Store Closed Thursday/Friday

Just a reminder that we will be closed January 1st and 2nd for the new year holiday. Next week we will be back to normal and will be done with all of the holiday closings for a while.

Thank you to all of our readers and we wish you a very happy and successful new year.

Interview with Lynda Boomer

Check out a great interview conducted by Maintenance Solutions Magazine with Lynda Boomer, Energy and Environmental Engineer for Physical Plant here at MSU.

This is a audio interview covering our Recycling Program and the MSU Surplus Store's eWaste initiatives.

You can find the audio interview here along with a transcript.

Construction Progress - Part XIII

Over the course of construction we have seen the groundwork laid, footings placed, outer walls go up, the steel skeleton structure completed and now we have outer wall siding showing up on the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center. Work also continues on the interior of the building as the many of the interior office walls have been completed and work on the second floor mechanical area has started since we last visited the site. In addition in these same areas roofing and insulation has gone up on the ceilings.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available. We would also like to thank Irish Construction Company who has been very gracious in allowing us access and keeping us up to date with the progress of construction.

Previous Updates

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI
• Construction Progress: Part VII
• Construction Progress: Part VIII
• Construction Progress: Part IX
• Construction Progress: Part X
• Construction Progress: Part XI
• Construction Progress: Part XII

The second R : Reuse

"The Three R's" is a phrase commonly used here at the MSU Surplus Store referring to reduce, reuse, and recycle. While reducing and recycling are pretty self-explanatory, reusing can a little less obvious. Fortunately, here at the Surplus Store we have a number of great products that are easily re-purposed for reuse.

Simply by shopping at the Surplus Store you are helping the cause of reuse, less then 1% of our goods are new. Additionally, we offer a great selection of items that can be re-purposed for new uses. While in most cases someone that buys a chair or desk is going to use it for its intended purpose, there are also many ways to take no longer needed products and re-purpose them for other uses. The possibilities are are only limited by your imagination, and one site superuse.org shows some of the amazing things that people have done with with the "trash" of others.

There is a wide range of projects illustrated on the site ranging from art to furniture - even cars if you are really ambitious. Some projects examples include:

• Turning a large cargo shipping container into an art sculpture
• Using flower pots as a wall
• Making a sofa made of a cast iron tub
• Creating table lights out of cassette tapes
• Employing pop bottles to make a coin purse
• Utilizing awnings from car windows and seat belts to make cushions

The are so many different ways to reuse old items both creatively and practically. The MSU Surplus Store is one of the best places to find all the oddities that you can use for different home and business projects.

Construction Progress - Part XII

It has been a while since we have updated the construction progress at the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center. Over that time there has been a lot of good progress made in construction. All of the rough steel framing has been completed and in many areas roofing has started to go up. The biggest advancement can be seen in the center of the building where the interior rooms have their wall and ceiling installed.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available. We would also like to thank Irish Construction Company who has been very gracious in allowing us access and keeping us up to date with the progress of construction.

Previous Updates

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI
• Construction Progress: Part VII
• Construction Progress: Part VIII
• Construction Progress: Part IX
• Construction Progress: Part X
• Construction Progress: Part XI

Short Series on E-Waste: Part III

Part I: What is E-Waste?
Part II: What does MSU do with its E-Waste?

Part III: How do I get rid of my E-Waste?

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is where do I take my E-Waste? In this post we'll go over some of the options that are available to those looking to properly dispose of E-Waste.

Many cities have a few days out of the year in which they do E-Waste pick up. You can contact your local Public Service Department and find out if your city offers this service and when it is held. There is usually a small fee depending on what you want to recycle.

There are also some companies that are offering a "Take Back" program. For a list of companies that have these programs and how to get in contact with them please check www.computertakeback.com list of companies that offer this service (PDF, 113 KB) .

The last option is to do a search on the internet to see if anyone near you offers a good recycling program. Make sure you do some research on the recyclers to ensure they are disposing of E-Waste responsibly. A good place to start is at www.computertakeback.com or Basel Action Network (BAN) for a few hints on where to begin researching E-Waste disposal.

Responsible disposal of E-Waste has tremendous environmental benefits and is a great way to Be Spartan Green!

1992 Presidential Debate Flag Up for Bid

On October 19, 1992 Presidential Debates featuring George H. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot took place here at Michigan State University. The third of three debates during the 1992 election this debate featured all three candidates in a two hour two part format that was watched by over 68 million people.

Since this was the last of debate of the 1992 election, one of the large flags that was used for the stage set for all three debates was donated by Commission on Presidential Debates to the University, the rest of the set was donated to the Smithsonian Institute.

This flag is now available here at the MSU Surplus Store as part of the Wharton Center for Performing Arts is remodeled.

• Flag was was used in the stage set in the great hall
• Hanging is in two pieces:
• Star portion is: 48" x 66 5/8" x 3"
• Stripes Portion is: 150" x 48 1/2" x 4"
• Includes 50 stars, but only 4 red stripes and 3 white.
  

The bidding for the item ends November 28 at 2:00 pm, with the minimum bid being $500. See the full listing.

MSU Surplus Store on Facebook

The MSU Surplus Store has just added it's very own Facebook page. Here you can meet other surplus customers and supporters.

Find us on Facebook®

Additional Construction Photos

Check out the MSU Engineering and Architectural Services Photo page of the Construction Progress the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center. It also includes a nice aerial rendering of the new facility shown here on the left.

The EAS Photo album also has updates for all the campus construction projects along with many other wonderful photos of the beautiful MSU Campus. So be sure to check them out!

New Building LEED Certification

With the eventual completion of the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center, the MSU Campus will have many new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. While the building specific purpose will be to provide assistance in accomplishing those goals, the actual construction of the new facility is also going to help reduce, reuse and recycle just through the design and construction of the new facility. The new building has been completely designed with these concepts in mind based on LEED standards, with the goal of being environmentally friendly and sustainable. So what are LEED standards?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Started in 1993 by the U.S. Green Building Council, this certification program promotes building and construction practices that are environmentally friendly, economical and sustainable. Currently there are four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. We are expecting to achieve Silver certification for the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center. This will be the second building on campus to achieve this status (Chemistry building addition was the first) and the first building to be completely designed and built to these standards.

