In the British Isles, a stranded boat made an emergency may day call as Gale force winds and 30 foot waves left passengers and crew fought for their lives.

Under mounting seas, the RNLI Coast Guard Crew battled to get to the position where the distress call had been made, but to no avail. It was feared that all souls had been lost.

It was the quick thinking of a so far un-named young RNLI crew member that saved the day. Being a gadget enthusiast he realized that if any member of passenger or crew has a cell hone device such as an iPhone, the Belfast Coast Guard could track down any GPS signals being given off in the immediate vicinity of the high Seas.

Sure enough they downloaded an iPhone locator app available at the Apple App Store and were able to find readings of several GPS signals, providing rescuers with the essential co-ordinates needed to mount a successful rescue.

Such was the force of the perfect storm they found themselves the helpless Cruiser was eventually located some 30 miles from its reported position, perilously drifting towards the infamous rocky shoreline of Eagle Point.

Coastguard Watch Manager Steven Carson said it was a “combination of luck and technology” that saved those onboard.

“They had charts on board but obviously no real idea of how to get to their destination or how to report their position in an emergency,” he continued.

“Vital hours would have been wasted eliminating one possible location after another, time that we wouldn’t have had if the vessel had struck the rocks and sunk.”

“In such situations the Apple iPhone app has shown that it is a great weapon in saving lives. If it wasn’t for the quick thinking of the RNLI crew, this situation could well have been a recovery mission.”

The first time I was clearly drawn to the e-waste crisis (as it was first called back then) was in January 2005, when UNEP (the United Nations Environmental Programme) published an Environmental Alert entitled “E-waste, the hidden side of IT equipment’s manufacturing and use.”

As someone working in an electronics trade-in business at the time, I was immediately drawn to their recommendations that the active re-use of old electronics would be a key weapon to tackle e-waste. This was in light of the current rudimentary recycling methods generally used at the time.

Since then the business CEX I worked for has grown to over 100 stores and has been a pioneer in the growing market of pre-owned electronics.

More recently, online companies like Gazelle and Nextworth have expanded this market onto the internet, where customers now have an even more convenient way to trade-in their unwanted gadgets and get a cash value for them too.

Soon to join will be trade2save.com, our own answer to the e-waste crisis.

Things just haven’t changed…

E-waste has taken a back seat in the media recently, but is more of a crisis than every before… a skim through the Alert Bulletin published in 2005 reveals that little has changed in terms of recycling. In 2005 modern recycling plants claimed an 80% recovery rate for recycled computers, with only 5% finishing up as waste.

The EPA (The US Environmental Protection Agency) later published a report that 10% 10 18% of electronics e-waste was being recycled 2 years later.

Here is a copy of the EPA’s report summary.

The main issue with responsible recycling on a large scale is cost. Even the most modern recycling plants still have to struggle to make the more toxic e-waste inert while still trying to run a profitable enterprise. With so much e-waste material on hand, there still remains the economic temptation for local recycling plants to profitably divert much of their e-waste material to Chine and the third world, while still maintaining a green frontage.

The only apparent change to the problem is scale.

Since the UNEP report in 2005 the business of exporting e-waste has scaled up significantly, while little or no investment has been made to police the laws which specifically prohibiting the practice.

Thankfully the rise in the trading-in and re-use of electronics has risen steadily too, and is starting to fill the hole in the nation’s current e-waste recycling strategy.

We estimate that if everyone in the USA traded in their used electronics as soon as they stopped using them regularly or upgraded, it could reduce the amount of e-waste being created by more than 50%.

The people are speaking, and Americans are starting to take matters into their own hands to make a real difference.

Following our own nation’s (The USA, for our international readers) first signs of progress in implementing a national policy towards e waste (see previous article),  Australia has decided to up the ante and fully pass e waste legislation to be implemented! Way to go Australia!Just announced today by gmagazine.com.au, the Australian environmental ministers have proposed a new recycling program focusing on old computers and televisions. Much like the US and other developed nations, Australia shared an abysmal track record of e waste production with little to no recycling facilities or policies, leaving much to be tossed or exported. In 2007-2008 alone only 1 out of 10 tossed computers/televisions was recycled in Australia, a country that produced almost 44 million tonnes the year before.However with this new policy, planned for 2011, Australia’s goal is to have up to 80% of all scrapped televisions/computers by 2021.While this may seem a long way off, just the fact that such progress is being made to slow the e-waste tide is already a fantastic start.  We here at trade2save applaud the Australian government to take responsibility and step in to face a problem before it get’s completely out of control. Consumers can rejoice as e waste drop offs are planned to be free of charge, with government and manufacturers taking the costs. In the mean time manufacturers plan to implement higher costs in better quality, longer lived electronics, emphasizing refurbishing and reselling. Hopefully we too in the states will see our current e-waste bill be passed, leading to such ambitious e waste policies. Until then, keep buying/selling/trading nt!

