If you are no longer interested in using the Vivint smart home system and devices that you have installed, then you may be thinking of what to do with the gadgets. Vivint systems consist of different types of sensors, cameras, control panels, and electronics that you may not require in case you have terminated the services provided by Vivint. There are some other better ways to manage these devices that are more responsible and environment–friendly than trashing them.
Donation of Computers If In Working Order
If your Vivint devices are still fully functional, then donating them is a good step you can consider taking. Although there are not many organizations and charities that take used smart home devices and give them to families and individuals in need, there are some that do this. It is also important to delete all the information that you have stored in the devices like cameras, Bluetooth, or any other connectivity options available in the device by formatting the device completely before donating it.
An example of a charity organization that partners with various companies to receive donations of smart home technology is Good360. Instead, they source their products from various retailers and manufacturers and supply the various schools, non-profit making organizations, and other humanitarian establishments. It is advisable to pay a visit to their website to determine whether or not they are accepting Vivint equipment at the moment.
You might also ask charities, women’s shelters, religious missions, or other forms of help in your local society. Describe what you have available for donation, and they should tell you whether they can use Vivint equipment in their facilities. Sometimes some devices might require some repairs; however, experienced personnel from these types of organizations may be able to recover systems.
Attempt Reselling Vivint Devices
If you have newer Vivint equipment or devices that, for instance, are still in good working condition and are relatively recent models, then you may be able to sell them and make a profit out of them instead of disposing them by simply donating them. When you are promoting your devices, make it an important point to state any problems or the lack of certain features when attempting to sell the same devices. You can try selling locally at your local sites and apps such as Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, OfferUp, and even Craiglist.
However, to target a wider market within the country, you may need to list the Vivint equipment on national resell platforms such as eBay or Swappa. You can sell complete Vivint kits or just the components such as control panels, doorbell cameras, smart locks, sensors, etc You need to determine which of the models and products that you are selling is best sold in its entirety or parts, by checking the completed listings data to know what price range works best. Swappa is primarily into the sale of refurbished consumer electronics and smart home device products. If you are selling Vivint systems online, try to include the shipping costs as part of the selling price.
Trade-In Old Equipment
At the moment, Vivint has what it calls the ‘trade-in’ where customers surrender old equipment for account credits. There are new offers available where you can get up to $50 credits for each traded-in outdoor camera, doorbell camera, or Ping camera model. The rebate of $100 per every trade-in of an indoor camera model applies. Smart thermostats are also included in the list of eligible devices for the Vivint trade-in program where the customers are rewarded with a credit of $50.
Remember these credits only count for the use of the new Vivint Sky or Sky Q packages and equipment. However, it is quite convenient if one wants to contribute to the cost of upgrading to newer Vivint products by swapping the devices that are required less frequently and are just collecting dust. Ensure that equipment is returned in good condition by avoiding any kind of damage that would make it unfit for use when traded under this trade-in program to Vivint.
Dispose 2 Recycle of Damaged Electric Devices
In case any of the Vivint equipment is found to be damaged, broken, or in poor condition that can not be donated, sold, or traded in the market, then these devices should be disposed of. Never just discard old electronics with the rest of the household waste that gets dumped in the already-full landfills. E-waste needs to undergo specific refinancing and recycling since it is dangerous to the environment.
Look for more information on programs on e-waste disposal within your region. Some of the providers may even come to pick up products from your home if you are producing a large amount of electronic waste. It may also be returned to the Best Buy store because of their e-cycling program for most small Vivint items, even if it was not bought there. Taking out and getting rid of lithium batteries from devices such as Vivint cameras means that there is an added measure but goes a long way in avoiding fires within the waste facilities.
Before disposing of the Vivint devices, ensure that you dismantled the products to individual parts and components of electronics, metal wires and cables, and any plastic components or circuit boards. Cleaning of bottles is facilitated by a proper separation that enhances the effectiveness of the recycling process. Do not try to force open or take apart any piece of equipment if not sure about the level of danger involved because some electronics can be charged.
Explore new ideas on how to repurpose your Vivint home today.
Some of the Vivint equipment can be creatively repurposed if you have the skills and creativity after canceling the service by using it for DIY projects around the home. For instance, old Vivint outdoor cameras could be creatively reused as birdhouses and bird feeders – and, in a literal sense, as forms of birdhouses and bird feeders.
For other motion detection requirements such as pool gates or access to rental units, use Vivint motion sensor equipment with basic alarms or alerts. Smart home systems are no longer linked to Vivint touchscreen control panels, but these panels could still be great for streaming content or regulating TVs or sound systems. And of course, one can never run out of creative minds who come up with ways to reuse technology parts including those from the likes of Vivint devices.
Wise before trying to use creatively any Vivint electronics and learn about the dangers of handling gadgets that you hardly know. Prevention of injuries to yourself and others who could come across your Vivint home projects should be of utmost consideration. But repurposing usually helps e-waste not to end up in landfills, which is a plus and gives tech and electronics enthusiasts interesting projects.
Your old smart home tech doesn’t have to become a useless relic with your Vivint service getting canceled. When it comes to the electronics, such as the devices received from Vivint, or the equipment you no longer need, exercise due diligence in donating, reselling, recycling, or repurposing the equipment to ensure that you are environmentally conscious as you cancel your account with Vivint and your monitoring services. Proper disposal of unused electronics requires more effort but it is more effective in the conservation of resources than simply throwing the items away while donating circuit components to someone else to give technology leftovers a new home and a new purpose where the devices were first created.