Here are some of the different methods and systems being adopted to meet LEED Certification in the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center:

1. Rain water collection cistern will use gray water for flushing toilets reducing water demands
2. Low flow plumbing fixtures, to reduce water usage by over 30%
3. There will be a Photovoltaic Array on the roof with a real time display in the lobby to display the electricity generated which should be over 7.5% of the buildings energy coming from these renewable sources
4. Motion sensors to control lighting, if lights are not turned off when users leave a space these will automatically shut off
5. Materials used in the construction are made of over 20% post-consumer content and 1/2 pre-consumer recycled content
6. Over 75% of waste from construction is being diverted from landfills through recycling inactivates
7. Art work and other design elements found in the building will be made from recycled materials
8. Plenty of bike rack storage and showers for bikers to support alternative transportation methods
9. Landscape materials found on the exteriors will require no irrigation at all
10. The recycling public drop off center will have LED lighting at to reduce sky-glow and the impact on nocturnal environments
11. Porous pavement for portions of the parking area to improve on-site infiltration, reducing pollution runoff and other contaminants
12. Adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpet, wood and agrifibers used in construction have low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) for better indoor air quality
13. Mechanical systems and controls will reduce the amount of energy consumed inthe building by over 24.5%
14. Over 20% of building materials are extracted, processed and manufactured regionally supporting the local economy

Construction Progress - Part XI

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI
• Construction Progress: Part VII
• Construction Progress: Part VIII
• Construction Progress: Part IX
• Construction Progress: Part X

Construction has made great strides on the job site in the past few weeks. The outer framing of the building has almost been completed, and many of the interior walls in the center of the building have started to go up. Work has continued in the bathrooms, with the fixture and interior walls in this area coming close to being complete. In some areas the floors have been poured and door frames have gone in. We are coming closer and closer to having a the basic framing the facility being completed.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available. We would also like to thank Irish Construction Company who has been very gracious in allowing us access and keeping us up to date with the progress of construction (which is still on schedule).

Construction Progress - Part X

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI
• Construction Progress: Part VII
• Construction Progress: Part VIII
• Construction Progress: Part IX

The wall have started to go up at the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center. Much of the framing has been completed on the Surplus side of the facility and the northwest wall in now mostly in place along what will be the Surplus Storage area. On the inside of the building some of the interior walls can now be seen and work continues with utilities in the bathroom area in the center of the building. On the Recycling side of the facility the Trench/Pit has it concrete poured in and is mostly done.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available. We would also like to thank Irish Construction Company who has been very gracious in allowing us access and keeping us up to date with the progress of construction (which is still on schedule).

Construction Progress - Part IX

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI
• Construction Progress: Part VII
• Construction Progress: Part VIII

Framing continues at the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center, as most of the Surplus side of the facility has its framing completed. On the east side of the buidling the framming has been put in place for the Kel Wall Windows which will provide lots of natural light for the building. Work also has continued on the inner portion as the flooring footings are placed through out the building. Outside grading has been mostly competed on the southern portion of the facility and is also taking place place on the eastern portion of the lot were most of the parking will be.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available. We would also like to thank Irish Construction Company who has been very gracious in allowing us access and keep us very up to date with the progress of construction (which is still on schedule).

Construction Progress - Part VIII

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI
• Construction Progress: Part VII

Framing has begun at the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center we have started to see the facility take shape. The steel framing has gone up in what will be the MSU Surplus Storage Facility and also over part of the MSU Surplus Store sales floor and offices. In the Recycling side of the building the trench for the Baler Pit has been dug and on the southern portion of the facility the grading for the outside processing area has continued.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available. We would also like to thank Irish Construction Company who has been very gracious in allowing us access and keep us very up to date with the progress of construction (which is on schedule).

Introduction to the MSU Surplus Store

The MSU Surplus Store Sales Floor
An example of a few of the items we have normally

What do compost, pillows, cars, and bowling pins have in common? You can find them all at the MSU Surplus Store (at one time or another), along with hundreds of other items. Here at the MSU Surplus Store, we stock an incredible variety of items. Some are one of a kind, such as a robot that is designed to navigate based on its vision, others are more common like tables and chairs. One of the most interesting parts of the MSU Surplus Store is what we have for sale and how often it changes.

This unpredictable variety is due to the fact that we pick up items from every department on campus year round! One day one of the science departments might be clearing out old microscopes and the next the English Department might be getting rid of an old conference table. This is precisely what makes the MSU Surplus Store such an exciting place to shop at, but it can be frustrating when trying to hunt down a specific item. This article offers a rough guide to what you can expect when you come to visit us.

There are some constants you will always find when you come to the store. We almost always have a variety of office chairs primarily priced from $5-$25. Additionally, you can expect to find a long lineup of filing cabinets. Filing cabinets range in price from around $35-$80 depending on size and in what condition they are in. Additionally, you can usually find tables and desks of some kind for use in an office or at home as well as shelves in many different sizes. The most common type of shelves are about seven feet high and come with five individual shelves that can be adjusted depending on the height of the stored items. These shelves often come in “bold” colors and are priced at $35. Periodically, we also have wooden shelves and smaller metal shelves.

The next constant you will always see here at the MSU Surplus Store is our Computer Department. This is a great place to find home and office electronics without spending a great deal of money investing in new products. We have computer systems, copiers, printers, monitors, and even laptops on occasion! This is also a great place to get components like cables, speakers, keyboards and mice. While these items can be pricey to buy new at retail outlets, the MSU Surplus Store offers speaker sets for $9, mice for $1.00 and keyboards for only $0.25! The Computer Department also regularly stocks specialty items such as projectors, servers, switches, and many other more advanced computer items.

