Did you know that Nintendo got its start selling playing cards and Nokia used to sell toilet paper? The point is that technology drives change, delivering new applications every day. And taking advantage of the latest and greatest ideas that the tech world has to offer means maintaining a capable system. How do you stay on top? Upgrading your computer RAM can make a big difference!
Random access memory (RAM) is the make-or-break hardware component for your entire system when it comes to computer memory. This means that it holds onto value as a resell or recycle component. Tech-savvy users may want to upgrade their computer RAM rather than investing in a new system. But this begs the question — what to do with the old stuff, and how do you find out where to sell RAM?
First, let’s take a look at the market of computer RAM. Older technologies quickly become obsolete, so along with your tube tv’s it can be hard to find a taker for DDR or DDR2 memory. However, if you have some extra DDR3 or DDR4 RAM on hand, that might be a different story.
DDR3 VS DDR4 Memory and DDR5 Memory
DDR3 and DDR4 stand for the 3rd and 4th generation of double data rate memory. This is the industry standard for computer RAM. DDR4 is the fourth generation of DDR memory and, by comparison, is faster and more reliable than DDR3.
With each generation, computer RAM becomes more efficient. It draws less power from the CPU, which means your system won’t overheat or slow down. Each new generation also sees improved performance in data transfer speeds and higher module densities. Over the last fifteen years, DDR has seen massive improvements.
This growth supports the parallel growth in content delivery, shaping the way that we use our computers. For example, more users than ever before are not only on the internet, but they are consuming large quantities of high-resolution video and immersive video game content which takes more resources like server memory.
In July 2020 the first DDR5 modules became available offering unprecedented speeds and doubling bandwidth of DDR4 modules. The combined effects of DDR5 will deliver up to an 85% performance increase to server networks, providing needed capabilities to handle increasing content delivery needs.
What can I do with used RAM?
So, you have decided to make an upgrade. Now it is time to figure out what to do with the old memory modules. Do they belong in the recycle bin? The answer to that depends on what type of memory you are replacing. If it is DDR or DDR2, the best option is probably to recycle it.
However, DDR3 and DDR4 still hold some value, so if you upgrade either of these types of computer RAM, you may want to consider donating or selling it. First, check with your friends and family. Perhaps someone in your local network could make good use of your old memory. If you don’t get any takers — consider donating to a school’s tech department.
What else can you do with it? Since DDR3 and DDR4 memory is still valuable, you may be able to sell your extra memory. You can shop it around on local marketplaces, post it online, or sell it through a third party. The right choice depends on your personal preference and the amount of memory you are looking to offload.
How much can I sell my Computer RAM for?
When buying new, a decent quality component of 16GB RAM runs between $100 – $200. The variation in pricing is based on value differences between brand, rank, and speed. Used prices will be lower and directly impacted by the condition. For example, buy-back prices for that same 16GB RAM range from $23 to $75, and sale prices range from $50 – $150.
Making the most money on your extra computer RAM means finding the right buyer for the right price. Here are the options:
- Sell to a reseller through a buy-back program.
- Sell directly to an end-user through an online marketplace.
- Sell directly to an end-user through a local marketplace.
While selling direct will net you the largest sum of money, it also comes with some risks. For example, you might get stiffed by a private buyer. In addition, you might have to pay shipping costs. Or, you might have to pay listing fees. There is also a risk that your sale falls through, and you spend more time and money finding a buyer.
By comparison, letting a reseller take on those risks for you seems fair for a slice of the pie. You will take a slightly lower price in exchange for limiting your personal risk.
Is It Safe to Sell Used RAM Through an Online Program?
Yes, it is generally safe to sell your used RAM through an online buy-back program. However, you should do a little legwork to make sure it is a reputable company. When you partner with the right program, it should be pretty painless to dump your extra memory through a buy-back program.
Take a Good Look at the Company’s Website
The website should contain all of the necessary and expected details like an About Us page, contact information, and descriptions of products or services. Inconsistencies in this information should be a red flag. Contact details should be prominent; feel free to dial their phone number and see who answers.
Look Them Up Online
Use sources other than their website to look the company up online. You should be able to find consistent branding on social media channels and in search engine results. In addition, you can check with the Better Business Bureau and the US Department of Commerce to see if the business exists and if the name and address provided on the website match.
Keep in mind that a DBA is a perfectly legal and common explanation for operating under a different business name. In general, if the website is hard to find through regular search methods or brand new, these are red flags for a scammer. At the very least, it warrants some additional research.
