instacash, Author at refurbished stories

November 24, 2015

Here’s why Old can actually be your Gold

There are two stores selling the same electronics, just that one sells second-hand electronics and the other sells new electronics. Which one would you want to shop from?

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

If it was a year ago, approximately 80% of the people would enter the shop that sells new electronics. But now, the number of people entering the second-hand shop has increased manifold. The trend of buying and selling old electronics is becoming this decade’s best upcoming business.But where do these second-hand appliances come from? These appliances are mostly acquired from customers or businesses selling their old appliances. They are then refurbished and brought back for sale through the second-hand market.
Here are some reasons which drive the sale of old electronics in turn helping the second-hand market to flourish in India.

1. More to choose from
Earlier when you wanted to sell or buy old electronics, there were not many choices. Either you went on eBay, OLX and or some other websites or local vendors which are not many. But now the platform for selling and buying old appliances has widened with the upcoming of many re-commerce companies. Not only the number of companies has increased but also the industry has become more organized.

2. Good quality
As I mentioned in the beginning, which store would you enter if you want to buy an appliance- a store selling new electronics or a second-hand store? With the increase of standardized electronics flowing into the second-hand market, many consumers prefer buying second-hand electronics over new electronics. And why not? We Indians look out for the best products with the most reasonable price.

3. Word of the decade- Online
If you want to buy a TV or any other appliance, the first thing you do is go online to check your options. Now you can even sell your old appliances online.We prefer to have everything on our finger tips and re-commerce companies have done that for us by taking it online. You wouldn’t want to take the pain and go to a shop just to sell your old appliance when you can sell it by just clicking your mouse.

4. Win-Win situation
A retailer selling a second-hand electronic appliance gets a better margin than the retailer selling a new electronic appliance. Therefore, it’s a win-win for both the buyers and sellers. The buyers get their electronics at a much cheaper rate from the market price and the seller gets a good margin for the same. The base of this market is primarily the consumers who sell their old appliances to re-commerce companies. The consumers also benefit by getting cash for their old electronics.

So, now that you know what to choose and why choose it, I leave you at it.

Note: This post was originally published in November 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

November 12, 2015

Why re-commerce of electronics now makes utter sense in India?

In recent years, there has been a lot of talk going about re-commerce in the global market. It has captured the attention of lot of audience around the world. Let’s see what re-commerce is all about and what it has for India.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

What is re-commerce?

Re-commerce or reserve commerce is the re-selling of obsolete and other undesirable goods. Vendors are accessed through electronic systems such as internet or even through physical distribution channels. The transaction is made either for cash payout or in exchange for a different product. Most re-commerce companies deal with payback pricing of goods which is easier in comparison with other options. Re-commercers usually refurbish the received goods and re-introduce the functioning products in the second-hand market. They also recycle non-useful products appropriately.

To lure customers away from online classifieds and offline vendors, re-commerce companies offer product specialization and a more scientific price for the products. In addition to that, they provide higher convenience to bring second-hand products market online.

According to estimates by industry executives, the market for second-hand products is potentially large. It is said that second-hand smartphone sales by themselves may exceed $3 billion this year. Smartphone sales in India nearly doubled to 80.6 million units in 2014, said Kiran Kumar, research manager, client devices, South Asia, at market research firm International Data Corporation Executives say, anywhere between 20% and 40% of that may be available in the second-hand market.

Origin of Re-commerce

The word re-commerce was first coined by the Chief Executive of Forrester Research, George Colony in 2005. Colony referred to re-commerce as a solution to shelf-life issues of consumer electronics because of the rapid updates in product features and functions.
This drive may seem new to many but its roots began way back in 2006 where the world saw the rise of re-commerce as an industry. With re-commerce companies budding in the major countries, a revolution had begun.

It has reached the Indian soil in much recent years. The growth of this industry is comparatively slow as compared to other countries but it has immense potential in the future. There are various companies across the world working in the re-commerce industry. A few examples are Gazelle in US, and Rebuy in Germany, Re-commerce Solutions in France with Budli being the first re-commerce company in India. ReGlobe, GreenDust, Reboot Systems India, ZeroWaste, YNew, etc are among the other re-commerce companies flourishing in India. These companies procure products not just from consumers but also directly from the company or distributers of the company.

Re-commerce in India

Re-commerce is all set to explode in India. Considering the positive trend of re-commerce emerging in India, there has been a rise in the organized re-commerce of products. However, the maximum market of consumer electronic gadgets is yet to peak. Hence, there is immense potential for re-commerce in our country.