The MSU Surplus Store Staging Area.
Here we hold items before they are made available for sale every Tuesday and Friday.

In addition to the office items, you will also always find our book store. The book store features fiction, non fiction, magazines, Public Television items, comic books, and vintage magazines! We try to completely restock the book store with new titles at least twice a month and you can get alerts about when we have restocked the store on Twitter. We sort books received from every corner of campus, sell some online in our eBay store and put others on the floor for sale mostly between $1-$2 each. Recently, we have added art and architecture books, children books, and selection of books focusing on Africa to our book store.

Beyond these basic items, there is no telling what you might find at the MSU Surplus Store! We have recently stocked fake plants, a dance floor, an air hockey table, dozens of apartment sized refrigerators, dorm furniture, various lab equipment, nacho cheese dispensers, large speakers, and many many more items! Next time you are in the market for a specific item, consider calling the MSU Surplus Store at (517) 355-0364 to see if we have one in stock, or better yet just stop by!

We are open for viewing, Monday through Friday noon till 3:30 and we sell items on:

Tuesdays from 7:30am to 5:30pm
Fridays from 7:30am until 3:30am

The MSU Surplus Store is not just a store, it's an experience!

Spartan Charge for Auction on eBay

The "Spartan Charge" is a hybrid electric vehicle designed and built by a team of Michigan State University students from the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Engineering during 1992-93. The car was entered in a Ford HEV National intercollegiate competition and won several awards for materials usage and body styling.

The car has been in storage for several years and is thus being sold as a non-working, experimental project vehicle. This is a great opportunity to own a piece of MSU history. If you happen to know anyone who worked on this project please pass this link along.

Spartan Charge Auction

Construction Progress - Part VII

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V
• Construction Progress: Part VI

Work continues on the inner portion of the building with many of the interior wall footings being placed. You can start to see the outlines of the interior areas that will make up the offices, bathrooms, and meeting rooms for the new building. This has allowed for mechanical and electrical conduits to be placed and testing has begun on the water main. On the south side of the site, leveling and grading has started for the southern portion of the exterior Recycling and Surplus processing area.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available.

MSU Surplus Scrap Metal Program

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) estimates that in 2007, 95 million metric tons of scrap metal were recycled last year in the US. Here at the MSU Surplus Store, we have recently started an initiative to increase and promote metal recycling on campus. We have been gradually increasing the amount, type and services associated with the recycling of metals. In our first year we were able to recycle 1.1 million pounds of scrap metal.

The advent of the MSU Surplus Stores scrap metal program can be attributed mainly to two factors, the increasing value of metals and the environmental benefits of scrap recycling. There has been a dramatic increase in the price of scrap metal over the past few years. The rise in scrap prices has been mostly due to demand outpacing supply. Scrap metal is proccessed and then used for manufacturing new products. Currently recycled scrap accounts for 40 percent of global raw material for manufacturing. As the demand for raw materials has increased worldwide, the cost of scrap metal has followed increasing the incentive to recycle scrap materials.

 Levi Dysinger dismantling a rotor for the MSU Surplus Store Scrap Metal Program.

The second major benefit for scrap mental recycling is the energy saved by using recycled materials vs. virgin ore. For example, recycled scrap metal uses far less energy then processing new virgin ore (Source):

• 95% less for aluminum
• 85% less for copper
• 74% less for iron and steel

In addition to the energy savings, recycling scrap metal also helps keep waste out of landfills by making new products out of obsolete or nonfunctional metal goods.

The MSU Surplus Store recycles various types of metals including aluminum, copper, cast iron, brass, and steel. These types of metal come from products such as oil filters, power cables, telephone lines, air conditioners, batteries, keys, and many more. Most of these items are collected as surplus items from across the university campus. The bulk of the metal processed through the MSU Surplus Store is shredder scrap which consists of mixed materials that are separated through processing at the scrap metal processing facility. This accounts for around 92% of the metal processed at MSU Surplus based on weight. The other 8% is scrap metal which has been sorted by the raw material the item was manufactured out of. These sorted metals have greater value and account for around 65% of the revenues from scrap metal processing. Gradually we are improving our ability to process these materials to increase the revenues we are able to give back to MSU departments.

Currently we offer a number of different opportunities for departments to gather their scrap metals. We have a "Blue Barrel Program" which provides departments with a collection bin for their metals that can be picked up by MSU Surplus and taken for processing. We also offer onsite services for removal of large or specialty items which we can cut and torch into a more manageable size. This also allows for the separation of different types of metal which greatly increases potential revenue. Pictued above is a 20,000 pound rotor which had a copper inner core. We removed the outer covering allowing us to turn the copper core in to the scrap metal plant for maximum revenue. Finally, we offer Freon Removal services for refrigerators, freezers, air conditions and other lab equipment. This program both ensures that the freon is properly disposed of as well as generates revenue from the metals used to manufacture these items.

Construction Progress - Part VI

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV
• Construction Progress: Part V

Construction at the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center continues. Unfortunately, we missed last week's update so this week we can see quite a bit of progress. The entire building's outer wall foundations are now finished and the retaining walls by both the Recycling and Surplus docks have been completed. Work has begun on the inner portion of the building with the pillar footings inside of the Surplus Store being placed. Most importantly, the water mains have been run to the building so this facility will have running water! Work has also started on the water retention pond that will be located on the southeast corner of the site for which water drainage and pipes are now being installed.

Remember to keep checking back for more updates! Also don't forget that we have a compilation of all of the constructions photos available.

MSU Bike Service Center

As students return to campus, one of the most common questions we receive at the MSU Surplus Store is, "Do you have any bikes for sale?" Recently the demand for bikes has increased even more as students, staff and local residents have started to see the numerous advantages bikes have to offer. The MSU Campus and surrounding community covers a huge area and bikes can be one of the cheapest and fastest ways to get around. The growth of bike usage locally has been in large part due to the efforts of the MSU Bike Service Center, its staff, and volunteers.

