Free Geek

Free Geek is a nonprofit that exists in many other cities in the U.S., but I’m not thrilled with how the Portland FreeGeek folks communicate. Many people have been on FreeGeek’s wait list for a laptop for over a year and more. It’s not cool to ghost these people that have been waiting. Especially considering most people on your wait list are disabled, low-income, students, and/or single parents. If you lost funding to give out free laptops, it’s okay to just say so. It’s much better than ghosting people. Please communicate with us instead of ghosting. There are many people on your waitlist for a laptop that are wondering what happened and that would really appreciate more direct communication from you. Please do the right thing.

When my girlfriend and i arrived we were greeted with warm smiles and good mornings. We told the front desk that we wanted to do the orientation and we were handed the correct paperwork to fill out. We were then given a tour of the facility and it was clean and all the employees and volunteers had their safetly gear on and were eager to answer questions when asked. The facility itself was very clean and organized. They had signs explaining where and what everything was and located. Even had different colored tape on the floor to help guide a person. They accept donations and even have specially trained employees that will wipe any hard drives from computers brought in. Breakroom for employees and volunteers was spacious and inviting. There is an area that was available for open use of computers that you can sign up to use. The company also has a little incentive for the volunteers. Every 24 hours spent volunteering you have the option to get a free laptop or desktop computer. They offer classes to help anyone in the community learn their computer. Over all we enjoyed our tour and look forward to our volunteer time.

My friend got his response, not kidding immediately. I haven't had a single email responded back in three years. Yikes. It was for Disabled, Hearing n Sight challenged person ( me) who needs that stuff if possible too. But a laptop is essential. I'm trying to recover from financial ruin from home N our place of business, Robbery. Yes, group got a lifetime of my families money. Thank you

While they are doing good work, the loss of the in person store (not totally clear on the website) isn't justified by pandemic closures that occurred 4-5 years ago. Let's not use covid as an excuse to permanently change our business model. Putting everything on Ebay is not helpful. Like another reviewer said, part of the fun was checking out the used gear in person. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find another used computer store that is completely online like Free Geek is. The very long message on their answering system says they are closed for "safety".? I didn't see any elderly people that seem to have compromised immune systems working there, so whose safety are we talking about? Do we not trust the health experts in the state of Oregon health department to tell us it's safe to reopen businesses fully, as of a few years ago? This kind of thinking is why Portland is the city ranked second from the bottom in recovering from covid closures.

I volunteered here a long time ago and it was a great experience - now whenever I can bring them old tech I make sure to and keep an eye out for the weekend sales and what gets listed on the eBay store. Free Geek has allowed me to access more tech than I could have otherwise and I love the work they're doing in our community ✨

Unique thrift store dealing ONLY with computer items and electronics. Very knowledgeable staff who seem to be all volunteer. For sure most were younger than 40 something. We had been here several times before when we needed to update our computer systems and needed some place to gift our old stuff. The idea that you can volunteer somewhere and learn how to do computer tech work, well, if that's not unique I don't know the meaning of the word. Our visit this time wasn't to donate, literally because when you bring old equipment, don't bring your junk and you should bring at least a $10 bill to donate with the goods. What we needed this time were screws. Yup. Screws. Particular kinds that fit together a hard drive and another unit. The manufacturers must have figured out they save all kinds of money if they just omit the screws. Free Geek got us out of a bind with time and they kept me from having to go to commercial electronics store, like Be-- B-y and navigate their system just to find out that we would be paying outrageous price for four screws. Instead, we had a likable guy Chad. He was cordial, but not overly so. Uniquely professional. He was able to go in the back and find the exact thing we wanted. He wasn't going to charge us, so we donated a few dollars and were on our way. Highly recommend, especially if you need a computer and can donate your time for one, as well as find a geek society to hang with. If I were younger, I know I'd have been a regular. It's definitely a haven for those who want to learn Ubuntu and other OS's besides Gates's OS. Love the concept. Like the People and the shop's pretty cool, too.

Wow!!! The whole concept of the Free Geek store is amazing: recycling e-waste, installing free and open source software on refurbished computers and educating volunteers about computer basics! I've joined the afternoon tour and I would love to spend a few hours of volunteer work if I have the chance to visit Portland, OR again.

I am so grateful to have Free Geek in our community. They are a valuable resource and I buy all of my laptops from them. Highly recommend.

