logoalt Hacker News

lukeify • yesterday at 6:44 PM • 4 replies • view on HN

A company can either generate a small new revenue stream from on-selling old gear, or they can pay to destroy and dispose of it.

Which option is a profit-oriented, not-totally-profitable AI outfit going to choose?


Replies

plasticchris • yesterday at 6:50 PM

Well, if they were bought on credit, and must be returned when you go insolvent to the company that makes the chips, whose market - and therefore stock - would collapse in value should the market be flooded with used equipment, and said company already dealt with a similar situation in the past few years... I think the answer is obvious.

➕ show 1 reply
godelski • yesterday at 7:22 PM

People seem confused here, but liquidation is very common. That's what private equity often does. It's also why debt collectors call non-stop, even if they are calling the wrong person (fuck you AI debt collectors!). They buy up the debt for pennies on the door and the original debt owner writes off a loss on their taxes. It's also the reason how I bought a Herman Miller for 40% retail.

It's very simple: some is better than none

milleramp • yesterday at 7:03 PM

I am not sure that it would be profitable to sell equipment that has been depreciated to 0$.

sapphicsnail • yesterday at 7:20 PM

Clothing companies destroy unsold stock all the time.

➕ show 1 reply