Quick answers to common questions.

Working Intel Core CPUs (i3, i5, i7, i9 — 3rd gen onwards), DDR4 and DDR5 consumer RAM (8GB sticks and up), and SSDs / NVMe drives 256GB and larger. We don't currently buy consumer AMD Ryzen / Threadripper desktop CPUs. Server-grade hardware (Xeon, EPYC, ECC RDIMM / LRDIMM server RAM from modern servers) we do buy — quoted on receipt rather than on a fixed list (Xeon flow, ECC server RAM flow). We don't buy motherboards, graphics cards, PSUs, cases, or DDR2 / DDR3 RAM.

£30. Below that the cost of testing and processing the payout doesn't pencil out. Bundle a few more components or wait until you've got more pulled.

The £30 is on the total batch value, not per part. So a single £14 NVMe doesn't qualify on its own, but two NVMes plus an old i5 totalling £40 does. We're happy to bundle whatever odds and ends you have.

Yes. We bench-test every component on receipt at no cost to you. Send them in untested — we boot CPUs, run memtest on RAM, and SMART / read-back checks on drives. If a component is confirmed working you get the full quoted Grade A price. If it fails we return it at our expense, or route it via our WEEE channel if you'd rather not have it back.

Sometimes — for popular models we pay a reduced "for spares / repair" rate. Mention condition up-front in your email so we can quote accurately.

Once we receive your batch, expect testing and a per-line grading report within 1–2 business days (usually faster on small batches, longer on 500+ component bulk consignments). Payment goes by Faster Payments after you accept the report — typically same business day.

Yes — you arrange and pay for postage to us (we email the address after you lock your quote). Use any UK carrier you prefer: Royal Mail Tracked is fine for small batches, DPD or Evri better for larger ones. We cover return postage on any failed components.

For larger batches (typically 30kg+ or recurring monthly) we can arrange a courier pickup. Send us your postcode and the rough breakdown — we'll quote the route in your initial email reply. More on bulk trade →

Yes, by appointment — our facility is in Rochdale. Useful if you're local or want to see the bench-test setup. Email info@chipflip.co.uk a working day in advance with the rough batch detail and we'll book a slot.

If a component is damaged through poor packaging, it's regraded — usually as Grade B (cosmetic) or Grade X (broken). We email you photos and the regrade reason within 1 business day of receipt. You can accept the regrade or have the item returned at our cost.

Yes. See our bulk and trade page for the volume uplift on Grade A and worked examples, or email info@chipflip.co.uk with your typical batch profile.

Scrap merchants pay you for the metal in the chip — in the UK weighbridges typically pay around £13–16/kg for mixed pulled CPUs, £60–75/kg for RAM, and under £5/kg for SSDs. We test and resell each component into the secondary market, so the same chip is worth 50–100× more whole than melted. A 5kg pile of mixed CPUs that would fetch ~£75 at scrap can return several thousand pounds when sold per part.

The prices listed are for Grade A — boots cleanly, no bent pins, no thermal damage, all original markings legible. Grade B (minor cosmetic flaws like sticker residue or one bent pin) pays 80–90% of list. Grade C (untested but pulled from a working system) pays 60–80% as a deposit, with the balance issued after we confirm working on test. Grade X (faulty / damaged beyond economic repair) we don't usually pay for.

Component resale prices fluctuate with the secondary market — particularly on RAM and NVMe storage, which track DRAM and NAND wholesale. We refresh listed prices regularly. Quotes you've already accepted are locked at the price quoted, regardless of subsequent market movement.

7 days from the time you accept the quote. As long as the batch is posted within that window, the locked price holds even if our public list moves.

Photo evidence comes with every grading report. If a regrade looks wrong, reply with reasoning and we'll re-bench. If we still can't agree, the whole batch is returned at our cost — no obligation to accept.

All drives are securely wiped on receipt — a multi-pass cryptographic erase that complies with UK and EU data protection expectations. We don't read, copy, or recover any data; the wipe runs before we even bench-test for resale grading. A wipe record (with serial numbers) is included on bulk-trade reports for end-client ITAD reporting.

No — we wipe it on receipt regardless. You're welcome to wipe yourself first if it helps your own peace of mind, but it doesn't change anything our end. (For business / ITAD sellers who need a documented wipe trail, the per-batch wipe record we issue is what most ITAD reporting needs.)

SSD/NVMe prices assume 100% SMART drive health on receipt — no reallocated sectors, no end-of-life flags, no media-wear warnings. If a drive grades lower we pay pro-rata: a 90%-health drive pays 90% of the listed price, an 85% drive pays 85%, and so on. Drives below 80% health we don't pay for as resale stock — we'll route them via our WEEE channel or return at our cost, your call. Most consumer drives under 5 years of light use still report 95–100% health.

UK law (Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013) requires us to verify the identity of anyone selling used IT components. It's a one-time check on your first sale; we keep your details on file for 2 years for repeat sales. More about photo ID →

Yes. ChipFlip is operated by Pyco Renew Ltd, registered in England (Company No. 16774881), VAT GB505306526. The registered office is in Rochdale.

Currently UK only — we serve mainland England, Scotland, and Wales with postage at your cost. Northern Ireland and Highlands & Islands surcharges may apply (we'll quote that case-by-case).