Selling second-hand PCs

I've been selling second-hand computers for a while now and I often wonder if it is worth it. When I sell a new DELL computer to a customer they often want to trade-in or for me to dispose of their old computer which I'm willing to do.

However it often involves a lot of work to wipe their personal data, restore Windows and then upgrade it to the latest version. I also add applications such as free anti-virus such as AVG Free or Microsoft Security Essentials, Adobe Reader Microsoft Works, Open Office, etc. So with the checking out the hardware this adds up top two to three hours work for just £50 to £100 I get for selling this computer. Fine, I am recycling old systems and giving them a new useful life to people who generally cannot afford a new one and I don't offer any warranty. But this is time consuming work with little in return.

The people who buy a second-hand computer for £50-60 do not want to spend another £40 to install it either. In fact they often expect first-class service for a third-class price. And if it fails they blame you: that PC that you sold me two years ago has gone wrong, so what are you going to do about it?

Selling on eBay is no solution either. The last DELL Dimension that I sold went for under £3. Not a good return on my time and effort. It is a pity as some of these are good computer from reliable manufact- urers like DELL, Compaq, Acer and HP and they could offer a useful life for another couple of years at least. But is it worth it?