An auction of used computers and other electronic equipment will take place Saturday at the Teague Special Events Center.
Bidder registration and product viewing will start at 11:00 a.m. The auction will start at 1 p.m.
The Computer Replacement Program replaces all ACU computer equipment every three years. The CRP has been conducting the auction for 6 years. The program gets about 20-25 percent of the original price back. All money from the auction will go back to ACU to purchase new technology equipment.
Robert Schryer, the lead hardware analyst for the ACU Information Technology Department, developed the CRP 10 years ago.
“We got $50,000 from the biggest auction two years ago,” Schryer said. “And since we have a lot of nice computers, we are expecting to break the record this year.”
The auction sells Intel Macs, Dell desktops, notebook computers, digital projectors, B&W and Color HP Laser printers, HP Inkjet printers and many other items, including an ATV (all-terrain vehicle).
“Some students do not have the money to buy brand new computers,” said Isunami Hernandez, junior information technology major from Abilene and one of the student-workers in the hardware office. “The auction offers a great opportunity for students to buy affordable computers.”
Schryer said people may pay 20-40 percent of what a new computer costs. For example, a student may pay about $300 for a computer with the original cost of $1200.
Qinghao Zhang, graduate accounting major from China, attended the auction last year.
“Those equipments are good enough for students. Some of the desktops were maintained well, but some were old, which were produced in 2003 or 2004,” Zhang said.
The department is expecting 100 to 150 people to go to the auction this year.
“People who come should stay till the end,” said Sarah Smith, junior biochemistry major from Wiggins, Colo., and a student worker for the auction. “We will draw a lucky name to get a computer for $1.”
Schryer said ACU is one of the very few schools that offers a live auction and sells individual machines. Other schools may package them for bulk resale. The auction is open to the entire Abilene community.