Happy Friday from trade2save!For all our Gamers our there, the success of GameStop, Game Crazy, EB Games, etc. is nothing new and the impact of buying/selling/trading used video games on the new market is common discussion. For those non gamers out there, in quick summary the used game market has not only led companies such as the infamous GameStop (which buys used games for very little and resells at almost full price) to gain tremendous profits, but also has become and interest/concern for video game manufacturers because of the decrease in demand for “new” products. Recently  electronictheater.co.uk released an interesting look at video game companies attempt to deter used game sales by including special bonuses/privaleges for only those who purchase new copies of said game. While we here at trade2save frown upon the horribly unfair, used prices of game stores such as GameStop, we still love the pre-owned game market, as every new game produced still costs valuable resources and creates e waste! While we understand the gaming industries frusteration with lost sales, these new attempts to penalize those who choose to buy used ($60 per game IS quite pricey) is hurting both the environment and the consumer! Trade2save is interested to hear your take on this debate, so let us know your thoughts. One way or another, if you have a game that you no longer play, make sure to give it a good home, be it to a friend or through a fair priced dealer *cough* trade2save *cough* 

World renowned “Stanford Graduate School of Business” recently published the results of a study on the effects of upfront recycling fees for old electronics, and frankly trade2save couldn’t be more excited. In a nut shell, the research strongly suggests that not only will upfront recycling fees encourage the life span of electronics and reduce waste, but actually benefit manufacturers as well, giving them more time to develop new, innovative products.

The study chose to cite California as it’s example of a flat, enforced fee charged to consumers when recycle electronics. Not only does this fee ensure the proper and safe disposal of the e waste by avoiding shady middle man companies (who often export e waste to developing nations) but the enforced charge makes consumers less eager to toss electronics at a whim. In the current economic situation, consumers are getting more spend conscious and this extra recycling fee is just the nudge consumers need to realize that tossing their last generation ipod for a slightly newer model may actually not be worth it.

The study also cited staggering statistics on the wastefulness of global consumers, noting that Americans buy a new cell phone every 18 months and businesses replace entire fleets of PCs every 4 years. By creating such an immediate demand for new products, consumers effectively instigate the “Osborne Effect,” in which the anticipation for new products actually hurts current product and manufacturer sales. Stanford’s Erica Plambeck argues that by extending lifespan and reducing the demand for arbitrary new products (Woo! 3 megapixel phone instead of 2!), electronics “manufacturers are in less of a rush to introduce new products. Consumers anticipate using a product for longer, and so are willing to pay more for it. Because manufacturers have additional development time, they can make larger leaps in both product capabilities and quality, so the new products coming out are substantially better than the previous generation.”

This truly is a win win scenario for all parties involved, so as usual we here at trade2save hope this research gets the recognition it deserves from both consumers and manufacturers! By extending lifespans of electronics and buying/selling/trading pre-owned we can all do our part to reduce e waste and save ourselves some hard earned cash during this economic situation, which hopefully will permanently change our wasteful habits.

Check out a good summary article by greenbang.com !

            The American economy is in the slumps and our culture of mass consumerism is being called into question both fiscally and morally. Originally posted in 2007, an extremely interesting and provocative lecture was held by McAlvany International Collectors Associates (ICA) economists, predicting the very economic declines and issues our nation is currently facing. Many of these very predictions seem to point to the growth of the pre owned sector in lieu of the current American economic situation. While it is always easy in hindsight to say these current recession trends were to be expected, more attention is now rightfully being given to the dramatic increase of gray market exchanges of used goods.

Perhaps the most relevant section of the lecture to trade2save.com concerns the issues of mass overproduction by China and other Asian exporters and the overconsumption by the US, specifically in the sector of consumer electronics. Fueled by economic bubbles created with the intent to encourage unsustainable amounts of production and purchases, a culture of spending and waste became the norm within the United States. Now, following the “.com” and housing market busts, millions of jobs have been outsourced, our purchasing power/currency is diminished, and our amount of “stuff” (including waste) and debt is overflowing.

Ironically it has been America’s spending power and over consumption that has kept its economy afloat over the past few years. With inflation and our weakening currency, saving money is far less profitable due to the dollar’s steady decline in value.  However, now with debt finally catching up to consumers and the ability to purchase jeopardized, Americans are now becoming more frugal and conscientious in their spending and demand for new products. While most would be right to see these economic changes as negative, this could also be the transformation in buying discourse and priority that the U.S needs to reduce personal and national debt. 