There are certain challenges to the growth of this industry in India. Technology obsolescence and short product life can pose as a problem because the re-commerce industry relies on the consumer’s desire to buy products at an affordable price but which aren’t already obsolete. Another challenge can be the supply liquidity and logistics cost. Inflated logistics costs and assurance of consistent supply liquidity can restrict the re-commerce industry from growing in India.

In future, Re-commerce in consumer electronic devices in India is set to witness a steep growth curve. It is estimated that the industry will grow at a CAGR of more than 35% between 2012 and 2016. It will also open doors for numerous employment opportunities in the areas of Marketing, Technical Inspection, Customer Service, Logistics, etc.

The change in the consumer demographics has played its role in boosting the re-commerce industry. With the increase in brand awareness and household income, consumers are opting for branded and latest goods. Today, the average time a person takes to change his smartphone has come down from about 2 years to 6–12 months. Due to which there is an increase in the flow of used gadgets into the re-commerce market. According to a Greenpeace Report it was estimated that by 2015 two billion PCs will invade Indian homes.

Secondly, with the present trends India is set to become the next manufacturing hub and the crucial target for the rest of the world. Also with the government’s effort of ‘Make In India’, India is destined to see a rise in the manufacturing sector in the coming years. This will benefit the re-commerce industry in a way that genuine product parts can be used as raw materials for the manufacturing of other new products.

Thirdly, the performance of primary commerce is very crucial for the growth of re-commerce. The last 5 years or so have witnessed an immense growth in the sales of electronic gadgets.

About 50.5 million new gadgets were expected to have been sold in India in 2013. This translates to a market value of US$ 17.3 billion or Rs.952.5 billion. Of this, 0.72 million used smartphones were expected to have been sold in 2013, translating to US$105 million.

Therefore, with the market opening up to re-commerce the products, this industry is on a steep rise in India and is bound to take huge leaps in the coming future.

Note: This post was originally published in November 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

October 29, 2015

ADD TO YOUR FESTIVITIES BY SUBTRACTING OLD ELECTRONICS

The festive season is just around the corner and decorations plus refurnishing activities have begun in almost all households. You might be getting a new paint done or probably revamping the furniture or maybe re-arranging the items to make your home look new, fresh and stylish but wait, what about your old trash-like consumer durables and electronic items? Are you keeping them all with you? Well, that’s not a good idea! Here are a few tips on making your home décor waste-proof.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

1. Stack them, but not at your home

Your old electronics like your TV, Refrigerator, AC or Washing Machine might be biting dust since a long time because you haven’t used it very often or because you’ve got a newer, more advanced one. That is surely not going to be used anymore and will do nothing but lay idle, use up your space and negate the beauty of your décor. We know you are much attached to it but if it’s not going to be used, it’s wise to sell it off at a good price.

2. Forget offline, Go online

So once you’ve decided to sell your old e-trash, you’d think of going to a kabadiwala or a local dealer. But beware; it will consume a lot of your time with a lot of painful negotiations. Even if it’s finally sold you will be unsatisfied because it will not be the price you were willing to sell it for. Best is to not wait and connect with online buyers of e-trash and they will give you good deals!

3. Cash on your oldies

You’ll have to carry your electronics all the way to the local dealer or kabadiwala which will cost you money, time and energy. You won’t have to go through these hassles if you choose to sell it online. You can get a good option of getting a free calculated quote on the web portal and they will come to your home to pick up the e-trash and give you instant cash with maximum value and without any negotiations.

Now, thinking what to do with the cash? Buy gifts for your loved ones or just relish some sweets for adding that extra space to your home and subtracting idle e-trash.

Note: This post was originally published in October 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

October 19, 2015

A B C of Overused Electronics

Does your washing machine make you stand all along, holding the wash button just so that it can work? Does your fridge door almost come apart or make huge noise whenever you open your fridge? Almost everyone has electronic items at home that are too old to be repaired. Either you give them away to your local kabaadiwala or contact us for a better deal.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

However, we also have some items that are neither too old nor too new to be replaced. What are we supposed to do with these items?

If you have found yourself asking the question — Is my TV / fridge too old and needs to be replaced or can work a few more years? Well, it is an important question because we certainly don’t want to lose out on good products just because they are a bit older than their fancier cousins. And we certainly shouldn’t be throwing them away if they are in a good shape.

So here is a 4-point guide to help you understand if it’s time for your products to retire or if they can still be used for a few more years.

