How it Works
The City of Philadelphia recently launched PHLDonateTech, an initiative calling on residents and businesses to share their reusable technological devices so that the City can provide them to families and people in need. The campaign asks you to share any laptops and desktops computers that remain in reusable condition.
Eligible devices collected by Retrievr will be delivered to the NERDiT Foundation, who will safely and securely wipe data from used devices and provide refurbished equipment to communities in need.
On the day of your appointment, bag up your items and leave them on your porch. Please make sure they’re sheltered from the weather; we need your items to stay dry. If you prefer, you can instead leave your items just inside your door and ask that we ring your bell when we arrive. Learn more.
Fees
In support of the PHLDonateTech program, for a limited time, any computer pickups scheduled by Philadelphia residents will have their $10 doorstep convenience fee waived. If any of the below items are included with your pickup, additional convenience fees will be added.
- $10 for each microwave
- $35 for each TV under 150 lbs and monitors that use a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
- $100 for each TV 150 lbs or more, such as those with wooden cabinets or rear-projection TVs
- $50 for each dehumidifier
- $50 for each window air-conditioner
- $50 for each mini refrigerator under 50 lbs
Data Security
At Retrievr we protect your personal information by following a secure chain of custody from your door and then completely wiping or shredding hard drives and other data devices. Devices that are eligible for use in the PHLConnectTech program will be sequestered until transferred to our refurbishing partner NERDit Now, who follows data security handling processes validated by third-party audits. Devices not eligible for PHLConnectTech will be security sanitized at our warehouse and then responsibly recycled.
Certificates of data destruction are available upon request.
Getting Started
Yes you are! We’re still the same company, just with a new name. We feel that Retrievr is a bit more “on the nose” in describing what we do: whether you’re a homeowner or a manufacturer, you can tell us what to fetch and we’ll go get it.
Since you’re already here on our website, just click on the orange “Schedule a Pickup” button.
Or, you may text the word PICKUP to 757-70-FETCH (757-703-3824), and we’ll send you a link to our online scheduling form.
This is our new online scheduling form, just launched in October. We got a lot of feedback from our customers that you wanted a faster way to schedule their pickups. This online form does exactly that: when you text us, we send you a personalized link. Use it to register (if you’re new to Retrievr), tell us what you’re recycling, and schedule your pickup.
Save the link, and you can use it later to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
For those who prefer to stick to texting, you can still do so. While the online form is faster and we think it’s a better experience, we know not everyone can browse the web with their phones.
You can schedule your pickup entirely over text message, if that’s easier for you. When you get our welcome text with the link to our scheduling form, you’ll also see instructions for how to continue using text messages. Instead of clicking on the link, simply reply to our message as instructed.
You can call us at 757-70-FETCH (757-703-3824) and leave a voice mail message. A support agent will contact you and schedule your pickup over the phone.
Two ways. One is to text the word PICKUP to 757-70-FETCH (757-703-3824). We’ll ask for your address and tell you if you’re in our area. Or, you can go to our Locations page to see if we service your town.
Collection & Recycling
We’ll take just about any clean and dry textile or fabric in your home, and most electronic devices or accessories. Please note that we do not take household appliances, such as dishwashers, refrigerators, toasters, vacuums, hair dryers and the like. Please see our How It Works page for the full list of accepted items.
Our mission is to give your items the best possible second life and divert it from landfills. If an item can be resold (as-is, or with a bit of mending), that is our first option. If that’s not possible, your items get recycled in one of several ways. Learn more about how your items get a new life when we Close the Loop.
You can box or bag up any small electronics devices or accessories, such as phones, keyboards, mice, or anything similar. You do not need to box up your larger items like TVs or microwaves. Simply leave those larger items by your door, along with any bags or boxes of smaller items or clothing.
The most important thing is to keep them sheltered from the weather. We typically recommend on your porch just outside your door, or just outside your garage. If you are uncomfortable leaving more valuable items outside, check the next question.
Yes! You might prefer to keep items like computers, phones, or tablets indoors until the driver arrives. When you schedule your pickup, you can ask Retrievr to ring your bell when they arrive. To keep our service contactless, our driver will remain at least 6 feet away from your door until all of your items are outside of your home.
Buyback Program & Fees
Fees for pickup can vary depending on your location. Retrievr charges convenience fees for items that are particularly hard to collect. These fees can vary with your Location, but typically include:
- $10 for each microwave
- $35 for each TV under 150 lbs and monitors that use a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
- $100 for each TV 150 lbs or more, such as those with wooden cabinets or rear-projection TVs
- $50 for each dehumidifier
- $50 for each window air-conditioner
- $50 for each mini refrigerator under 50 lbs
Yes, for a limited time starting in January 2021, you can earn a gift card or similar reward through our Buyback program when you share select brands of smartphones, jackets, sweaters, or other clothing with us. If your items are on our target list of brands, then we might be able to buy them from you.
When you schedule your pickup online, we’ll show you what’s on our target list:
- Pick your product category (e.g., phone, jacket, sweater)
- Look through the list of brands we can buy in that category
- If you see your brand, select it. We’ll show you what it’s worth.
Click Sell to accept our buyback price, and then repeat until you’ve reviewed all of your items.
If you don’t see your brand listed (or if your item doesn’t meet our minimum condition standards), we’ll still recycle it for you.
Add your item to your recycling bag and look for your next item on our target list.
We can recycle them, but we will only buy items that are in great condition. In order to earn the price shown, you must certify that your item shows no visible signs of wear and meets our minimum condition requirements.