Great place to donate your old electronics, and help others be able to enjoy them when you've upgraded yourself. Also great when you're looking for all the electronics that are still working! Definitely recommend.

Post-COVID, FreeGeek is very different; paid staff does all the refurbishment, and their retail operation is limited to pop-ups which seem to occur less often than monthly. There's no more technical support, and ordering & payment is handled by eBay, though there is a local pickup option.

First of all, they no longer have a store. All their stuff has been moved to their eBay site. There is very little for sale at the actual geographical location. If they brought the store back, I'd bump them up two stars to three stars total. The clerks often lack customer service skills. When I was there with my friend... i want to say 8 years ago, my friend asked the clerk if they had something that was a new item. The clerk acted like it was a ludicrous question. When working in a customer service position, it pays to not let on that you think a question is ridiculous- customers have feelings. Much more recently (within the last three months) my friend and I drove up to the store from Corvallis (about 90 minutes away) and we let drop how far we had come to look at monitors, and the clerk didn't give a crap. I think it would behoove FreeGeek to have people in customer service positions that aren't just knowledgeable but also gave a crap about customers' feelings. I spent basically 3 hours on the road for nothing, and he didn't care. Very frustrating.

The folks at Geek are enthusiastic about their work to salvage or repair electronic devices....

This is a cool business with a neat idea. You can take your electronics here, and they will either recycle it properly, reuse it, or or use it for educational purposes. There a reasonable donation request, but it's much better than taking it to other places where you don't know where the electronics might end up. Parking is easy, as they have their own parking lot. You don't have to go in either. They have it setup where everyone keeps their distance with minimal interactions. If you donate a certain amount, you get a free T-Shirt, so you too can be a Geek...

Very responsive and customer oriented team. Saved me from making some costly errors on the fix it / buy a new one laptop trail. Low key and knowledgeable. I am a computer moron and they were able to help me without making me feel as tech illiterate as I really am.

What a great organization! We donate all our old tech to these folks with confidence. If you are in need of tech and can't afford it then you can volunteer your time to earn a computer - how great is that?!? Especially in this day and age. Every time I drop by to donate I encounter some of the nicest people that work or volunteer there. Their open hours are limited and they are limited in what they will take but their website is very easy to follow and look up that information. Cheers!

Well, the selection of products was so-so. No digital cameras or old cellular phones. The place was clean inside and well organized. Service - depends who you get. A lot of young kids working and one young man was very grabby and talky with me (20 yrs + his senior). I felt the younger kids had absolutely no respect and were constantly talking over me if I asked a question or were trying to 'find' stuff for me when I knew exactly what I wanted. A gentleman, maybe in his 40s who helped me was extremely polite and answered all questions very honestly and thoroughly. Prices are fair and if you need computer accessories then this is ok. But other electronics, not so much.

My Darling Husband and myself have donated older items to this Free Geek location. There were a few items that were for sale the last time we were donating Pre Pandemic that I thought my Husband would like to buy... but he wanted a wireless version instead. I recommend donating during the earlier time rather than the later time in the afternoons, because there are locations nearby to stop and pick up lunch items. This Free Geek is fairly close to the Burgerville location on Southeast Hawthorne and 12th Avenue in case you're wondering. There is a suggested fee for donating. There is an online website for Free Geek as well. I've browsed that website. Most of the items are for people who want to build their own computer... if that's your bag. I was told that Free Geek will recycle your broken newer style record player... even if it's Bluetooth isn't working anymore. Good to know.

Great place to donate your used tech. They can wipe your data if you don't know how. I also bought a computer from them to use as a home server which has worked flawlessly.

You do not need that $3,000 Apple laptop. You can get by with a $100 Lenovo, trust me This place rules. Cheap, used, ex-corporate computers for an amazing price. Friendly staff, great mission.