Just as trade2save.com encourages the buying, selling, and trading market for electronics, multiple indicators point to growth of buy/sell/trade markets and classifieds. Many business journals are reporting bulk consumer good superstores like “Sam’s Club” and “Costco” partnering with used electronics companies such as EcoNew.com and gazelle.com, partnerships that were unthinkable until recent events. As the spending power of the average American continues to fall, trends such as extended product use/life and buy/sell/trade expansion mark a major shift from the traditional market approaches by electronics companies.

As revenues from all consumer goods have fallen, the electronics industry took an especially hard hit, dropping as much as 50% in certain sectors. In a recent article, Electronics website and specialist “Electronics Design, Strategy, News,” or EDN, cited the major decrease in demand for new electronics is due to the lack of disposable income by consumers, a relatively new issue for the electronics market. EDN notes that “This downturn has a very different dynamic than anything that the electronics industry has seen before… Previous downturns were caused by too much capacity. This one…is caused by a steep and sudden drop in demand.” (Hamburt, 2009) With the entire population being affected by the recession, electronics companies are now forced to create new strategies to cope with “entire markets undergoing fundamental changes” (Hamburt, 2009). As electronics producers face lower demand for new products the pre owned market is flourishing, marking a major opportunity to focus on used electronics.

This growth of the buy/sell/trade gray market, specifically in the domain of used electronics, isn’t going unnoticed by consumers, many of whom are now purchasing from liquidated tech companies. With journals such as “U.S. News and World Report” publishing advice recommending the purchase of used electronics, its little surprise that electronics producers are witnessing buy/sell/trade exchanges taking a chunk of the electronics market. With many corporations going under, many of their electronic gadgets are being sold to liaison companies which refurbish and resell to businesses and individuals.

Liquid Technology Inc. is just one of many companies which, similar to trade2save, focuses on used electronics. According to economic journal “www.bloomberg.com,” the number of businesses filing for bankruptcy increased 42% in 2008, making failed companies’ electronics a major source for inexpensive technology. New businesses and individuals alike are all taking advantage of the situation, as “the fire sales have drawn customers that don’t normally buy used equipment…They’re finding they can still get brand-name equipment, such as computers from Round Rock, Texas- based Dell and Hewlett-Packard Co. or networking products from Cisco, at much lower prices.” (Hoffmann, 2008)

Buy/sell/trade gray market expansion is not just limited to electronic gadgets, as many forms of pre-owned home entertainment are gaining momentum and following the trend. With consumers opting to stay in and save money from costly outings, home entertainment such as movies (DVD, blu-ray) and video games are in high demand on the buy/sell/trade market. With companies such as GameStop making $2 billion on selling pre-owned games, nearly a third of GameStop’s revenue, it is clear that buying, selling, and trading xbox 360, playstation 3, Nintendo DS, and Wii titles is major market. Video game news site www.gamasutra.com reports that “numbers on resales are bound to head upward… as gamers — like everyone else — look to save a few bucks during the deepening recession” (Hyman, 2008).  According to a recent survey of gamers, 1 in 4 gamers who had previously never purchased pre owned video games or game consoles planned to start in the next year.  Furthermore, around 49 million gamers had purchased and 26 million gamers had sold a pre owned video game within the last year.

Perhaps even more telling is the rapid expansion of internet classifieds sites like “Craigslist,” which serve as popular channels for buy/sell/trade exchanges. According to Small Business Labs, in just the past year Craigslist.org showed a 105% year-over-year percent change in search prevalence, overcoming both “myspace.com” and “facebook.com.” This is attributed as a direct reflection of consumers’ increased interest in buying and selling used goods in order to save/make money during these harder financial times. Ranging from anything from laptops to last year’s iphone 3G, craigslist and classified represent a local effort to profit from what previously may have been stored in the garage or tossed.

 Along with the success of craigslist and buy/sell/trade markets, multiple other classified sites have been launched and are already expanding quickly such as ebay’s “kajiji” and oodle. As new, must have electronics continue to be released, these exchanges of used smart phones, PS3 slims, etc. still allow a cash strapped consumer to get the hottest tech gear, albeit at a lower price. Time magazine noted the fierce competition for online classified supremacy, as the once considered “stagnant sector” of online classifieds has grown 35% in the past year alone, totaling to a $15 billion market.

            With such buy/sell/trade  practices on a dramatic rise, it is a strong implication that companies such as trade2save, which specialize in the used/refurbished market, will play a major role in the future of American consumption habits. Trade2save loves our gadgets as much as the rest of the world, and while there will always be a demand for new, innovative products, hopefully we all as consumers can still manage to purchase the products we want (even if used) while selling our unwanted products for others to enjoy as well (and make some pocket cash!) While trade2save strives to encourage the moral fiber of such buy/sell/trade exchanges because of their huge environmental and humanitarian implications, the average consumer will profit regardless of their intent and can rest assured that they are both saving some green while going green.

