Donate a Broken Device
Your old device can bring another one back to life. A phone, laptop, tablet or drone that stopped working years ago still has parts that work, and we use them to repair other people’s devices.
What Still Works Inside a Dead Phone?
A phone usually stops working because one part has failed. The rest of it is often fine, and many of those parts are hard to buy new.
- A
Screen and glass
A cracked screen is the most common reason people stop using a phone. A working screen from a donor can repair another phone of the same model.
- B
Camera module
Cameras rarely fail. A donor camera can replace one that was damaged in a drop.
- C
Battery
A battery can still hold a charge even when the phone around it no longer turns on.
- D
Logic board
Even when the board is the part that failed, single chips can be moved to another board under a microscope.
- E
Charging port
Ports wear out with daily use. A port from a donor can replace one that no longer charges.
- F
Flex cables
These thin cables connect the parts inside. They are rarely sold on their own, so a donor is often the only source.
It is the same with other devices. These are the parts we reuse most:
Laptops
Screens, keyboards, trackpads, batteries and charging boards.
Drones
Cameras, gimbals, motors and arms. A crashed drone usually breaks in one place.
Tablets and consoles
Screens, charging ports, fans, drives and controller boards.
How Donating Works
- 1
Bring it in
Walk in to our Wimbledon workshop, no appointment needed, or post it to us. We ask for your name and email address, nothing else.
- 2
We destroy your data
Before anyone opens it. How we do it depends on whether the device still turns on.
- 3
We check what it is worth
If it is worth more than its parts, we tell you before it goes on the donor shelf.
- 4
Parts are used when needed
We keep the device until someone needs one of its parts, which can take weeks or many months. When a part is used, we send you one message.
How We Destroy Your Data
Data is the first thing people worry about, so it is the first thing we deal with. We recover data from dead phones as part of our work, which is why we never rely on a factory reset alone.
If the device turns on
We wipe the storage and check that the wipe worked. On encrypted devices we also destroy the encryption keys, so the data cannot be read again.
If it does not turn on
We remove the storage chip or drive and destroy it physically.
Either way
If you want a record, we can give you a dated written confirmation with your donor number. You can also remove the storage yourself before you bring the device in.
Do You Pay for Old Devices?
Sometimes. If your device is less than about two years old, some of its parts still work and we need them, we can buy it back. The older the device, the lower the price and the smaller the chance of an offer. A donation still helps: one working part can get someone else’s device going again.
Repair it
We give you a price before we open anything. The decision stays with you. Not sure it is worth it? Try our repair or replace calculator.
Sell it yourself
We tell you roughly what it should sell for. A private sale usually pays more than any parts price, including ours.
Sell it to us
We confirm the price once we have seen the device, as cash or a voucher towards any repair. Some newer parts are locked to the original device, so we cannot give a firm price without seeing it.
Get an OfferWhat We Accept
The condition hardly matters. The type of device does.
We accept
- Phones
- Tablets
- Laptops, including MacBook and Surface
- Desktops and Mac minis
- Consoles and handhelds
- Drones
- Hard drives and SSDs, working or not
- Devices with missing parts
We do not accept
- TVs and monitors
- Washing machines and other large appliances
- Smartwatches
- Loose batteries
- Anything that is not yours to give
Not sure about yours? Ask us before you make the trip.
Your Donor Card
Every donated device gets a donor number, and you get it on a card the size of a bank card. The number is how a used part finds its way back to you.
If you would rather not receive a message, tell us when you hand the device over. You still get the card.
Collect Devices at Your School or Office
One drawer at a time works. A box in a staff room works faster.
Run a collection
A box in the kitchen for two weeks often fills up. We collect the devices, destroy the data and give you the paperwork. Talk to our business team
Bring a few at once
Family drawers count too. Bring several devices in one visit, and each one gets its own donor number.
Writing about repair?
If you cover repair or e-waste, we are happy to show you the workshop and the donor shelf. Email hello@fixfactor.co.uk.
Questions About Donating a Device
Can I change my mind after I hand it over?
Yes, until we start taking parts out. Call or email us with your donor number and we will put the device aside for you. After that we cannot return it, because its parts may already be in other devices. Your data is destroyed before anything else happens, so that step cannot be undone.
Will a part from my device definitely be used?
No. It depends on whether someone needs exactly that part in the next year or two. Parts from popular models are usually used quickly. Parts from rare models can wait a long time, and some devices go to recycling without any part being used.
Do you accept devices that cannot be repaired?
Yes. They are often the most useful donations. A phone that is bent in half can still have a working camera, charging port, connectors and battery. Water damage is fine too: corrosion is usually limited to one area, and the parts away from it are often untouched.
Do I get a receipt for tax or WEEE purposes?
We can give you written confirmation of the donation. We are a repair business, not a charity, so a donation is not eligible for Gift Aid or tax relief. If you need documents for business WEEE compliance, tell us before you hand anything over and we will explain what we can provide.
Where do the parts you cannot use go?
To a licensed WEEE recycler. Nothing goes into general waste, and nothing leaves our workshop with readable storage in it.
Got One in a Drawer?
Bring it to our Wimbledon workshop whenever you are passing, or post it to us. At the counter it takes about two minutes.