I'm honestly a little surprised by the negative feedback I'm seeing on here. I walked into the shop section of the building this morning (Tuesday) right as they opened at 10:AM and had a great experience. I was only there for about ten minutes, didn't have too many questions for the staff, but the few that I did were kindly answered and helpful, mostly regarding their return policy and hardware testing. My MacBook Pro screen cracked and went haywire last night so I was pretty much on a mission to find a decent external monitor to immediately start using today. I left with a brand new looking 24" widescreen Dell monitor w/power cable, HDMI to DVI cable, thunderbolt cable as a backup option if needed, and a keyboard so that I could run my broken-screened computer in clamshell mode with the new monitor setup. The guy at the counter saw me holding everything in line and suggested I just put it all up at that counter while I waited instead of having to hold onto it the whole time. When being checked out, they said they'd just throw in all of the wires I got as a bonus, which was nice. Somehow everything all together only came to $5 over the posted amount for the monitor alone. I pointed this out, thinking something wasn't right, and they just smiled and said I was all set. Insane deal, given everything I got. Came home, immediately set everything up and tested everything out. All good! My guess is that this place is PERFECT for someone like myself that knows exactly what they want and what to look for and lookout for, and perhaps a bit more challenging for someone that has less of a plan walking through the door. I'll definitely come back here again in the future.

Does your favorite little (or large) geek want a computer for the holidays? Get the cute little freeloader out of the house and they can earn their own computer at Free Geek. Free Geek has two programs that allow volunteers to earn a computer. Option 1 - The Adoption Program Give 24 hours of your time to Free Geek helping with the recycling, testing, data entry and/or processing donations and get a computer. Option 2 - The Build Program Intrigued by the inner workings of computers. Free Geek will teach you to build computers. You don't even need any experience and you get to keep the 6th computer you build. Free Greek uses local industrial recyclers to process the broken and obsolete computer components. Meaning Free Greek does not ship the broken toxic bits to be melted down and dumped into the main water source of some developing country. If you are geeky enough to already know how to build your own computer, check out the Free Geek thrift store. The place is filled with random computer parts.

Who would want my old Toshiba laptop from 1997? Free Geek! They even took a hopeless old hp printer and a vintage Compac PC! I received excellent customer service, everyone was super nice. They offered to come out to my car and lug the equipment in. The checkout person was very friendly and helpful. They suggested a optional $16 donation, but I insisted on giving Free Geek a $20. I felt lucky to have this option. It was quick and EZ to get that old equipment recycled to those who need it.

Great people who are doing really good things. I would give them all the help they need.

They take all your old electronics for free, wipe them if need be and refurbish them for school or low income people. How can you beat that?

I miss the old times of the actual thrift shop here, now I just don't even bother. I get it, they can't make money on rummaging things but going to look at fully built computers when you're a dork is like a mechanic checking out car-max. There was a time when I would Jones to go back but now I've done without for a while and the couple people in the back aren't exactly friendly when you do have a question about something in the back. Hope things change.

OMG! This place used to be so cool. Not sure what changed within their organization, but they aren't the helpful recycling resource they used to be. I tried calling the thrift shop looking for a specific cable so I wouldn't have to waste gas and drive 25 minutes from East Portland just to check. But they don't answer the phone. Instead, you get a long message about how their inventory always changes and you should go there to see what they have - and then you get the option to push '0' to speak with someone. But they still don't answer and the "mailbox is full." Sure seems counterintuitive to a mission of "environmental sustainability" if they want people to DRIVE there to check their inventory. AND, the last time I was in the store the staff behaved like customer questions were annoying. They clearly had fun telling stories amongst themselves, but everything else seemed to bother them. I really felt bad for the other customers looking for help. I just needed a basic/universal power cable, so I felt lucky until I walked up to the counter. They charge $3.00 for a used power cord!! Damn! Goodwill only charges $1.00 - and THEY are over-priced. Other thrift stores like Salvation Army or Teen Challenge only charge 50¢ for a power cord. The other reviews are spot on about them being expensive. I just looked at their eBay page and, for example, they have an old flip-style alarm clock listed at $36, and several TV remotes for around $20! Unfortunately, this place is not now what it was then. Many, many better options available around Portland - and with a better attitude! Goodbye Freegeek - you've lost my business and donations forever.

The reasons I am writing this review is that my personal observations of FreeGeek are from someone riding the Bus & using a Bicycle to get there to volunteer from SW Portland deep in the suburbs.... I like that there is Bicycle Secure Bicycle Parking all outside of the front of the building....I can park one of my e-Bikes or Hybrids locked down w/ Kryptonites & not have heart attack every single second Im there.....!! As far as the staff Theres good & bad just like anywhere.... Ive noticed "Customer Service" has gone down like a nosedive in other sectors of the Retail & Places of Business....Im so not worried about anything in that regard....I thank FreeGeek for still being around after a little over 18 years I called Google on theyre Birthday & was met w/ someone who was very jovial & appreciated the thought....!! Happy Freeking Keep on Geeking!!