Tim Potter, coordinator of the MSU Bike Service Center, has been at our previous bike sales to offer the resources and services of the Center to our customers. The Center offers a number of different services from the sale of bikes and bike rentals to bike repairs and servicing. The Center "...offers all types of repairs like any bike shop," Mr. Potter told us, and it is a great place to take bikes purchased from the Surplus store for maintenance and routine repairs. They also offer many of the parts you may need from tires, tubes, lights, fenders, helmets, tools and oils. They have a full time staff of nine, as well as 10 to 20 additional volunteers that help out with all of the available services and repairs. In addition, the bikes that are sold directly through the MSU Bike Service Center are generally sold for "...$150 or so on up...All the bikes we sell are repaired and ready to go. Anyone can purchase stuff from us (or rent, etc.)." Check out some of past bikes sold through the MSU Bike Service Center.

In addition to servicing, you can also lease or rent a bike from the Service Center. Hundreds of these bikes were first reclaimed or donated to the Center and then repaired and put back into use for the MSU community. These bikes can be rented out hourly, weekly, by the semester or yearly. General maintenance from adjustments, oiling chains or air for tires are all included during the lease period.

The good news is that on August 18th, the MSU Surplus Store will be picking up another batch of bikes. These bikes will be ready for sale starting the 19th at 7:30 am, get there early, there will be a line! This should also be the last batch of bikes that we will see this year, so be sure to come to the MSU Surplus Store to buy a used bike and then visit the MSU Bike Service Center to get your new purchase in top working order.

For more information about the MSU Bike Service Center, please visit them in the basement of Bessey Hall or online at www.bikes.msu.edu and remember to register your bike online with the Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS).

Extended Store Hours August 19-22

The MSU Surplus Store will be extending it normal hours the week of August 19th through August 22nd, to the following:

• Tuesday August 19th from 7:30 to 5:30
• Wednesday August 20th from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm
• Thursday August 21st from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm
• Friday August 22 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

During this time we will be attempting to restock our sales floor with items that are commonly available through the store (desks, chairs, tables, file cabinets, etc.). Any specialty or rare items coming to surplus during this period will be held until the week after and we have resumed our normal sales hours.

MSU Computer Store Electronic Product Environmental Assessment

In the latest version of Footprints: The Official Newsletter of the Office of Campus Sustainability it was pointed out that the MSU Computer Store (http://cstore.msu.edu/) has posted the Electronic Product Environment Assessment for many of the desktop and laptop computers that it sells on campus. The results are broken down by manufacturer, with their products awarded levels of distinction based on criteria they were are able to meet. The standards used are IEEE 1680, which identifies 51 environmental criteria to evaluate products. According to those results, products are placed in one of three tiers of environmental performance - Bronze, Silver, or Gold.

Currently the MSU Computer Store offers 47 Silver products and 9 Gold level items. Silver level consists of 23 required criteria and 50% of optional criteria, Gold level meets 23 required and at least 75% of optional criteria.

These criteria cover a number of different areas such as: limiting the amount of hazardous materials used, cadmium, mercury, lead, etc. This greatly reduces the possible environmental impact of disposal of these items (see previous articles on e-waste). In addition, the use of post consumer recycled content and designs that are able to be easily disassembled for recycling are also rewarded. One area or critieria that is especially important to the MSU Surplus Store customers is increasing the lifespan of the product by allowing the item be upgraded easily instead of being replaced.

Some of the other criteria:

• Energy Star Compliance
• Manufacture Product Take backs
• Offered Recycling Services
• The Use of Rechargeable Batteries
• Overall Corporate Environmental Performance
• The Reduction of Packaging Materials
• Reuseability of Products and Packaging Materials

Many of these standards greatly improve our ability to re-sell and if needed recycle items that come to the MSU Surplus Store. So the next time you are shopping for a new computer product be sure to check out its rating before purchasing, you will be making a sound environmental choice.

Construction Progress - Part V

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III
• Construction Progress: Part IV

Construction continues on the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center and this week we saw the continuation of the wall placements. We were fortunate to see the actual pouring of the walls into the wall molds. Most of the southern portion of the wall base has been completed and is gradually moving northward from the Recycling side of the facility into the Surplus side of the building.

Remember to keep checking back for more photos and updates on the progress of construction.

The Three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Current economic conditions have hit everyone hard, it seems nobody has escaped the latest economic downturn. Oil prices are sky high, the dollar is down, and unemployment is up. However, there are some positive unintended consequences to these conditions which are very closely related to what we do here at the MSU Surplus Store. During times of prosperity, there is no need to think twice before replacing furniture, buying a new desk, or investing in a new vehicle. However, the current reality has forced us all to take a serious look at our consumption and think of new ways to reuse, recycle, and cut costs. The MSU Surplus Store is a great place to save money on a variety of affordable as well as higher end items for your business or home!

At a basic level, the MSU Surplus Store takes items that are no longer needed by the university and finds new uses for these items. Our goal is to create revenue for the university by selling products no longer needed to people that do have a need for these products. The great appeal of this system is that our customers can find very unique items at very reasonable prices. This also has significant environmental utility, as these items are being reused and kept out of landfills. Ultimately, this helps to reduce the environmental footprint of both the university and the community.

At the MSU Surplus Store, we work very hard to prevent items from ending up in landfills. In the event that items cannot be sold, we have a number of methods of reuse and repurposing that can prolong the lives of various products or even give them new life in different forms. The American economic decline has not only brought new perspectives to the ideas of reuse, but also has caused the prices of raw materials to increase significantly.

We are avid recyclers of not only of paper goods, but also metals, freon, wood, and plastics. Last fiscal year alone one million pounds of metal was sold by the MSU Surplus Store for recycling into new and useful products. Additionally, we also responsibly recycle E-Waste (previous post by Tim on this process) which helps keep thousands of computers from ending up in landfills and gives obsolete computers new life as useful components are stripped from the old machines and the raw materials are reused in newer components.

