Best Buy Launches Appliance & Tech Haul Away Service

[launderess]

Watch out scrappers, Best Buy is getting into the appliance haul away business.

"Best Buy’s offering to take away and recycle your unwanted tech and appliances for a $199 fee. The standalone haul-away service includes the pickup of two large items, like a TV or washing machine, as well as an unlimited number of smaller products, from laptops to printers. Best Buy will then send your products off to a “trusted recycling partner,” where they will be repurposed, repaired, or recycled"

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/20/23033495/best-buy-haul-away-old-tv-appliances-199

 

[launderess]

Don't know about elsewhere in USA, but far as one's local area don't see many paying $200 for BB to haul away anything. People will put discarded appliances out on curb for scrappers or anyone else to take. Sanitation department still collects things like fridges, air conditioners and some items for free. Electronics and other gadgets and small appliances will be put on curb for anyone to take.

 

[eurekastar]

Wow!  When I got rid of an old Maytag Dishwasher, I put an add on Facebook Marketplace advertising first come/first serve...hauled it to the curb.  Someone immediately messaged me and it was gone in 30 minutes.

 

[paulg]

I’m on the fence… but…

At first glance I wasn’t sure I liked Best Buy’s deal. However I am now having second thoughts.
I recently needed to recycle two dehumidifiers and a room air-conditioner. All still had Freon.
My out-of-pocket was in the upper-hundreds to “do the responsible thing” and take them to a Freon recovery outfit. And I had to haul them to the recycling/recovery plant myself!
In retrospect, if Best Buy is indeed pulling the Freon responsibly, this may be a good thing.

 

[launderess]

We're blessed that here local sanitation still collects fridges, freezers, air conditioners.. anything with Freon or other gases.

You let them know what you've got, and sanitation will tell you when to put it out for someone to come around and remove gases. Appliance is then tagged safe for collection which can happen on next regularly scheduled pick-up day.

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/contact/cfc-recovery-appointment-request

That being said more often than not scrappers or dumpster divers will pick-up any large appliance they spy. This regardless if tagged that gases have been removed or not.

 

[tolivac]

When I had my AC-heating unit replaced-the comapny that provided and installed my new one hauled away the old one for free.The old one had LOTS of copper in it.Bet they hauled it to a scrapper and were payed for the copper.My new unit has aluminum instead of copper.They are all going that way.

 

[qsd-dan]

Most places haul away the old equipment when new has been installed. There are listings pretty much everywhere for free pickup of recyclable items. I can't imagine someone forking out $200 for that service unless they have more money than brains.

 

[paulg]

Let’s discuss responsibility to the environment.

Sure, you can put dud product at the curb with Freon in it. But what will happen? The scrapper will just cut the line, exhaust it to the air and take the metal. That is why I prefer to take product to the recycler.

 

[polkanut]

With maybe one or two exceptions, all of the appliance dealers in my area haul away the old appliance(s) after the new one is installed.  And at no extra charge, although I'm sure it's already been figured into the price.