Need a free computer? Need to learn how to use a computer? Love to help your community? IT'S ALL HERE!

My friends at 12:01 computer repair referred me to Free Geek to unload-or donate some electronics. This place is great. I researched them on-line before I went in...their website is very thorough in describing their services. You are allowed to safely donate your unused electronics, most items accepted. No household appliances of course. I walked through their thrift store first. Like a mini-store of cords, old computers, keyboards, tablets, cases for phones, computers and more. Then I went to the donation counter. The host was so cheerful. She explained how it works. I just gave my unused printer to the receiving clerk. I had forgotten some software and manuals, but he declared they didn't need any of those items. After leaving the receiving area I headed back to the host-counter. She drew up a receipt and suggested donation - for handling my item and putting it back into the community. They suggest an amount, but feel free to give what is comfortable. What a great resource: They offer training, volunteer opportunities, free classes. If you make a donation you can receive a discount in their thrift store. Easy access in and out of this operation. Street Parking. Felt better donating here than a Goodwill for instance.

My husband and I have been going to Free Geek for a long time. I bought a T-shirt. We always have great customer service. The employee Randy is very nice, knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you for helping the community!

Best way to recycle electronics! This nonprofit recycles, provides training to youth and a whole lot more. What's not to love?

I've been visiting Free Geek with donations for almost as long as they've been around. I've also bought parts and computers from them. Last week I bought a complete system, with the help of Randy's excellent service. He really listened to what I was trying to do with the system and made just the right recommendations. I'm a happy customer... again!

I needed to set up a home office that would work with my company supplied laptop. I wanted to replicate the double monitor set up I have at my office. Larry was incredibly helpful. They were having a sale on monitors, he recommended two and set them aside for the 20 minutes it took me to run home for the work laptop I left there. He assisted me in set up, made sure I had the cables needed, Better tech support than my company supplies me with, I got what I needed for under $50. My company would supply me with equipment but then I can't use it for personal use as well, figured that I might want to use my own laptop with this setup as well. I have donated to free geek, both money, and equipment, my SO volunteers there as well. This place is awesome, the people are awesome. I have a home office now, and I haven't contributed to the e waste problem, so happy!

Love the thrift store, but I went in and asked if I could use a screw driver to replace some ram in my lap top and they just told me they "weren't a work space." I'm living out of a back pack, they could see that.. There's a disconnect here between what they say their message is and what the moronically code of conduct minded people behind the counter were saying. You're not going to get a thousand people in here asking for help if you let one homeless Dude use a screw driver. And I really do like the place, but I figured they deserved at least one bad review for that. In the very least they could have given me a better reason and not come off like mindless unhelpful drones. Maybe apologized for having to follow a dumb rule.. Anything is better than citing a general guideline and following it with a blank stare that merely said "not my problem." Grah. Ruined my day!

After I volunteered for this place, I started encouraging my workplace to make equipment donations to them. This is after their mandatory CRT monitor charge fell off the radar. Do we get tax breaks for computer donations? Sure. But through the grapevine I heard they try and strong arm non-profits into donating money to them, who wouldn't get a tax break. Surely you're all on the same side? I know they must be underfunded but the economy is hurting everyone. And I also know they get grants from the state to do what they do and work entirely off volunteer labor. Not to mention the staff are surly and rude when you do try and get help unloading equipment. And by equipment I mean servers worth 1000s of dollars that could easily be sold on Ebay or Craigslist. There are other options for disposing corporate e-waste that are much more friendly and are also non profits.

Let me preface this review by saying that I'd heard about Free Geek before. But all I knew about it was that volunteers learned about and refurbished computers and provided them to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford one (yes, I love technology, but damn it's expeeeensive!). However, after actually going there, I know now that it extends way beyond that. Through Free Geek, you can geek out through volunteering with the adoption or the build programs, both programs ending in the opportunity to keep a computer. Oh hai!! That pretty much is awesome. Free education. Free computers. Hells yeah! But if you're not necessarily into building computers, you can always stop by the thrift store. Yesterday, it was all about scoring some $10 RAM that would have otherwise cost upwards of $500. Apparently my parents' computer takes some weird convoluted type of memory, and leave it to Free Geek to have it. Well, not only have it, but to talk to us for about ten minutes about the intricate and effed-up history of the stuff. The dude helping us was pretty hilarious in this respect, and we left knowing that the story of this particular RAM could be translated well into a suspenseful made-for-TV thriller. Even the old biker man in line behind us couldn't help but butt in and tell us how stupid that RAM was. Sheesh. I guess there are certain things I'll never get. So maybe I SHOULD enlist in some of Free Geek's education.....