Read Reviews
Everyone loves to leave reviews, so it is hard to find a real business that doesn’t have any. While reviews can be manipulated, there is a good chance that there are many legitimate reviews available on the internet. Try searching ‘company name + review’ and see what comes up.
Where to Sell Your Computer RAM (small quantities)?
If you are looking to sell small quantities of RAM, you have a few options to connect with individual buyers. Online options can reach a larger audience, but they generally come with more fees and more competition which lowers the price. By comparison, local sales have less competition, but buyers often have a garage sale mentality and expect a good bargain.
Local Sales
Selling locally can help you avoid extra costs like shipping. You can either advertise your components on local marketplaces like Facebook and Craigslist or work with a shop that sells second-hand tech. In addition, computer consignment shops are sometimes a convenient side business for repair shops.
- Research: Start by doing your research so that you know what you have and what it may be worth. You can compare the specs to similar listings on Amazon and eBay to determine general price points.
- Details: Take high-resolution pictures of every angle and write out a complete description, including all of the technical details for the equipment you are listing for sale.
- Contact Consignment Shops: Look up listings for computer consignment shops or get referrals from computer repair shops to identify who sells second hand computer equipment in your area. Some questions to ask might include:
- What is their commission?
- How and when do they guarantee payment?
- Are there any other fees you should know about?
- How much can they offer you?
- Create a Listing: You can create your own listing for free on Craigslist. Make sure to include all of the pictures and spec details in your advertisement. Provide clear instructions for arranging safe meetings and payments with individuals. Once your listing goes live, be available to field questions and meet buyers.
Online Marketplaces
If you like the idea of selling it yourself, but you need a larger audience, platforms like eBay and Amazon were built to connect buyers and sellers. These platforms typically levy steep seller fees for using their platform and require shipping, but they have a lot of security in place to limit fraud.
Common seller protections to look for:
- Paypal integration for safe payments.
- Commitment to removing false or abusive customer feedback.
- Reasonable buyer protections like a money back guarantee if the product does not work.
- Dispute resolution assistance for post-purchase complaints.
Outside of the selected platform, you should also invest in shipping insurance. If you are using Priority Mail with the US Postal Service, insurance is included. A small percentage of packages go missing in shipment, either from theft, damage, or misdelivery. Protect your merchandise when shipping by choosing an insured method.
If you are looking to skip the seller fees, there are a few reputable subreddits on the popular forum website Reddit. However, keep in mind that aside from moderated group rules, there are no protections from fraudulent transactions when you go this route.
Buy-Back Programs
A more seller-friendly approachto getting rid of old tech is by using a reputable buy-back program offered through major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. These programs are typically straightforward and easy to use with timely payouts between two and ten days. The drawback to using buy-back programs is that you are typically limited to store credit.
This may not be a problem if you plan to reinvest the funds in your tech setup anyways!
How to Use Amazon’s Buy Back Program to Sell RAM:
Amazon offers a buy-back program on many categories of technology products, including laptops and desktops. Start by visiting Amazon’s trade in page and searching for the product you would like to trade in.
Then, log in to your Amazon account (required). You will be presented with a series of questions to answer about your device.
- Does your device power on? Amazon will base the buy back value on the condition of your device. Functional devices can be refurbished for a higher sales price. Non-functional devices may be accepted for parts.
- Has your device been removed from your Amazon account? If not, instructions are provided to do this.
- Are there any cracks or defects in the screen? Another question to determine the condition of your device.
Based on the information that you provide to the above questions, an estimated maximum value will be displayed on the screen. All offers are subject to inspection and may be reduced or rescinded if the actual condition does not match.
If you agree, you can print a label to ship the product to Amazon for free. Amazon’s team will inspect the merchandise and issue a gift card redeemable for merchandise credit within 10 days.
How to Use Best Buy’s Buyback Program to Sell RAM
Best Buy is another popular electronics retailer offering a buy back program. Like Amazon, their program allows you to sell complete devices for store credit. Start by visiting the buyback calculator page and answering a few questions about your device.
- Condition: What is the condition of your device?
- Power: Does it power on?
- Accessories: Are any applicable power cables or remote controls included?
Best Buy will use the answers to your question to estimate your trade-in value and display an amount on the screen. If you agree and want to proceed, add the trade-in to your shopping cart. On the next screen you will be prompted to choose ‘store trade-in’ or ‘mail trade-in’ and will be provided instructions based on your selection.
