Server buyback
Whale Recycling buys written-off servers, storage and complete server cabinets, with an offer based on the configuration and certified data destruction of every data carrier.
We buy old servers from companies and institutions, with an offer based on the configuration rather than the brand alone. Certified data destruction and payment within a few working days come with it. Servers left sitting in a rack lose value every month, and for as long as they sit there the data carriers are still inside. We collect them, work out what they are still worth and process whatever turns out to be unsellable.
Buyer of old servers
As a buyer of old servers we take on anything from a couple of loose rack servers to a complete server cabinet. Storage, switches, UPS systems, racks and cabling can go in the same batch. Working, current machines go down the refurbishment route, because reuse is worth more than shredding. That is the waste hierarchy in practice. Would you like an overview of every category we buy? Take a look at hardware buyback. Private individuals, and anyone who wants to be paid in cash, we refer to our sister company Krommenhoek Metals.
What are your old servers still worth?
What your old servers are worth depends mainly on the configuration. Two machines of the same model and the same age can be far apart in what they fetch. This is what determines the offer:
- Brand and model, since demand on the refurbished market varies considerably per series
- Server generation, with newer generations generally worth more
- Processors: type, generation and quantity
- Memory: capacity, type and the number of modules
- Storage: HDD, SSD or NVMe, plus capacity and quantities
- Additional cards such as GPUs, network cards, HBAs and RAID controllers
- Technical condition: complete, working or damaged
- Volume: a single server or an entire infrastructure
- Current market demand, which is favourable at the moment thanks to rising memory and SSD prices
We do not apply a hard age limit. The principle is that the value shifts: the newer and more current the machine, the greater the chance of reuse and a higher residual value. As hardware gets older or less current, the value sits more and more in the components and the materials. Do not count on the purchase price, though, because servers depreciate quickly. We would rather give you an honest price indication than a nice story. Selling switches and routers as well? Then have a look at network equipment buyback.
How does buying old servers work?
Having Whale Recycling buy your old servers is straightforward. Take a look at our step-by-step plan below. Need help? Feel free to get in touch.
1. Free valuation
Naturally you want to know what your old servers are worth. Send us as much information as possible using a list or a clear description with a few photos.
2. Collection service
If our buyback price suits you, we immediately schedule an appointment to collect your old servers. We supply the packaging material ourselves to transport the servers safely.
3. Secure data removal
Once we receive them, we take care of certified data removal. We do this through software-based wiping or physical destruction of the data carriers, depending on your preference.
4. Reporting and certificate of destruction
When we buy your reusable servers, you receive a clear overview of the servers you handed over, along with certified data destruction and a certificate.
5. Payment
You receive our purchase invoice specifying exactly what we agreed. We then transfer the amount within a few days.
What is a server made of?
A server is made up of components that each carry their own value and their own processing route. Think of hard drives and SSDs for data storage, memory modules, processors and power supplies. On top of that there are circuit boards carrying gold, silver, palladium and platinum. Servers also contain batteries, and those have to come out before anything can be shredded. That distinction explains why one machine has a commercial value and another only a material value: with reuse you are paid for the machine, with recycling for the raw materials.
Why sell your servers to Whale Recycling?
You are selling to a party that can demonstrate what happens to your hardware and your data. Whale Recycling is WEEELABEX-certified, works to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 and is registered as a VIHB waste carrier under number 542205VIHB. Behind us stands Krommenhoek Metals, a family business that has been in recycling since 1925. Buyback, data destruction and recycling all happen under one roof, so you keep a single point of contact and you are never left with the remainder, not even the material that is worth nothing. Clear documentation, no hidden costs. Selling workstations alongside your servers? Then take a look at computer buyback, or request a quote for the whole batch at once.
Request a quote online
Donate your old servers
Do you want to give your old servers a genuine second life? Then consider donating them to charity, and not just any charity. Whale Recycling is a proud friend of the Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital. They can put the residual value of your old servers to good use for important projects.
The Sophia Children’s Hospital depends largely on donations. These are used to fund medical research, buy specialist equipment and develop innovative techniques that contribute to the treatment and the wellbeing of sick children. Even in the hardest of times, your donation helps children be children again for a while.
Do you choose to donate your old servers? Then Whale Recycling adds 10% to the proceeds. Together we make even more impact.