I spent $400 here for a new computer, and I had to put it together myself. I found out later that I could have bought a brand new one that was twice as powerful for the same price. I had a friend of mine, is is a builder from Free Geek assemble the computer for me because I didn't want to mess it up. Turns out it was broken. When I asked them to fix it they held it for over a month and didn't fix anything. When I asked them for a refund, I was first offered store credit, but then they decided not to even do that. I was really disappointed not only because I was swindled out of $400, but because I really believed that there was finally a business out there that was truly trying to better it's community... I was wrong. Update; After informing the BBB, and making a formal Consumer Complaint with the Or. Att. General, Free Geek has agreed to refund me in the form of store credit. Darren Heiber, the current Sales Supervisor, called and was very polite and helpful. I'm happy to say that we have worked things out, and I am changing my 1 Star rating to a 3 Star rating. Thanks to Everyone who helped resolve this.

=-=-=-=-=-=Microsoft is evil.=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-=-Recycling is good.-=-=-=-=-=- Welcome to Free Geek. A truly "Portland" non-profit if there ever was one. This community hub does the dirty work of recycling that computer that has been sitting in your attic for the past decade. Moreover, they will take the working bits of that computer, use them to make a better computer, then give it to someone who needs it (like us poor people or a non-profit organization). Since it's inception, there have been a number of Free Geek copycats around the world, but we have the original right here in Stumptown! You can volunteer to earn a free computer if you so desire. Meet interesting people who are retired and/or computer nerds. Learn why Bill Gates is an evil capitalist and how you can stop him (though his foundation is really quite remarkable - Thanks Melinda). Free Geek is awesome because they sell cheap computers and computer components in their Thrift Store. Oh, and less mercury in the river = less of your grandchildren who will die. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Donation time advertised as 10-6 Tue-Sat. Showed up at 600 on the nose. "We're closed, and you can't drop stuff off, even though the drop-off area is literally 5 feet from where you are standing." Hey, sorry I interrupted you punching your time card; I'll give my free donation of equipment to Goodwill.

Be wary of their returns. Bought an overpriced vintage computer not realizing what I was getting and now I can't get back $170 after 2 days.

Wonderful charity and thrift store, I've personally shopped at this place for 2~ years and don't plan on stopping! Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Five Stars.

I was referred to Free Geek by the Office Depot nearby and ended up having a very brief yet unpleasant encounter with one of the male clerks at Free Geek. I walked in to simply ask a question about a product that Office Depot had suggested Free Geek would either have or know where to refer me to. No one was available right away as one clerk was momentarily busy at the computer behind the counter, so I patiently waited until he was done with whatever it was he was doing, about 25-30 seconds later. He was very rude about his; ".... are you ready to check out?" question to me. However, I was not checking out, I was actually needing to ask a simple question and then leave. I asked my question and he rudely replied while rolling his eyes, "they sale that on their website" and continued to do work at his computer. I mentioned Office Depot had actually referred me here (to Free Geek) but then he got even more disturbed toward me as if I offended him. Apologies if I did... Ironically, he tells me he used to work at Office Depot. But I didn't care - I simply wanted my question answered and to leave. His demeanor was not welcoming at all. And I understand "customer service" is not their focus point, but I would strongly suggest for the clerks there working, be very cognizant of the people that come into your store because it is a thrift store, which is very unique for me! So, you don't know who you're going to engage with. I was able to read other reviews and I may have considered coming back since I work with hardware often, but my brief encounter was horrible. I'm in strong hopes that the individual at Free Geek who contributed to this review, is a genuine and nice person inside. Maybe he just forgot to show that with me today.... -TK

Free Geek is a non-profit that seeks to divert computer and electronic waste from landfills to the people through reuse & recycling! They accept donations of any computer equipment and offer volunteers training and a refurbished computer in exchange. My experience has been at the thrift store, filled with shoppers on both of my visits. When I needed something to convert floppys from an old laptop to a new one, they had the $30 part for $5. A new USB cable at Best Buy & Circuit City runs $25-30. Free Geek had two boxes full for $1 each. Yes! They are doing good things and you can get great deals if you know what you need. Easy street parking or lock your bike with about 15 others in front of the shop.