Yes, you must separate all of your sellable items into a bag or box clearly labeled “Buyback” with your mobile number, then set it out at your door with your recycling bags on the day of your pickup.
Buyback items mixed into your recycling are not eligible for a reward.
While you can still schedule an ordinary pickup with us over text message, only pickups scheduled online can participate in our Buyback program.
You can start the conversation with us by text message, as long as you click the link in our response to schedule your pickup online. You can also click the “Schedule Now” button on our website to get started.
Absolutely, yes. You’re not limited to the items we’re buying. We will still collect and recycle everything on our list of acceptable items. Just keep your sellable items separate in a clearly marked bag, and put everything else in your separate recycling bag(s).
Typically, within a week after we pick up your items. After we collect your items, we will evaluate your buyback items to determine which ones are eligible for the program. Once our evaluation is complete, we will send you an email with the final amount you earned, a link to redeem your gift card for that amount, and a line item explanation for any items which did not qualify for buyback.
After we collect your items, we will review your collection to confirm your reward eligibility. Some common reasons why you might receive less than the stated value include:
- Missing: The item you listed was missing from the pickup, or was mixed in with your recycling bags. Remember to put all your sellable items into a clearly labeled Buyback bag.
- Condition: The item you submitted showed too much wear and tear. Items must be in excellent condition to qualify.
- For clothing, items must be freshly laundered and dry, with no visible signs of wear such as pilling or holes.
- For electronics, the device must power on, all screens must be free of cracks, any cameras or microphones must be fully functional, and the device must be free of dents, scratches, and other visible signs of wear.
- Incorrect description: The item we received was different from what was listed. For example, say you listed “Patagonia Jacket”, but the bag contained a different brand of jacket that is not eligible.
See our full program terms to review all program rules and requirements.
You can find our Reward Program Terms here.
No. Just as your recycled paper, bottles and cans are not tax deductible, neither are recycled clothing and electronics.
If you have access to a local donation center and prefer to donate some or all of your items, we respect that choice. Donation keeps your items out of the landfill, which makes us happy.
Data Safety
The best way to keep your data private is to remove it yourself, before you recycle your devices.
If you can’t or forget to remove your data, you can rest easy. Retrievr is proud to be your last line of defense in protecting your personal data. We are an e-Steward Enterprise, and all electronic devices we receive are recycled by trusted e-Steward or R2-certified electronics recycling partners. That certification means – among other things – that their data removal processes comply with NIST data destruction guidelines.
The step-by-step instructions vary by the type of device. To skip straight to those instructions, choose one of the links below:
- Windows desktop or laptop computer
- Apple product (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Macbook)
- Gaming system, smart home, or Android device.
The instructions above will walk you through the four steps for removing your data.”
If your device doesn’t power on, there’s no need to take any further action. Retrievr considers these devices scrap, and we send them to a trusted e-waste recycler to be shredded. Shredding the device completely destroys your data.
Removing your data is actually the last step in a four step process. If you want access to any of your files later, or if you want to make sure your data is thoroughly removed and unreadable, then you’ll want need to address these four stages:
- Back up the data you wish to save. If you have photos, emails, files, or other data you want to keep, your first step is to copy them somewhere safe before you start deleting. Learn more about options and why this is important.
- Isolate your device. Remove any connections to wireless networks, paired devices (e.g., Bluetooth headphones, Apple Watch) or cloud-based applications that sync with your device (e.g., iTunes, iCloud, Dropbox).
- Encrypt your data. Encryption scrambles the data on your phone and asks you to set a PIN or password. This means that even if someone is able to recover a fragment of an old file, they won’t be able to read it. Learn more about encryption.
- Remove your data. Wiping your device (often called a Factory Reset) removes any files and apps you added to your device, and restores it to the state it was when it left the factory. Learn more about why you need to wipe your device, not just delete files.
For device-specific instructions, check out the following links on how to delete your personal data from a Windows desktop or laptop computer, Apple product (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Macbook), or Gaming system, smart home, or Android device.
Deleting a file doesn’t actually erase it from your computer; it only hides the file from view. To a computer, “delete” just means that the space in memory is now free to use the next time you create a new file. When that space is used again, the new file takes the place of the old file, and the old file is now truly gone. But until the new file overwrites the deleted file, your delete file is still there and can be accessed by someone who knows how to pull it directly from your computer’s hard drive. Wiping your device protects against that.
Working with Us
Retrievr has a track record of partnering with municipalities across the New Jersey and Greater Philly area that are taking a leadership position in achieving their zero waste goals. When you partner with Retrievr, your residents can text our number to bring a truck to their doorstep for a convenient and safe pickup. Retrievr is free to the municipality.
Contact us at partners@retrievr.com to see how we can work together and serve your community.
Absolutely! We know that as a hauler you already have trucks and expertise in picking up used goods for recycling but that clothing and electronics haven’t been on your list before due to the unpredictable and inefficient nature of these pickups. Work with us and we take the guesswork out of which households have these valuable items – in fact we just hand you the exact house and route sheet making it profitable and worth your while.
Contact us at partners@retrievr.com to see how we can work together and serve your community.
Your customers are looking for responsible ways to recycle or repurpose the clothing and devices they no longer use. Motivated businesses offer Retrievr to their customers as an easy way to keep their products out of landfills and recoup their goods or raw material, all while building customer loyalty and reinforcing their sustainability mission. Moreover, when brands use Retrievr as a means to offer their customers discounts or promotions at the time of recycling, you capture their attention right as they may be contemplating a future purchase.
Contact us at partners@retrievr.com to see how we can become your local collection partner.
You can find our Reward Program Terms here.