How ITAD Credits Work

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What are ITAD Credits?

Firstbase’s ITAD Credits program helps you recover value from your aging IT equipment. When eligible equipment is recycled through our platform, Firstbase assesses whether it can be resold. If so, we remarket the device on secondary markets and return a portion of the resale value to you in the form of credits—issued quarterly—that you can apply toward any future Firstbase invoice.

ITAD Credits are currently offered in the US, UK, EU, and Canada. Recycling services, however, are available in all countries where Firstbase has a local warehouse. You can view our full regional capabilities here. 

How It Works

1. Request ITAD in the App

• Use ITAD Returns to recycle equipment during the return flow
• Or go to Assets in your Firstbase dashboard and select “Recycle”

2. Firstbase Processes the Equipment

Once your ITAD request is initiated, Firstbase will process your equipment in one of two ways:

• Resale-Eligible Devices will be remarketed through our vetted ITAD partners across wholesale and consumer marketplaces.
• Devices that are damaged, locked, or have no resale value will be ethically recycled in compliance with local e-waste regulations.
• In both cases, Firstbase performs NIST 800-88-compliant data erasure and/or physical destruction, and uploads a Certificate of Destruction (COD) for each asset directly into the Firstbase platform for your records.

4. Credits Issued Quarterly

• Each quarter, we tally your resale earnings 
• You receive a credit memo with a detailed report of earnings per asset
• Credits don’t expire and can be applied toward any future Firstbase invoice

FAQs

Q: How do I get started?

A: To join the ITAD Credits program, reach out to your Firstbase CSM. We’ll send over a quick addendum to your existing agreement (via our standard ITAD Remarketing Terms & Conditions) for you to sign. Once that’s done, you can continue submitting eligible devices through the Firstbase platform, and we’ll start tracking your earnings for quarterly credit payouts. 

Q: What types of equipment are eligible for credits?

A: Laptops, phones, and tablets in the US, UK, EU, and Canada. Other equipment types are recycled but not eligible for credits. 

Q: Is resale better than recycling?

A: Yes. Extending the life of a working device through resale is the most environmentally sustainable outcome, even compared to fully recycling all component parts.

Q: Are service fees deducted from my credits?

A: No. ITAD service fees (handling, data erasure, COD issuance, and logistics) are billed separately. You receive the full resale credit, and fees are invoiced independently. 

Q: Do you offer upfront quotes?

A: We’re happy to provide a rough estimate (resale values can vary a lot depending on things like condition, model, and market demand) for your first shipment so you can get a sense of what you might earn through the program. However, we’re not able to offer regular quotes. Instead, we’ll send you a quarterly report showing exactly how much you earned for each asset after resale.

Q: Do I get a fixed percentage of resale value?

A: No. We pay a fixed buyback amount per asset. This allows us to offer competitive payouts across varied equipment and market conditions. You’ll receive a detailed report each quarter showing your actual earnings. 

Q: What if my device is locked or cannot be resold?

A: Devices enrolled in remote management software (e.g., ABM, FMIP, BIOS lock), or deemed ineligible due to damage, will be securely destroyed in compliance with NIST 800-88 and will not receive resale credits. The reason for scrapping will be noted in your report. 

Q: Can I apply credits to invoices in a different currency?

A: No. Credits can only be applied to invoices in the same currency (USD, GBP, EUR, CAD).

Q: How long does it take to earn credits?

A: It can take up to 60 days from when you request recycling to receive your Certificate of Destruction (COD) in the US, UK, EU, and Canada. If your device is eligible for resale, it may take up to another 90 days to sell on secondary markets. Credits are issued quarterly based on the previous quarter’s resale earnings. So, for example, if you submit a recycling request on Jan 1 (Q1), and the device is resold in May (Q2), your credit would be issued within the first 30 days of Q3 (by the end of July). Resale can happen sooner, but timing depends on the device’s condition and market demand.