A great concept and a worthwhile Portland non-profit. FG is a great place to donate your old computer or peripherals. The thrift store is spotty at best---beat up keyboards sell for $6 (a new one at best buy is $10) and their used computers (which are often beat up) cost triple the price of similar ebay units (and FG's have linux operating systems). Regardless of their quirks, Free Geek fills their niche nicely and it's another fine Portland institution.

Got a power cable for 1200% less than at a corporate store. I'll take it! Thanks.

Free Geek is about as good as it gets. They take donated goods and turn around an give them new life again in an affordable and sustainable manner. They work to create living wage jobs and often have internships (with livable wages!) that equip the internees with valuable skill sets. You can come into their store (or call) and receive excellent customer service -- and best of all: thrift store computers! If you need a bit of ram or some speakers or whatever and don't want to pay out the nose or spend your days combing Craigslist, Free Geek is the place to come (Tuesday through Saturday.) They never cease to make my treasure-hunting soul some kinda happy.

If you're a woman and especially if you sound like you know something about computers, don't waste your time even talking to these bros. I called to find one specific item for an older laptop and the guy couldn't have been more condescending, rude and impatient. After he told me "Nope, don't have", I went on to ask about recycling some parts that had been hard to find when I had a need for them years ago. After I'd stopped speaking, this very rude very young male said "Sorry, what did you say? I wasn't paying attention". I asked to speak to a manager and of course he said I couldn't. I asked for his name, so I could report this to the manager when I could get hold of (100% certain this is correct pronoun) him. The very rude young male refused to give that, too. Called back and spoke to the female (of course) receptionist. She said there was no manager available either, and when I told her the rude male wouldn't give his name, she said "Well, I wasn't there, so I don't know what happened". Which was of course a completely unwarranted implication that what I had just told her was a lie. Please, if you're a woman or if you care about how women are treated in computer stores, do us and yourself a favor and avoid this place.

I'm in desperate need of a computer monitor, but nothing fancy, so I figured I'd give this place a try. I asked the woman working if there were any great deals for just a basic monitor and her response was "they're right there. Whatever one you like." So I followed up with an explanation that I really didn't know anything about monitors and her response yet again was, "just whatever one you like". I realize this is a thrift store, but honestly, she couldn't have been more dismissive and rude. Won't be spending any money there, despite them being in the right price range and for a good cause.

The place to get used electronic equipment and fresh advice. I have had a problem with charging cord for a MacBook Pro. It was not 'lighting up' on the connector that is inserted into the computer. I stopped by the store to get help. The tech support was not open when I was there. But one of the volunteers, Ryan, listened to my story and advised me on the best process to get the problem corrected. As always, no charge and very good help from a volunteer. Store has a fast turnover of products and I have found some dandys.

My experience with Free Geek is a bit more limited than I'd care to admit. Frankly, if I lived closer, I might be camping out in front of their storefront! Having had the pleasure of once peeking 'behind the curtain' to see their inner workings, it certainly seems that they have a kind and understanding relationship with their volunteers, helping them along if there's something they don't quite 'get.' As for anyone that takes issue with the 'customer service,' it IS a volunteer organization. As such, some people that volunteer might not be cut out for the retail sector. At least they're out there helping!