Hopefully, as economic conditions improve we will not lose sight of the importance of reducing, reusing and being conscious of our impact on the environment. While the economic advantages of reuse and recycling might become less relevant as the economy rebounds, the ecological advantages of these practices will remain relevant for generations and the MSU Surplus Store will continue with its core goals of accomplishing these things for Michigan State University.

Online Shipping Costs

Recently eBay has started a new system to track the efficiency ofsellers called Detailed Seller Rating (DSR). DSR's are made up of four categories: Item as Described, Communication, Shipping Time,and Shipping Costs. eBay sellers generally receive their lowest rating in the shipping costs category, including our own MSU Surplus Store eBay store.While paying for shipping has always been one of the downsides of shopping online, recent developments have put greater stress on both buyers and sellers and caused shipping costs to elevate significantly.

Major online retailer Amazon reported a 47 percent increase in its' shipping costs in the last quarter alone. Much of this increase can be traced to the rising cost of energy. The cost of diesel fuel, the major energy source for all shipping services, has more than doubled in the last year. As the price of fuel has increased, the cost of shipping has followed.

As gas prices have skyrocketed over the past few years, the American dollar has seen a steady decline. This fall of the dollar has brought some unexpected benefits for American online vendors. International customers have flocked to American online stores where their currencies have increased buying power. Unfortunately, this dramatic increase in international sales coincided with the elimination of some of the most economical forms of international shipping. Therefore, while international consumers are enjoying increased purchasing power, they are also facing the new, more expensive reality of international shipping.

We currently have two main market places, eBay and Prostores, both of these services offer a shipping calculator to determine shipping costs. The shipping quotes that are shown at checkout are taken directly from major retailers such as USPS, UPS and Fed Ex. They are calculated based on the weight & size of the item and the distance the item has to travel. The quotes that are shown on the site are the actual shipping costs that will be charged for the shipment of the item.

Unfortunately, many buyers are understandably not closely following the steady increases that shipping companies have faced and are unaware of the rising costs of shipping. Additionally, in the past many sellers have inflated shipping costs to increase profit margins on their items. Therefore, many buyers see these increased shipping costs as a tactic on our part to increase profits by overcharging them for shipping. This is generally why eBay sellers receive lower DSRs for Shipping Costs.

While estimating shipping costs can be an imprecise art until items are actually packaged, we usually come very close to charging what it costs us to ship the item. We also offer a wide variety of shipping services in an attempt to meet our buyer's needs based on the speed and costs of different shipping services. We have also moved to using USPS postal services online shipping solutions where the rates for shipment are lower then shipping from a postal retailer. Our goal as a seller is to charge buyers exactly what it costs us to ship the item.

Construction Progress - Part IV

• Construction Progress: Part I
• Construction Progress: Part II
• Construction Progress: Part III

Construction continues on the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center and this week has marked the first appearance of the outer walls of the building. While these are only the footings for the walls you can start to see the outline of the facility and the location of many of the features of the building. Also included below is a photo of a cross section of the footings that were shown last week. You can see how the small pebbles were injected down into the soil to provide the foundation footings of the building.

Remember to keep checking back for more photos and updates on the progress of construction.

Short Series on E-Waste: Part II

Part I: What is E-Waste?
Part II: What does MSU do with its E-Waste?
Part III: How do I get rid of my E-Waste?

Part II:
What does MSU do with its E-Waste?

Computers are one of the fastest changing and lowest lifespan products that are commonly used. As a major research university with 57,000 students and staff, Michigan State University has tens of thousands of computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, and other electronic products throughout its campus. These items are frequently replaced and consequently are one of the main commodities the MSU Surplus Store receives. Due to this MSU Surplus Store picks up over 230,000 lbs of e-waste annually, so what is done with all these items?

MSU currently has a contract with an electronics recycling company which is responsible for the proper disposition of the E-Waste created by the University. The items are then disassembled and everything that is recyclable is processed. What is left is properly disposed of in the government mandated manner. Which means that these items are responsibly disposed of and are not sent to generic landfills or shipped to developing nations where they are commonly burned and then improperly disposed cause incredible harm to the environment.

Once a sufficient quantity of e-waste is collected at the MSU Surplus Store the items are shipped out for processing and recycling. Depending on what type of item is being sent to our E-Waste recycler, there are different processes each item must undergo.

1) Computers: All computers are stripped of any part that is still salvageable and the hard drives are removed. Next, all the hard drives are processed by a program which overwrites all data on the existing drive with 1s and 0s. This is done to insure that sensitive data is not still available on the hard drive. Any hard drive that is not functioning or hard drives that have extremely sensitive information on them (such as social security numbers, credit card information, ect) are shredded and destroyed.

2) CRT Monitors: While monitors do not require a great deal of processing, it is still important to treat them with caution. Monitors can hold a tremendous internal electrical charge, even after being unplugged. If the back portions of the unit are exposed, they can also present a hazard if not handled properly. The pressurized tube in the back of the unit can implode if not properly handled. Monitors which are missing their back cover are boxed for the safety of our staff, students, and customers. Intact monitors are stacked on pallets and shrinkwrapped for our recyclers to dispose of.

3) Printers: All ink or toner from the printers is removed and sold for re-use. The remaining waste of the printers are placed on pallets for pick up.

4) Smaller Items: Any non-working smaller electronics or computer items are placed in a large box for recycling. These items range from broken keyboards and mice to bad toasters and power supplies.

Over the past few decades, E-Waste has become a more and more pressing environmental issue. At MSU, we strive to lessen our impact on the environment in any way we can. One way we have found is through the use of recyclers who meet national standards for disposing of E-Waste. Check back later for the final part of this E-Waste series.

Fair? You be the Judge

One thing I hear quite frequently is "you guys keep all the good stuff for yourselves". Meaning: my staff steals all of the good stuff or at best cherry picks it before it goes out to the sales floor. This couldn't be further from the truth. We have to come through the door on sale day mornings just like everyone else. A few weeks ago a "regular" customer complained that one of my employees cut in front of them in line and bought the item he was waiting for. First of all, there really isn't a line outside, more like mob rules. Also, it turns out there were 3 lamps, he got 1, the employee got 2 and gave 1 tag to a new customer who wasn't so quick and didn't know the system. Everyone paid full price. 3 lamps for 3 people, sounds fair to me.