Once the product is received, a Best Buy team member will evaluate your merchandise and issue your store credit within two days.
Where to Sell Large Quantities of DDR3 or DDR4 RAM?
What about large quantities of RAM? Corporate upgrades and bankruptcies may produce excess inventory that needs to be liquidated. In these cases, the volume is more than what the local market needs and the seller is typically looking to dump it all in one transaction. As a result, figuring out where to sell computer memory and make the most money can be daunting.
IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) companies specialize in safely repurposing unneeded components, including computer RAM. ITAD companies try to make the process as seamless as possible. You can often request a quote directly from their website. Once you provide details on the commodities you are looking to sell, the ITAD company will provide a fair market valuation offer. If you accept, you will ship your products to the ITAD company and receive your reimbursement. It is that simple!
Reputable ITAD companies will strive to be competitive, protecting you from low-ball offers and complicated transactions. If you are considering where to sell memory and you have the option of working with an ITAD company, it may be the best option to get a good price.
How to Sell RAM to ITAD Companies
Start by looking for a reputable ITAD company to partner with. You want to choose a company that conducts business professionally. They should have a well-designed purchasing program in place and they should be able to articulate how the process works easily.
The buy-back process should be simple without a lot of rules to disqualify your merchandise. Every step from getting a quote to shipping your merchandise should be hassle-free. And the quotes provided should offer top-dollar for products. Companies looking to low-ball your offers will take advantage of you at every turn. There are many reputable ITAD companies that are looking to pay fair prices so there is no reason to settle for low offers.
Start by gathering information on your products. You will need pictures, spec descriptions, and information on the condition of the items. Most ITAD companies will be interested in both working and non-working products, but it is important to provide an accurate representation when requesting a quote.
- Submit a Quote Request: An ITAD company that is easy to work with will provide a simple online quote request form that solicits all of the needed information so that you don’t have to spend time going back and forth in email.
- Ship Merchandise: Make arrangements to ship your merchandise to the retailer. Most carriers take 3-5 days to ship merchandise.
- Receipt of Merchandise: Once the ITAD company receives your shipment, the product will be evaluated to verify that it is consistent with the description provided in your quote. If the details match, payment will be issued within two to ten days of receipt. Beware of companies that do not provide a timeline for processing merchandise.
- Receive Your Payment: Payout options may vary by company, however an ITAD company should be able to offer payments through a safe method by check or through a third-party like Paypal.
Working with an ITAD company to downsize your current technology inventory can help alleviate your stress. There is a lot that can go wrong with old technology and the last thing you need to do is waste time squabbling with individual buyers after the sale. A good ITAD company knows the market well and can quickly assess the value of your old inventory and provide established channels to distribute those products to suitable buyers which saves you time!
Tips on Where to Sell Your Computer RAM
The best deals in second-hand tech go to those who know what they have and who make smart decisions about where to do business. Selling old computer tech on your own is possible, but it is a lot more difficult because you have to weed through a lot of people who don’t know what they are looking at in order to find a qualified buyer. Here are some tips to help you succeed:
Shop the Market
Look up listings on eBay or with the top sellers of second-hand computer memory and see what the going price is for the brand and type of memory you have to sell. This will give you a ballpark figure for what is a reasonable offer.
Consider the Logistics
How much effort do you want to put into the sale? Are you comfortable doing a local meetup to make an exchange? Would you prefer to ship your goods? There are risks on both sides of the fence. If possible, try to use a reputable third-party like Paypal to handle payments and limit your personal risk of fraud.
Be Detailed
Shopping online (or in a classified ad) is pretty hard. Try to take as many pictures as possible and provide a detailed description of what you are selling in order to attract the most potential buyers. If you are requesting a quote through a buy-back program or ITAD company, this detail helps them provide an accurate quote.
Don’t Wait
Technology has a limited lifespan. If you are upgrading memory, there is probably a reason why. As newer, better technology becomes available, the demand for outdated tech drops quickly. If you tend to procrastinate, do yourself a favor and jump on this one quickly. If you wait a few months, the value could drop significantly.
The Bottom Line on Figuring Out Where to Sell Memory
There are plenty of options ranging from recycling to selling your old computer RAM. The value of used computer RAM varies significantly depending on the brand, condition, and type of RAM.
But we all know that technology changes quickly. The current market is heavily skewed towards DDR4 RAM, with some opportunities to offload DDR3 as well. For large quantity assets, ITAD companies can help make selling server RAM or computer RAM almost effortless.