in the item for weeks or longer.
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#23Hamfest? Computer shows with a parking lot flea market or cheap booths?
I used to go to the Dayton Hamvention years ago, in the 1990's, and vacuum up all the 8-bit machines at the flea market for pennies. Even scored a C64 that is currently still one of the very earliest serials listed on the C64 serial number registry. Last time I went though, it seemed like the well had run dry.
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#24It's too bad there's no "cover it with Cosmoline and stash in the barn" option when it comes to electronics.
Controlled atmosphere storage? Probably a bit extreme for your average ZX Spectrum though.
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#25I don't sell vintage computers but I do buy a lot and occasionally sell some very obscure bordering on vintage electronics
If it's not very obscure just sell at the prices they go for on ebay; would strongly suggest selling as "for parts" and clarify they're not fully tested because it's wild how often ebay buyers seem to encounter issues with used items and require a partial refund (they rarely want to return the item). The cut on selling price by listing for parts will not be that significant most of the time with older tech in my experience.
If it is quite obscure you'll probably have to accept that it might be a long time before you even get an offer and the price can be incredibly hard to pin down. I've bought things for close to zero that I've also seen go for hundreds just because someone wanted rid of them, I've had offers around 25% of the listed price being accepted but I suspect those same listings were skipped over by people who would've paid more. Prices can vary dramatically depending on whether the few people who might want a thing are actively looking for it.
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#26Vogons!
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#27I've been on a buying spree of vintage tech - eBay and Facebook Marketplace have been my go to places.
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#28Search for local tech-oriented flea markets. If you're in the Boston area, this is a good one: https://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit/
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#29For vintage Apple gear to buy, sell or inquire about checkout 68kmla.org.
I had success selling a maxed out Power Mac 6100 there that went nowhere on EBay.
Re: Ask HN: Where to sell vintage computers?
#30It's too bad there's no "cover it with Cosmoline and stash in the barn" option when it comes to electronics.
Place the item in an ESD bag along with a couple desiccant bags. Replace the air in the bag with dry nitrogen and then heat seal it. Place into another bag as backup and seal that too. Keep away from sunlight or place the item in a foam lined box. This is basically the method NASA uses to store things long term. The only thing you can't really control is tin whiskers growing in the solder. If you absolutely need it to last, conformal coating the boards can help prevent the tin whiskers from touching anything else.