1. Abrupt Breakdowns

Have you ever wondered why your refrigerator conks off at times, only to work splendidly when the repairman comes? Old gadgets and electronics break down abruptly and sometimes without any reason. If the problem happens at least once a month, then it would be better to replace it before it conks off completely.

2. Big Bills

woman shocked by a high bill. Image shot 2008. Exact date unknown.

A key sign to understand if your electronic item is being overused is to check for an increase in electricity bill. If your electricity bills have suddenly gone up for no explainable reason, try switching off the suspected item for a month and see if it really is to be blamed.

3. Cost of Maintenance

It’s sometimes cheaper to buy a new electronic item than getting the older one repaired. For instance, an old fan’s motor or a microwave’s spare part might come at a quarter of the price of the new one. If you think the repairing and spare parts cost you almost 50% of a new product’s cost, it would be wise to get rid of the old one but a new product.

4. Decreased Performance

Over time, the performance of all electronic gadgets decreases. Fans make too much of noise, TV screen becomes grainy and the speaker’s sound reduces or the air conditioner doesn’t cool the way it should. These are all signs of ageing of your electronics. No amount of servicing or repair can get your electrical item work like earlier.

These are the guidelines on your agenda list to check for all your old electronics. And while you are at it, Diwali is coming. How about buying a new washing machine or fridge for your home?

Note: This post was originally published in October 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

October 15, 2015

How Long Can You Hold Your Breath In? And how about old electronics?

Stig Severinsen holds Guinness World record for holding his breath for 22 minutes!

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

And why would you ask are we talking about holding our breath in? The answer is simple. Each one of us is guilty of holding something in, from bad thoughts, to grudges through to old phones. But eventually even Stig had to breathe out and so would you. Holding your breath in is quite similar to holding your old electronic devices. Eventually, you will start feeling suffocated. ZeroWaste will help you breath easily by taking off the weight off your chest and what’s more, we’ll even give you good money for it.

Here are some interesting facts about clutter that might act as a wake-up call for you.

According to Dr. Jim Taylor, our life is stuffed with boxes filled with stuff, we never use. Our closets have too many clothes, equipment and plain old junk that never sees the light of the day. He further adds, “All of the clutter in our lives prevents us from having the time and space necessary to fill our souls with love, joy, inspiration, compassion, and contentment. Why would we put ourselves in such an uncomfortable and unhealthy state? Clutter may, in an odd way, make us feel safe because we surround ourselves with high walls (of stuff) that protect us from threats — real, imagined, and existential — that we feel every day. Unfortunately, those walls also imprison us and prevent us from experiencing life openly and freely.”

A lot of researchers and doctors are linking OCD (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder or OCD) and depression with accumulating electronic items. According to the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Foundation, there are several characteristics of a hoarder. Some people acquire too many items and neglect or refuse to get rid of them. Others clutter their living spaces to the point that they can’t be used for the purpose it was bought for.

24% of house fires are reported to have been caused by hoarding, said Dr. Randy Frost. And these figures may not be true for India but the hazard is similar to quite an extent. We hope these facts act as wake-up call. If you think, you are becoming one of the hoarders, holding on to too many things, and start first by selling off your electronic waste and make your home free of electronic junk with ZeroWaste.

ZeroWaste is a game changer when it comes to disposing your old electronic devices irrespective of the fact that it is unused, overused or used. They differ from other selling sites because they give 48 hour home pick up of your device, guaranteed instant sale, true value for your device, instant cash disbursal. You just need to visit www.zerowaste.co.in and calculate your device’s value and order a home pick-up.

Note: This post was originally published in October 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

September 10, 2015

SAGA OF WAR — ZEROWASTE AGAINST E-WASTE MONSTER

In the mystical country named India, the menace of a monster named E-Waste, was rising. Not many knew about this monster which was growing in size everyday.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

This monster was poisoning the air, water and soil of the great land with dangerous chemicals and metals like lead, mercury, barium etc. Stealthily, the poison was killing men, women and children and people suffered with Cancer, DNA mutation, lung diseases and many other ailments.

This monster had army of its minions. These minions were present in almost every home of the country. These minions, the old and unused electronic appliances, which were hiding and waiting to reach landfills and local dismantlers, to spread that monster’s poison.

9th September 2013– The Day which Changed Everything.