I put heavy emphasis on maintaining a system built on integrity and fairness for all customers regardless of them being a "regular", staff or a newbie.

Construction Progress - Part III

Construction continues for the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Facility. Last time we visited the site were were able to see the process of placing the footings for the facility. This work is continuing for now with 50+ aggregate piers being installed per day. Overall there will be approximately 888 of these footings installed for the building. The newest part of the project is the start of the installation of the Storm Sewer Drains on the west side of the facility. This will be followed by sanitary, water main, then electric duct bank.

Rember to keep checking back for more photos and updates on the progress of construction.

Get Up to the Minute Product Updates

One of the questions we get most frequently is, "how will I know when you get something in?" Historically, you wouldn't without stopping in during our "viewing hours" twice a week before public sales to review the sales floor. Our first step in addressing this question was to start placing certain items on eBay. We began this process in 2001 and it has been a good way to advertise. Currently, our eBay store catalog contains about 1400 items. Next we added our own online store (http://www.msusurplusstore.com/). This provided us the opportunity to list items online at a lower cost than eBay, with more flexibility. Our online store catalog has about 1000 items in its catalog. The newest addition we are adding is Twitter. Twitter is a free online service that will allow us to post quick updates about what we are putting up for sale. By signing up, you can receive the updates via e-mail, text message on your phone, or instant messenger. You can also just check this blog as our Twitter posts can be found on the right side menu. Watch for this new feature to expand over the next several months. We hope you find it useful.

Mowing the Mower?

If grass grows on your mower what do you mow your mower with?

Send us your suggestions

Short Series on E-Waste : Part I

Some of you may be wondering what MSU does with their E-Waste (Electronic Waste). Over the next few weeks we will take a look at what E-Waste is and how MSU deals with the growing problems due to E-Waste.
Part I: What is E-Waste?
Part II: What does MSU do with its E-Waste?
Part III: How do I get rid of my E-Waste?

Part 1:
What is E-Waste?

E-Waste is one of the fastest growing types of waste disposed of in landfills.
It is estimated that as many as 35 million PC's could find their way into
landfills in 2008. Computers, monitors, printers, and other electronics
contain thousands of components and a number of highly toxic materials
including lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and PVC plastics that pose a
real danger to the environment if they are simply dumped in landfills.
Electronics not properly disposed of can leak chemicals into groundwater and
create hazardous carcinogenic chemicals.

E-Waste is any device with a circuit board on it that is near its end of useful life. This includes a lot of items, here are some examples: computers, laptops, monitors, printers, calculators, stereos, copiers, alarm clocks, and many more. These items are not wanted in landfills as they are not biodegradable and some items are hazardous materials (CRT monitors for example). It is said that as much as 70% (40% of lead) of the heavy metals in landfills is due to CRT monitors. To keep these items out of landfills new laws have been put in place and these laws are being updated constantly.
The list of companies that will accept E-Waste is growing due to the high demand to dispose of these items properly. Another reason more companies are starting up is that E-Waste has recyclable metal in them: gold, copper, and aluminum are just a few of the items one could make money selling. Now separating these metals out of the boards they are on is not easily done and it takes time and special equipment to do it right. This is a quick overview of what E-Waste is, please check back later for parts 2 and 3.

Construction Progress - Part II

We promised last time that we would have more exciting photos of the job site. While the photos themselves may not be able to capture the work that was being done, there are many more interesting things happening on the job site now. What we have pictured is the start of the placement of the footings for the building. This involves a very large crane, a loader that can lift stones 75 feet in the air, and what can only be described as a 25-foot-tall jackhammer. The footing process involves the placement of stones underground to stabilize the footings of the building by basically injecting the fill underneath the top soil. This process makes the placement quick and easy, and we should see the construction moving onto the next phase in the very near future.

Keep checking back as we hope to update everyone weekly with new pictures and updates on the construction progress.

Penn State Surplus

Check out the Penn State University Surplus eBay auctions:

Penn State

Sohmer Piano

Do you need a piano for a good price? Check out the Sohmer piano that is at the MSU Surplus Store. With a little tuning it would be a nice piano. $300.00

Third Bike Shipment

The MSU Surplus Store is receiving its third shipment of bikes for the summer. They will be available for viewing on Wednesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 10 from 12:00 until 3:30 pm, and for sale on a first-come, first-served basis Friday, July 11 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Let's Make a Deal!

Have you ever had a garage sale? If you have, someone has inevitably approached you with an offer of $.25 for an item marked at $.50. If you are like me, you politely turn away, roll your eyes, turn back and say “sure.” The MSU Surplus Store doesn’t quite work that way. We have a fiduciary responsibility to students of MSU and the State of Michigan to attain maximum value for their financial investment into the items we sell. This doesn’t mean we can’t discount prices, or offer incentives to purchase an item. There are a variety of factors that go into our pricing, and after a time of not selling most prices can be adjusted. Here are 9 tips on how to make a deal at the MSU Surplus Store:

1. Never ask for more than half off.
2. Give it a week. Items are almost never discounted on the first day.
3. Come prepared. Offer to take large items with you. We would rather not move and store large sold items.
4. Wait until the end of the day to ask for a deal.
5. Buy things in bulk. In most cases, there is a 20% discount if you buy 5 or more like items.
6. Don’t disparage the item. Asking the sales person for a deal because the item is “junk” is not effective.
7. Be sincere. Don’t exaggerate details about how long an item has been for sale, or claim you are the only person in the world who would ever buy it.
8. Know what the item is worth. We look up values for a lot of our items through a variety of resources. Since we do not test most items, in many cases our prices are comparably lower. Sometimes the asking price is already a great deal.
9. Watch for upcoming events. Large event sales, like bike sales, mean we need to move inventory fast in order to make room.