Free Geek is a non-profit that recycles or reuses electronics and computer equipment. They donate rebuilt computers to the community. Volunteers build working computers from the recycled parts. These are then given to community businesses and other non-profits. They even sell some of these systems at their thriftstore. Costs for these systems are generally less than $100 to the general public. However, keep in mind that these systems are generally not top of the line in that they are made from recycled parts. Some of these computers are sold in the thriftstore. The store contains a lot of recycled parts. This is a great resource if your DVD player on your computer stops working. You can just replace it with a used one here. I find the store especially useful for buying cabling. You will find a lot of different cables for USB, DVI, RCA, ethernet, firewire, etc. You might be able to find some hard to find adapters, but you may have to do a lot of rummaging. You will not normally find HDMI or other high end cables here though. People don't donate those things after all! They typically have used routers and usb hubs and things like that. They also have a regular - but small selection - of used laptops and LCD monitors. You can typically find one or two Macs for sale as well. Gamers on a budget will want to check out their selection of used video cards. Volunteers get a 20% discount at the store. They used to get an impressive 50% off though. Still a good deal. If you volunteer for a total of 24 hours, you get a free computer! This can be a good way to learn about the inner workings of computer hardware while earning a free computer. Free geek supports open source software. Their computers therefore come installed with Linux - and not Windows. In general, this is a good organization. They help our environment by recycling computers and contribute to the community by donating computers. The thriftstore is a good resource to find used peripheral and parts. Since they are a non-profit, their return policy is not as liberal as you may be used to. In addition, when dealing with recycled parts, reliability and currency are not strengths. It would be important to come in with reasonable expectations about what you will be getting.

This nonprofit is THE best place to donate your aging technology. The wiz-kids here, young and old alike, are all great and recycling all usable and needed parts, and what isn't distributed to schools or city locations in need is in the store for you. Very helpful and friendly folk, and the classes they offer to the community are great as well. If you have some free time and find computer technology interesting - check 'em out! They're always open to more volunteers. Great organization, all-around.

Truly a force of Good in the universe.... long live Free Geek! The local press has been effusive and by no means stingy in its praise, when it comes to Free Geek. But who would possibly think to be-grudge the love? Free Geek continues to be a fabulous resource in the community at-large and trains volunteers and of course provides nifty technological support for many agencies in need. I've donated more computer goodies to Free Geek than I've ever bought from their thrift store, but there are some awesome bargains to be had-- especially if you have older systems, e.g., mouse or keyboard w/o the USB port cords. They were also the first place I ever found dvd-cd rom drives w/writing and erasable capabilities for some nifty upgrades on some loved ones' desktops. Sure these are standard features nowadays, but it won't be long till large screen i-pads will be available, dirt cheap, in bargain bins at The Geek......

What an awesome place! The sweetheart has been building his own lights lately so we stopped here to see what they had. While they didn't have the size that he was looking for, they had a lot of neat things. I especially like that they have so many wires, the kind of wires that you need all the time.

Free Geek is a great organization and you'll get amazing deals on equipment and make a slight less heinous impact on the environment than if you bought the equipment new. It's also a fun place to volunteer, although if you're a lady and you make it to the build room, be prepared to get sleezed on by the male volunteers. They kind of shoot themselves in the foot in the thrift store... it's a great place to rummage around and build your own systems, but when you get up to the counter, the staff (who I daresay fancy themselves as belonging to some sort of elite-geek society) will give you the 50 question rundown about how you plan to use the equipment in your feeble home set-up. As if you'll never be able to get a mouse to work on your own without "expert" assistance. So if you try to buy a system there, just ignore their insistence that you buy the linux for dummies-type book or attend their how-to classes. Ignore the urgent repetition of the tech support numbers (as if the damn thing is going to detonate when you get it home). Ignore their frantic suggestions that you need an ethernet wire or some weird shit like that. From the attitude of the staff, you might imagine Linux Ubuntu to be some kind of terrificly complicated operating system that only the initiated can possibly comprehend and navigate. I assure you, if you have ever successfully operated a windows machine, or even a mac, you will have ZERO problems using a ubuntu box. To their credit, I think they are anxious about people taking equipment home and then having things not work, and then their reputation being tarnished. So that's why they so solicitously try to help. But you can't help drawing the conclusion that they must think us normal people are flippin idiots.

Take your stuff to test out their cables and cords. I'm 0 for 3 so far, and they aren't much for returns or refunds. Definitely Meh. I was looking forward to checking out their thrift store, but they're not much more than your local Goodwill. Maybe their hardware and recycling side earns higher stars, but the only reason I'm not rating lower is because I had low expectations to begin with. Sorry to be so harsh, but nothing I walk out of there with ever works.

I bought a computer for my nephew, who had spent a long time in jail and had no clue how to use the computer, and Free Geek spent a long time helping him learn the basics as well as some more advanced training. They were kind, patient, and committed. And he loves his computer, which was a great deal!! Free Geek deserves a thousand stars!