# Would thrift stores want random old electronics/pc connectors, adapters, wires, etc?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-thrift-stores-want-random-old-electronics-pc-connectors-adapters-wires-etc/835437>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-thrift-stores-want-random-old-electronics-pc-connectors-adapters-wires-etc/835437 "2019-06-12T18:39:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-thrift-stores-want-random-old-electronics-pc-connectors-adapters-wires-etc/835437/21 "2019-06-13T06:29:28Z")

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> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Not out here - they take all kinds of electronics, and have outlets available for the customers to test it themselves. I buy a lot of power supplies (from old monitors or chargers) for my electronic projects at these shops.

Thrift shops near me also. They have tons of audio equipment, old PCs, printers, etc. Not to mention less sophisticated things like toaster ovens and microwaves.  
I think they have small cell phone power adapters, but nothing sophisticated.

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**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-thrift-stores-want-random-old-electronics-pc-connectors-adapters-wires-etc/835437/22 "2019-06-13T12:11:29Z")

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I have no idea where everything ends up, but Best Buy usually has electronics recycling bins by the front doors of their stores. I seem to remember one specifically for cables and connectors.

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-thrift-stores-want-random-old-electronics-pc-connectors-adapters-wires-etc/835437/23 "2019-06-13T13:44:05Z")

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One of the big computer service and repair [chains](https://www.datadoctors.com/) in this area accepts obsolete gear from people. One weekend in February they hold a drive where you are encouraged to bring stuff in and they are prepared to accept the extra volume. However, they will accept reasonable amounts (no truckloads) at any time of the year.

If a computer has any capability at all in running reasonably recent software (no 186s) it will be refurbished and donated to a school. Totally obsolete computers and parts, and I imagine the cables, are scrapped for metal recovery. I even took the last of my CRT monitors to them.

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