OrganizingLA Blog

EcoATM Kiosk Helps You Sell Your Old Electronics

Sprinkles in Beverly Hills eases your late-night cravings with the world's first cupcake ATM. But cupcakes aren't the only things ATMs are dispensing.

 

Southern California is full of modern-day kiosk conveniences; like the world's first cupcake ATM at Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, CA. Coinstar is another innovative kiosk to turn your coins into a gift card or paper bills, Redbox helps you rent movie and video games and Amazon's Locker organizes online purchase package retrieval. So what else is out there?

The EcoATM

Developed by Outerwall in San Diego, EcoATM is an automated device-recycling kiosk that collects unwanted or used cell phones, tablets and MP3 players for instant cash (also known as a cellphone buy-back or trade-in program).

The machines determine the amount by looking at three things:

1. Model
2. Condition
3. Current market value

Did you know by the end of 2015, there will still be an estimated 422 million idle or inactive mobile devices, and out of those, only 99 million will be recycled. They're hoping to help increase the recycled amount. Here's a cool video on how it works.

EcoATM video: 

If you are the kind of person who has amassed a truckload of electronics, and you want to responsibly turn them in (and make some cash), EcoATM sounds like a convenient, easy and safe way to declutter your office.

Your Turn to Comment

What do you think of the new EcoATM kiosks? Would you ever use them? Do they provide enough value for you? Will Apple's iPhone Buy-Back program crush EcoATM? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram (@johntrosko).

 

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John Joins Peter Walsh In His Radio Debut

Recently, John made his radio debut alongside Peter Walsh and Monica Ricci, Organizing Experts and Authors.  Such an honor!

Organizing Playground Hosts Allison Carter and Sara Fisher grilled John on the Los Angeles Organizing Awards (pictured above is Mr. Walsh speaking at the podium at the Organizing Awards last February).  On the radio show, John says:

"The Los Angeles Organizing Awards" is a public celebration honoring the people, products and services that make the nation neater and more productive."

What else does John say?  Does John tell all?  You'll have to listen to the show by downloading the podcast.  There is great information all through the broadcast.  John calls in around 40:00 and joins in on the fun.

Links for the show, hosts and guests:

• Organizing Gym - Allison Carter's Blog
• Sara Fisher's website
• Monica Ricci's blog
• Peter Walsh's "clutter-free" website
• Organizing Playground Radio Show - Archives
• Go directly to the podcast with Peter Walsh and Monica Ricci and hear John, too

Listen to the show and come back here for some feedback.  How do you think John did for his "first time?"

Related Posts:

• BusinessWeek interviews John for small business podcast - listen or read the transcript (PDF)

O-Magazine Offers Organizing Tips and a Sweepstakes

If you're feeling lucky, Los Angeles organizing expert Chris McKenry can help you.

Chris is part of an advertisement in O-Magazine this month for Microsoft's HP Pavilion IQ 770 TouchSmart Computer.  Our colleague offers great tips for organizing your kitchen, home office, wardrobe, mail and time-- many of those tips includes ways you can incorporate technology into your daily life (like we continue to do) by using the TouchSmart.

The HP Pavilion IQ 770 TouchSmart Computer helps plan your family's schedule, manage events and leave personal messages – all at your fingertips, on a touch screen. 

Here's a sample Conquer Your Clutter tip we love:

"Another key to staying organized is keeping items where they are used. You normally don’t leave the milk, fish, and eggs sitting on the dining room table when returning home from the grocery after a difficult day. Think of the mail as perishable and keep those surfaces uncluttered. No matter how tired you are, get in the habit of placing the mail on your desk.

Record events in your TouchSmart calendar and recycle the invitations."

To read more of Chris' Get It Together LA! organizing tricks, check out this month's O magazine on newsstands now.  You can also read the online version and enter to win a variety of prizes (including a TouchSmart and a visit by a professional organizer), by clicking here.

Wood Organizing Products

Wood you make the switch and move away from plastic organizing products, if you could?

A down-to-earth client and I have been researching wood-based (or bamboo) organizing products, not necessarily because they're eco-friendly, they're beautiful, functional, and sturdy.

From PlayEngine in the UK, comes this incredible LCD TV (right) and computer monitor (left) made of bamboo.  The components on the cover, except for the buttons, are made entirely of bamboo. The electronic components are lead free and comply with CE and EU safety approvals.

From BusinessChairs.com, comes this Asian Pacific Hardwood Mat (right) perfect to save your carpet.  Bamboo is easier on flooring since bamboo mats don’t use spikes to hold themselves in place.  Made from all-natural products, unlike rubber chair mats which are made from petroleum based products.

Ballard Designs hosts these Grand Cru Wine Crates, crafted of fir with routered plank details and branded on all four sides with a charming label.

If wine isn't your thing, try these barn wood and chalkboard bins, from VivaTerra.  Contain those newspapers, toys and craft supplies in something more earth-friendly, (and stylish.)

This unfinished cedar binder from Wood Box Supply is so unusual, with it's different tones of wood. Ships with a standard 3-hole ring, functional for to-go restaurant menus, a business card carrying case, or household binder.

Wood you know of any earth-friendly, wood or bamboo products?  Please share.

• Source:  Oh Gizmo (story idea and photo)

Costco Offers An Inspiring Multi-Purpose Room Divider

Costco is always surprising us.

Not only do they sell peanuts and popcorn, they like to throw in the occasional Picasso.

This room divider is a truly inspiring piece of multi-functional furniture.  Great for a high-rise home where function really needs to follow form.  But in this case, they're running the LA Organizing Marathon at the same pace.

In addition to the flat panel TV, the divider has ample storage, shelf storage and oversized utility drawer storage.  Bookcase open storage and display storage.  Yum.

• Found through Modern Self

Buy These And Say Goodbye To Bread Clips

Unplug the fax, and the clock turns off.  Unplug the printer and the hard drive shuts down.

The solution sounds easy-- label the wires dummy.  But how?

Do you know how long we saved those plastic bread bag clips just because some lifestyle guru told us to?  And then the bag closures sat around in our tool kit for 2 years gathering dust until we ate enough bread to label our own office.  And then we never labeled anything.

Now, we guess that's our fault.  But who new we could never find a permanent pen with a sharp enough point to label those little suckers.  So, years of hunting and gathering went into the trash.

Well, those days are now gone because we've discovered these pre-printed ID labels for the legions of plug-in's around the crib.