Construction Progress

We have a few photos taken 7/2/2008 of the starting progression of the construction of the new Surplus Store and Recycling Center. While these might not be the most exciting of photos the clearing and balancing of the site is nearly complete. Next week will see the start of the placement of the building's footings, which promises to be more interesting as very large cranes will be involved.

Keep checking back as we hope to update everyone weekly with new pictures and updates on the construction progress.

Weekend Happenings

We’re closed this Friday in observance of Independence Day. Luckily we’re not the only sale in town. I would encourage you to check out Friday’s auction at Dennis Beals Auctions in downtown Haslett. We all need to support local small businesses and Dennis puts on a great auction. He has an easy call so newcomers to auctions shouldn’t be intimidated. This Friday’s sale is the 10th of the Eric Olson estate. He was the owner of a local antique shop and the quality and variety of offered items is hard to match in this quantity. I didn’t see much going on with Estate Sales this weekend, but next week looks promising.

http://www.dennisbealsauction.com/events.htm

New Year's Resolution

My name is Kris Jolley and I am the Store Manager for the MSU Surplus Store. Today marks the start of a new fiscal year for us. With a new building on the horizon I hope to make some significant improvements in several areas to help usher in a new era for the MSU Surplus Store. One major focus will be improving our web presence by enhancing this “blog”. The fact is, this has been more of a general announcement board than a true blog. That’s not a bad thing, but I think I can provide you with a lot more. I have over 17 years of Surplus experience, a passion for the business and a great staff of engaged Surplus professionals. My staff and I receive dozens of phone calls and e-mails annually from colleges around the country inquiring about using eBay, on-line stores, computer recycling and data security. I hope to add value by discussing topics of e-commerce, reuse, sustainability and recycling. I hope other colleges, state agencies and non-profit organizations can use this as a resource to build their programs. I also hope to enhance the customer experience by offering more information about our sales and services as well as local and national Surplus news and events you might find interesting.

My goal is to build a network of Surplus professionals and customers. To this end I encourage readers to help spur lively conversations by commenting and asking questions. If you run a Surplus program, feel free to send me information about your program. I would be happy to help promote all the good and new things you are doing. If you are a customer, send me information about all the cool things you are doing with your Surplus acquisitions. Last but not least, send me all of your funny or interesting Surplus stories, as we all have them.

2nd Shipment of Bikes is Here!

MSU Surplus has picked up our second shipment of bikes for the summer, the bikes will be available for purchase Friday 6-27-08 7:30 am - 3:30 pm. Bikes are on a first-come first-served basis with prices ranging from $10 - $100. For any questions please see our website at www.msusurplusstore.com or call 517-355-0364.

Bikes Available June 20th

Bikes will be sold on a first come first serve basis (we open at 7:30 a.m.), at the MSU Surplus Store. Price on these bikes are determined by condition, age and model but generally will be from $25.00 to $50.00. This is our second shipment of bikes and we will be receiving more periodically throughout the rest of the summer. Please see Our Hours and Location Information for details on sales hours and directions to the MSU Surplus Store. Any Questions feel free to contact our store at 355-0364 or e-mail us. Item availability and date of sale is subject to change, please call ahead to insure items are in stock.

Ground Breaking Ceremony Photos

Yesterday saw the start of construction for the new Surplus Store and Recycling Center. The event featured MSU Facility/Staff, Students, and community members all celebrating the start of the new facility. “The new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center will open doors to new and more efficient processing procedures, which in turn, will generate a greater return on our reusable and recyclable materials,” said Ruth Daoust, Manager of the Surplus and Recycling Center. The new facility will accommodate three times the amount of materials of the current recycling facility. A new comprehensive recycling program, coupled with the facility, will allow the university to expand recycling collection in 549 buildings on campus. “The recycling facility and surplus provide us a greater opportunity to re-use and recycle the enormous amount of materials we bring to this campus,” said Kathy Lindahl, assistant vice president for finance and operations.

The crowd assembles for the ground breaking ceremony.	President Lou Anna K. Simon explains benefits of the new facility	Vice President for Finance & Operations, Treasurer Fred Poston speaks to the assembled crowd
Trustee Melanie Foster explains Board of Trustee's support for this project.	Graduate student Lauren Olson recounts the initial push for the facility in 2006.	MSU Surplus and Recycling Program Education Manager Ruth Daoust outlines new recycling and surplus functions made possible by the new facility.
The buildings construction starts with the official groundbreaking.	President Simon, Ruth Daoust and Trustee Foster speak to the assembled media.

All of the MSU Surplus Store staff would like to thank every who attended the event and for their continued support for the new facility and looks forward to the new opportunities and synergies that the new building will create.

New Building Ground Breaking

The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center will be having it's Groundbreaking ceremony on June 11th at 11 am. The event will be open to the public and includes comments by the MSU Administration, Board of Trustees and Surplus/Recycling Staff.

The new facility, located near the corner of Farm Lane and Service Road, will include a 10,000 square foot sales floor, a covered exterior sales area, increased parking, and several health and safety enhancements. It will also include an indoor waiting area for the morning lineup of customers, which means no more waiting in the rain, snow and cold. The building is expected to be completed late summer 2009.

The MSU Surplus Store will be closed during the Groundbreaking, so come out to see the site of our new home.

Shipping Frenzy

The MSU Surplus Store has set a new record for the number of items shipped in one day for the department of 56 items. The bulk of these items are 16mm Films but also include Art Prints, Computer Parts, Books, Maps, Paper Cutters even a Tomato Slicer. The MSU Online Sales sites offer a wide variety of goods in auction and Buy It Now formats.

Most items that are ordered are shipped within 2 business days and are packaged with Anti-Static Peanuts and 1/2 inch Bubble in 200 lb wall strength boxes. We offer range of shipping solutions from the US Postal Service to UPS to fright services for large items (Shrink Wrap, Heat Wrap and Banding Services available) to meet our customers needs and budget.