Whenever an evil monster kills people of this promise land, a small group of people always rise up to the occasion to fight such menace. These people didn’t have any super power but their strong will and determination to take on against such monsters. History repeated itself again. Few ordinary people came out, forming a clan, named as ZeroWaste, which had a sole aim of defeating this Monster and reward those people who joined, helped or fought along with the Clan.

Like every uprising against destructive forces, destiny gave this clan, a chance to get the support of the wonderful and responsible people of Jaipur. It was just 2 years since they arrived; they got rid of over ten thousand monster’s minions weighing 6 tonnes. They rewarded the great people of Jaipur with their token of Appreciation and Respect. These tokens become the strings of unbreakable bond.

In the raging battle, people of Ajmer, Indore, Lucknow and Chandigarh joined. While this clan was of people with strong will, they never forgot the love and support of the people. Today, it has over 5000 people standing beside to win the war against E-Waste Monster.

Join know more about rewards and the battle: Click here

To send your message of support to ZeroWaste: Click here

To kill a minion of E-Waste Monster (sell your old electronic appliance),

Join the Clan

Note: This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

September 5, 2015

Our Customers are Our Teachers

When the Lord Himself is the Teacher,
You are the True Enlightened!
5th September, our tribute to the Teacher & the Lord Krishna on his Birth Day!

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

यद् आदित्य-गतम् तेजो
जगद भासयते ‘खिलम्
यच चन्द्रमासी यच चाग्नू
तत तेजो विद्धि मामकं

The brilliance of the sun,
which disperses the darkness of the world,
the luminosity of the moon,
and the intensity of fire are also from Me.

– Lord Krishna, the Great Teacher!

True Knowledge leads to the path of Growth

Indeed! None can remain untouched from the radiance of true knowledge. For knowledge dispels ignorance and paves way for growth. Growth is what we all seek as life itself manifests as growth. The knowledge leads to growth which in turn leads to a better and evolved life. Thus a student benefits from the teachings and achieves glory in its light. A true student, is the one who diligently gains from all sources around him, imbibes important leanings to overcome obstacles in his / her chosen path.

The Customer is the best Teacher

ZeroWaste in its proclaimed mission is striving to make the world a greener and healthier place. With a clear sight set on mitigating the scourge of E Waste from our lands it has travelled and grown. In the journey as the social enterprise, it has learnt from all around, it has come in contact with. Learnt from the nay Sayers, it has learnt from the competition, it has learnt from the people that work for it; but by far the most important leanings has come from its valued patrons, its customers.

It has learnt and gained immensely from its customers. The customers have shaped the way all its processes today work. Customer’s valuable feedback, insight and suggestions have enabled it to evolve.

Dedicating ZeroWaste to the Customer!

The online electronics evaluation and selling services

Certainly, valuing the customer as its true Teacher, ZeroWaste has been able to come out with unique and innovative solutions which would benefit all. 5th September, marks a special and auspicious occasion when ZeroWaste is proud to unveil and dedicate one of its most important online services, ‘ZeroWaste’ to the true teacher, its customers!

The Remarkable features of ‘ZeroWaste’

‘ZeroWaste’ is an innovative and path breaking online service in as much that it offers the convenience of instant online evaluation; exceptional model / brand based pricing, at your door pick-up and on the spot cash payment facilities. Amazingly the entire transaction that follows, comes with an assured process completion turnaround time of 48 Hrs.

Undeniable it is the best ever offering made to the customers

Instant Appliance Evaluation
Extensive Price Discovery for all electronic brands & conditions
Schedule your own pick up home pickup and
Enables Cash payment at your door step
Easy Order Confirmation & Status Tracking
Transactions Processed in Less than 48 Hrs
Go ahead; we encourage you to make the most of it.

Note: This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

August 7, 2015

How to know the Size or Volume of a Washing Machine?

To know the Weight of the Washing Machine, use below steps:

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

Weight is mentioned on the Sticker on Front Side or near Control Knobs on Top.

In case there Sticker is not there or faded then look at Serial Number Label on the Back Side of the Washing Machine.

Serial Number Label on Back Side

Note: This post was originally published in August 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

August 7, 2015

How to know the Size or Volume of a Refrigerator?

To know the Size/Volume of the refrigerator, use below steps:

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

Volume is mentioned on the Sticker on Front Side of the refrigerator.
Volume is mentioned on the Serial Number Label on Front Side or Back Side of the refrigerator. (Enclosed in Red Border Rectangle.)

In case there is no Sticker or it has faded/removed or volume is not mentioned and there is no Serial Number Label then click How to measure volume of refrigerator?

