Trying to Fix FAULTY Electronic Items for a Profit! S2:E04
Entertainment
Introduction
In this episode of my journey as an electronics fixer, I dive into the challenging world of repairing faulty electronics for profit. I document my progress in "Sally's spectacular spreadsheet," where I keep track of my purchases, sales, and profits.
The Xbox Series X Saga
I've sold an Xbox Series X for a total of £123.73, alongside £7.99 for postage. After deducting eBay fees, my net profit came to £24.26. However, I initially estimated a loss of £170 on this console, which puts me at a total profit of -£136.95. I still have two Nintendo Switch consoles waiting to be sold, making me question whether I'll achieve any profit today.
Feeling defeated from previous Xbox consoles, I decided to purchase another one. This particular console was a launch day Series X, priced at £150. Sadly, the seller indicated it wouldn't power on, and CeX deemed it unrepairable. However, upon testing it, I noticed that while it doesn't power on fully, it does show some signs of life with a beep, indicating that the issue might be repairable.
After a thorough inspection, I discovered that the power supply seemed to be functioning well. Still, I found signs that others had attempted repairs. When disassembling the unit, I noted irregularities with thermal paste, suggesting past tampering.
Furthermore, I checked the SSD and found no immediate faults, yet the console continued to exhibit a beep-on-beep-off behavior. A thermal camera scan indicated potential issues on the bottom board, leading me to conclude that the APU might be damaged. This diagnosis is disheartening, as I’ve had a high fail rate with Series X consoles so far.
The Nintendo Switch Lite Challenge
Next, I turned my attention to a faulty Nintendo Switch Lite that I acquired for £40. Knowing that I could potentially sell it for around £85 to £90, I felt hopeful. Yet, the initial inspection revealed some alarming signs. The analog sticks felt unresponsive, indicating potential damage.
Upon diving deeper, I discovered severe corrosion on the board, likely due to liquid ingress. The Ultrasonic Cleaner was employed to clean up the mess, showing significant improvement. Yet, the extensive damage and rust seemed beyond repair for this particular unit.
Conclusion
Both attempts ended up as losses, with the Nintendo Switch Lite showing -£40 and the Xbox Series X too early to show a final loss. As I updated my figures in "Sally's spreadsheet," the total estimated profit remains at -£685 and the actual at -£595.50 after putting in around 9.5 hours of work, yielding an hourly profit of just £6.26.
Amidst the struggles, I'm determined to make it work and continue my electronics repair journey. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the thumbs up and subscribe for more!
Keywords
- Faulty Electronics
- Xbox Series X
- Nintendo Switch Lite
- Repair
- Profit
- Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Liquid Damage
- Thermal Paste
- Assessment
- Loss
FAQ
1. What is the focus of this video series? The series focuses on buying faulty electronic items, attempting repairs, and selling them for a profit.
2. How are profits assessed in this series? Profits are recorded in a spreadsheet, factoring in purchase costs, selling prices, and any fees associated with sales platforms like eBay.
3. What challenges did the host face in this episode? The host faced challenges including a high failure rate in fixing Xbox Series X consoles and extensive damage to a Nintendo Switch Lite.
4. Are Ultrasonic Cleaners effective in repairing electronics? Ultrasonic Cleaners can effectively remove liquid damage and corrosion from circuit boards, but may not resolve deeper issues related to component damage.
5. How successful was this episode in terms of profitability? Both devices attempted in this episode ended in losses, putting current profits at -£685 in total for the season.