Come check out what we have available on eBay:
http://stores.ebay.com/MSU-Surplus-Store
and our online store:
http://www.msusurplusstore.com/.

Toro Groundsmaster

Toro Groundsmaster lawn mowers

3 Currently Availible (3 Already Sold)

325-D and 223 -D

60"- 72" Recycle decks

Mitsubishi Diesel Engines

1 mower has Cozy Cab w/ Heat and includes 60" plow.

Price ranges from $3000-$4500

Bricks!

Building bricks

approximately 50 pallets

Many colors and styles available

$.25 / brick you must take a whole pallet

App. 200 bricks / pallet

Conference Tables

Versteel conference tables
4 Available
4'x8'
Matching chairs also available.
Tables $300.00/ Each
Chairs $25.00/ Each

Loft Lumber Sales

The MSU Surplus Store recieved a large quantity of loft lumber this move out season. So far most of the lumber has been sold but there is still some items left.

Pictured aboveis what we started with.....and now what we have remaining on the below....

MSU Bike Sale!

MSU Bike Sale!
Spring bike sale at MSU Surplus.
Tentative Sale day 6/20/08
Bikes will be sold on a first come first serve basis (we open at 7:30 a.m.), at the MSU Surplus Store. Price on these bikes are determined by condition, age and model but generally will be from $25.00 to $50.00. This is our second shipment of bikes and we will be receiving more periodically throughout the rest of the summer. Please see Our Hours and Location Information for details on sales hours and directions to the MSU Surplus Store. Any Questions feel free to contact our store at 355-0364 or e-mail us. Item availability and date of sale is subject to change, please call ahead to insure items are in stock.
posted by MSU Surplus Store @ 8:36 AM 0 comments

Drafting Tables

Drafting tables in stock.

42"x31" adjustable top.

Nice heavy duty steel frame.

Many to choose from.

Residence Hall Furniture Now Available

It is that time of year again and the MSU Surplus Store has thousands of residence hall furniture items available for sale. Such as:

Bunk Beds for $40
Single Beds for $20
6 Drawer Dressers for $35
Desks for $10
Hutches for $2

Furniture will become available the week of May 5th but you can pre-order items online now. Mattress and tilt chairs may also be available in the coming weeks. Please note that these items are available by local pick up only.

Delays to Department Pick Ups

Due to move out and the thousands of dorm furniture items being brought over to the MSU Surplus Store there is currently around a 2-3 week delay for department pick up requests due to space constrains in our buildings.

If you have need of an urgent pick-up, please call 5-0364 and we can try and work to have your item stored temporary in another location. Our thanks for your patience and understanding during this busy time.

Current Bike Availibility

Unfortunately, the MSU Surplus Store currently does not have any bikes in stock.

We are still awaiting for the bikes to be collected by DPPS and then those bikes collected have to be held for a period of time. Due to this we are not expecting any till mid to later summer. As soon as we have more information on when they are expected the information will be posted here on our blog.

If you are in desperate need of a bike please see the MSU Bike Project in the basement of Bessey Hall on campus. The MSU Bike Project offers used bikes, bike servicing and leasing of bikes.

Loft Lumber

This years loft lumber is here!

All you can load.

2x4 $1

2x6 $2

4x4 $2

Nice office chairs

45 gently used Chromcraft office chairs.

$65.00/ Each or 5 or more $50.00/ Each.

Available now at the MSU Surplus Store

Limestone -- Sold Out

Limestone Pavers

SOLD OUT

24"x22"x3.5"

$2.00/ Piece

Sold by pallet only
Many pallets available

Planting and Gardening Trays

The MSU Surplus Store currently has around 300 Portable Modular Raised Trays for use in gardens, landscaping, flower beds, green roofs, and many others areas. These items are availible for only $10.00 each and we can offer bulk discounts (please contact us for more information).

These items are approximately 45" X 45"; Depth of 5" to 8 1/4". Beds are made of high-density polyethylene that is very resilient and ridged and easily moved when full or in use.

These items are perfect for all of your indoor or outdoor creative projects! Some possible uses of these trays:

Portable Raised Flower Beds
Athletic Fields (Football, Baseball, Soccer, ect.) either modular or permanent
Garden or Green Roofs
Golf Courses (Tee boxes, Greens)
High Traffic Green Areas
Erosion Control
Modular Planting Areas or Portable Nursery

These items were used in the conversion of MSU's Spartan Stadum field from artificial to natural surface.

MSU Bike Sale!

Spring bike sale at MSU Surplus.

Starting Tuesday 4/1/08

Bikes will be sold on a first come first serve basis (we open at 7:30 a.m.), at the MSU Surplus Store.Price on these bikes are determined by condition, age and model but generally will be from $25.00 to $50.00. This is our first shipment of bikes and we will be receiving more periodically throughout the rest of the summer.Please see Our Hours and Location Information for details on sales hours and directions to the MSU Surplus Store. Any Questions feel free to contact our store at 355-0364 or e-mail us. Item availability and date of sale is subject to change, please call ahead to insure items are in stock.

Paolucci Building Historical Bricks

In December, 2007, the Paolucci Building was razed in preparation for the construction of the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. As part of the reclamation project, some historic artifacts were salvaged, including a limited number of the original bricks. Proceeds from the brick sale will fund the purchase of a commemorative piece, placed at the site of the new Museum. You may also donate your brick directly to the MSU Laboratory Pre-School Paolucci Tribute.

Built in 1947, the Paolucci Building was originally the Home Management House, a laboratory designed for undergraduate students to practice the scientific application of home and family resource management principles. In 1989 the building was renamed for Dr. Beatrice Paolucci. Dr. Paolucci (1921-1983) was a distinguished faculty member at Michigan State University and an international leader in family studies, home economics and human ecology. Her writing and teaching focused on the role of the family in the larger environment and were instrumental in expanding the use of an ecosystem perspective to analyze the effect of individual decisions.

Purchase a Brick

Purchase and Donate your Brick to the Tribute