When using Inches/Foot for measurement:

Open the refrigerator door. Measure the depth of the refrigerator from the front edge of the refrigerator opening to the back wall. Make sure that you measure in feet and not in inches. Note the depth measurement on a piece of paper.
Measure the height and the width of your refrigerator’s opening. Note the two additional measurements on your paper. Multiply the depth, height and width measurements to obtain the refrigerator’s cubic foot measurement.
Take the same measurements from the interior of the freezer. Multiply those measurements together to get the cubic foot size of your freezer.
Add the cubic foot measurement of the refrigerator interior to the cubic foot measurement of the freezer interior.

This gives you the total cubic foot measurement for the refrigerator.

Now, 1 cubic foot = 28.3 litres.

To get volume in liters, multiply volume in cubic foot by 28.3 It will give you the volume of refrigerator in liters or click <
http://www.metric-conversions.org/volume/cubic-feet-to-liters.htm >.

When measuring in centimeters,

Measure inside the Refrigerator.

Example

H (height) = 100 cm = 10 dm.

D(deep) = 50 cm = 5 dm.

W(wide) = 50 cm = 5 dm.

Volume = 10x5x5x1000mm3 = 250000mm3

Divide this volume by 1000 to get volume in liters

250000/1000 = 250 liters

Note: This post was originally published in August 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

August 5, 2015

OMG! all this is e-waste?

E-waste or electronic waste, therefore, broadly describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. However, for regulation purposes and for the benefit of recyclers E Waste has been classified in various ways. Categorization also identifies the responsibility for the disposal of the E Waste.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

Historic & Non Historic E Waste — One of the several ways of enlisting E Waste into categories is terming these as Historic & Non Historic.

Historic E Waste are those which came into being before the promulgation of any laws and makes the Owner of the E-waste responsible for its proper recycling. Whereas, Non — Historic E Waste are the ones which were produced after the notification and thus puts the responsibility of its recovery and recycling or disposal on the producers.

In India the people the Government notified the Rules and guidelines in May 2011 to become effective from May 2012.

Main Categories of EEE covered in Indian E-Waste Rules

The categories of electrical and electronic equipment covered under the rules of the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 in India can be enumerated as under.

IT and telecommunication equipment:

Centralized data processing; Mainframes, Minicomputers; Personal computing; Personal computers (Central processing unit with input and output devices), Laptop computers (Central processing unit with input and output devices), Notebook computers, Notepad computers, Printers including cartridges, Copying equipment, Electrical and electronic typewriters, User terminals and systems, Facsimile, Telex, Telephones, Pay telephones, Cordless telephones, Cellular telephones, Answering systems

Consumer electronics:

Television sets (including sets based on (Liquid Crystal Display and Light Emitting Diode technology), Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Air-Conditioners excluding centralized air conditioning plants.

Categories of EEE covered in European Commission Directive

The European Commission considers E Waste as Historic if placed on the market prior to 2005. The directive places the onus upon the owner of the equipment to make provisions for its recycling. Where equipment was placed on the market after 2005, it is known as non-historic WEEE (denoted by a bar underneath the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol), and it is the responsibility of the producer/distributor to make provisions for its collection and recycling.

In another fashion the WEEE directive sets a total of 10 categories of WEEE for reporting purposes. These 10 categories are based as per voltage rating of 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current. The EEE has been further classified into ‘components’, ‘sub-assemblies’ and ‘consumables’

Large household appliances
Small household appliances
IT and telecommunications equipment
Consumer equipment
Lighting equipment
Electrical and electronic tools
Toys, leisure and sports equipment
Medical devices
Monitoring and control instruments
Automatic dispensers

Hazardous electronic wastes comprise

Uninterruptable power supplies, lead-acid batteries
Cathode ray tubes (televisions, computer monitors)
Fluorescent tubes, backlights to laptop screens, thin-film transistors
Electrical/electronic equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
Fridges and freezers, due to chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), an ozone-depleting substance. As of 2012 revisions to the regulations, all refrigerants are considered Hazardous.

WEEE that is delivered to household waste recycling centres (HWRC), also known as designated collection facilities (DCFs), is collected by or delivered to approved & authorised treatment facilities (AATFs). The waste electrical and electronic equipment is then weighed and categorized in accordance with the directive.

For more information or to join ZeroWaste ‘Buy One, Recycle One Mission get in touch with us at info@getinstacash.in |www.getinstacash.in

Note: This post was originally published in August 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.