With e-learning must for State students, second-hand laptops, PCs in high demand

With institutions continuing to insist on parents ensuring that their children do not use Android mobile phones, as it affects the eyes, second-hand electronic dealers said the demand for used computers is so high that they haven’t been able to meet the supply-demand chain.

Most parents, who had pay cuts due to the lockdown, have had no other option but to get second-hand computer systems as online classes have become compulsory for almost all private schools and colleges. “My son’s school clearly instructed us not to use mobile phones for online classes to ensure the eyes are not damaged. Since new laptops cost around Rs 25,000 per piece, I had to purchase second-hand one, which I got for Rs 6,500,” P Sasidharan, one of the students’ father, told DT Next. Claiming that he got the second-hand laptop after a long wait, Sasidharan said it helped with his office work as well.

“Till March, there were very few takers for second-hand desktops or laptops. However, once the online classes began in full force, there is a huge demand for used computers,” said K Ravikumar, an electronic shop owner at Pallavaram. He said at present, he was forced to print “attractive offers” in newspapers to purchase used laptops from people. “Our work does not stop here. We need to sell them again after the hardware and software services,” he said, adding, “I sell 10 used laptops or computers per month against one or two months ago.” S Manimaran, a hardware engineer, who assemble computers on customer request, also takes pain to go to Ritchie Street from Tambaram to get second-hand spare parts to make a computer ready for sale. “Due to urgency, some of my customers purchase only CPU units and buy monitors separately,” he said.