If you’ve ever experienced having to search for spare parts or technical support for products which have been phased out or at the end of its product lifetime, you’ll know how hard it is to find what you’re looking for – especially if the product has been taken off the market for a number of years. It’s even harder when the manufacturer of the product you are searching for is no longer in business. Where do you go and look for those spare parts? This article will teach you how to find cheap end-of-life computer parts without having to pull your hair out because you’re at your wit’s end.
Step 1
Go direct to the manufacturer before anyone else
If the manufacturer of the computer part you are searching for is still in business, you are in luck. You can easily find out if they still have stocks of that part you are searching for by contacting them or going to their website. Most computer manufacturers have a link in their webpage where you can go for EOL product support.
If you are unsuccessful in finding what you are looking for, it’s time for…
Step 2
Look for 3rd party suppliers
You can find many EOL computer parts supplier on the web. Conducting a search on Google will net you a lot of these companies. Use search terms like EOL (end-of-life), procurement, sourcing specialists, old computer parts, and computer spare parts.
Even then, if the spare part you are searching for is really hard to find, you may have to go a little deeper and go to…
Step 3
Visit or contact reuse, recycle, and donation programs
UK Computer Recycling and Recycling IT are two computer recycling organizations located in the United Kingdom. Most of the sourcing specialists you will contact in Step 2 go to them most of the time. You can also make use of the Recycler’s World Directory of Computer/Telecommunications Recycling.
And when even this fails…
Step 4
Try to source the spare part in 3rd world countries
Yes, that’s right. 3rd world countries are the technological landfill of rich countries. Chances are, that spare part you are looking for is still sold in these countries; with many end-of-life products still in use and sold in the market. This is the mecca of EOL products, the gold mine of electronic obsolescence. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you probably need to consider…
Step 5
Accept the reality that your computer needs to be buried
Yep. As with all things in life, computers have an end too. No matter how much you may want to extend the lifespan of your computer, sometimes you just have to accept the fact that it has reached its limit. And no amount of searching for how to find cheap end-of-life computer parts guides will bring back what is already at death’s door. Accept this truth and you can happily move on to the next phase of your life: buying that spanking new computer!
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