References:

Hamilton, Anita. “Taking Aim at Craigslist - TIME.” Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 18 June 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1814457,00.html>.

Harbert, Tam. “Electronics companies brace for a long, hard recession.” Electronics Design, Strategy, News. 10 Mar. 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://www.edn.com/article/CA6643065.html>.

Hoffmann, Katie. “Cisco, Dell Sales at Risk as Slump Fuels Gray Market.” Bloomberg.com. 5 Dec. 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=ag5pxFL3YpFY>.

Hyman, Paul. “As Recession Deepens, Used Games Get More Painful.” Gamasutra. Think Services, 8 Dec. 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3872/as_recession_deepens_used_games_.php>.

King, Steve. “Craigslist Continues Strong Growth.” Small Business Labs. 23 Mar. 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://genylabs.typepad.com/small_biz_labs/2009/03/craigslist-continues-strong-growth.html>.

Lagesse, David. “Used Electronics Can Make Good Buys.” U.S News & World Report. 19 Feb. 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://images.usnews.com/money/business-economy/technology/articles/2008/02/19/used-electronics-can-make-good-buys.html>.

Today, www.theinquirer.net released a very interesting article interviewing the chief executive of  “1E,” a software company which specializes in extending the life of computers. The chief executive, Sumir Karayi, noted 1E’s current development of an updated, health monitoring program for PC computers.

This program is intended to optimize the usage, servicing, and life span of personal computers. The implications of this software could be huge for small start-ups and giant corporations alike. Not only will money be saved by lengthening the usage of company computers, but the potential e-waste created by replacing a entire company’s fleet of personal computers every 3 years could be easily be reduced.

This is the exact mentality that trade2save loves to see taken up by companies. By upgrading only when necessary, customers and companies alike will avoid falling into the expensive and wasteful cycle of needless tech purchases AND reduce ewaste, a true win-win scenario. The article also continues to mention several other programs being developed to help servers and energy efficiency, which overall bodes very well if 1E truly takes off.

 Check out the whole story here!

As pricing and repricing our inventory continues throughout this week, it has come to our attention that trade2save could use more video games! Believe it or not, there is a good market in used games, and trade2save is much more than willing to prove that by giving you a fair price unlike some retailers…*cough* *gamestop* *cough*

I know all you gamers out there have tons of titles gathering dust in your closets or game binders, so come take a look at what we’re offering for them and feel good that your games will be getting a first class spa treatment and then finding a new home. Take a look at our prices and if your game isn’t listed shoot us an email and we’ll get straight back to you.

Happy gaming!

I was shocked to discover that each year millions of tons of used gadgets wind up in a bottom draw after only a relatively short time of use.

There’s no escaping that we live in a vibrant consumer economy, and this is no bad thing - those of us who desire today’s most popular gadgets help drive the economy forward.

The problem is that electronics products which still have significant value and usability are finding their way into the bottom draw instead of being returned to the marketplace for resale to someone who is perfectly happy with last years model. After all, it works perfectly well and does the same job.

Instead, a mountain of unused electronics lay idle, eventually becoming too old to be of any use to a potential buyer.

        Imagine you bought a new car and left the old one sitting in your garage until it’s value diminished to nothing.

In reality you’d sell it - because the sooner you do the more value you’ll get - this is just as true for gadgets like iPods, cell phones, digital cameras, console games and computers - more and more of these products end up in the bottom draw when they could be sold and re-used before their time is up.

eBay has gone a long way in expanding the second hand market and makes it easier for consumers to sell on their used electronics. But its impact has been relatively small compared to the rising tide of productivity within the electronics industry.

Consumers should be able to sell on their used electronics as readily as they can buy the upgrade - like a car dealership who’ll readily accept your old car in the same transaction. It spares you the hassle of selling it yourself.

So shouldn’t the electronics industry work in the same way?

Well, to some extent it does -  GameStop for example, will accept your old gaming console and games as trade ins. However, they give you a faction of the amount you could have gotten on eBay or Craigslist. But not everyone enjoys trawling through the buyers and sellers trying to get a deal - some of us are just too busy - or lazy.

If trading in was made easier, and fairer in terms of the value you received, fewer electronics would end up in a bottom draw. The sad truth is that if you don’t get intrinsic pleasure from the eBay experience and you don’t feel the profit is worth your time and energy, your old gadgets will end up in the bottom draw for some time to come.