Plastic gold connectors (non-metal connectors) buying scrap price

Learn more about Metal & Gold connectors

What Are Plastic Gold Connectors?

Plastic Gold Connectors are detached electrical connector ends with plastic housings and gold-plated contact terminals commonly removed from computers, servers, networking equipment, telecommunications hardware, industrial electronics, power supplies, and electronic assemblies during dismantling and recycling.

Unlike Metal Cable Connectors, Plastic Gold Connectors do not have a heavy metal outer shell. Their recycling value comes primarily from the copper-alloy contact terminals and gold-plated electrical contact surfaces contained inside the plastic housing rather than from the connector body itself.

Within the Ohata Classification System, Plastic Gold Connectors are purchased separately from complete cable assemblies, insulated copper wire, Metal Cable Connectors, printed circuit boards, and other electronic scrap categories to improve sorting consistency and purchasing accuracy.

How to Identify Plastic Gold Connectors

Plastic Gold Connectors can usually be identified by the following visible characteristics:

• Plastic outer housing

• Gold-plated contact terminals

• Lightweight construction

• No metal outer shell

• No attached wire (preferred)

• Commonly used inside computers, servers, networking equipment, and industrial electronics

Common Plastic Gold Connectors We Buy

Plastic Gold Connectors are recovered from many types of electronic equipment. Common examples include:

• ATX motherboard power connectors

• PCI Express (PCIe) power connectors

• CPU power connectors

• Molex connectors

• SATA power connectors

• IDC ribbon cable connectors

• Fan connectors

• RJ45 modular plugs

• Internal multi-pin computer connectors

Other similar plastic connectors may also qualify after inspection.

Plastic Gold Connectors vs Metal Cable Connectors

The table below summarizes the primary differences between the two connector categories.

The connector category is determined primarily by the outer housing and contact construction. Plastic-bodied connectors should not be mixed with metal-shelled connector ends when accurate sorting is required.

Where Plastic Gold Connectors Are Commonly Found

Plastic Gold Connectors are commonly recovered during the dismantling of:

• Desktop computers

• Enterprise servers

• Workstations

• Computer power supplies

• Storage systems

• Networking switches

• Routers

• Telecommunications equipment

• Industrial control systems

• Medical equipment

• Electronic test equipment

• Commercial electronics

• Printers and copiers

They are frequently collected together with desktop motherboards, server motherboards, RAM modules, CPUs, and computer power supplies during electronic recycling.

Related pages:

• Desktop Motherboard

• Laptop Motherboard

• CPU

• Computer Power Supplies

What Qualifies?

Qualified materials generally include:

• Plastic outer housing

• Original gold-plated terminals

• Complete connector body

• No attached wire

• Minimal contamination

• No excessive metal brackets

• Original contact inserts retained

Complete connectors are preferred because they allow inspectors to evaluate contact density and material composition more accurately.

Inspection Standards

Every shipment is visually inspected before purchasing. Classification depends on connector construction, recoverable material content, and overall condition.

Standard Plastic Gold Connectors

Complete plastic connectors that retain their original gold-plated contact terminals and contain no attached wire generally qualify for the standard buying category.

High Contact Density Connectors

Connectors containing many closely spaced gold-plated terminals may provide a stronger recoverable material profile. Final purchasing value depends on connector design, terminal density, construction, and physical inspection.

Low Gold or Non-Gold Connectors

Plastic connectors with limited or no visible gold plating may be purchased at a different value because they contain lower recoverable precious metal content.

Connectors With Wire Attached

Whenever practical, attached wire should be removed before delivery. Wire insulation, strain reliefs, and cable jackets increase handling time and reduce sorting efficiency.

Metal-Shelled Connectors

Connectors with metal outer housings belong to the Metal Cable Connectors category and should be sorted separately.

Damaged or Contaminated Connectors

Burned, crushed, incomplete, heavily contaminated, or severely damaged connectors may receive a reduced purchasing value or require separate evaluation.

Common Sorting Mistakes

To improve purchasing accuracy, avoid mixing Plastic Gold Connectors with:

• Metal Cable Connectors

• Complete cable assemblies

• Insulated copper wire

• Printed circuit boards

• Computer power supplies

• Steel brackets and mounting hardware

Proper sorting helps improve inspection efficiency and purchasing consistency.

Before Delivery

Whenever practical, suppliers are encouraged to remove:

• Attached wire

• Cable jackets

• Rubber boots

• Heat-shrink tubing

• Plastic cable sleeves

• Oversized metal brackets

• Unrelated mounting hardware

Do not remove the internal contact pins or terminals. The connector should remain complete.

Pricing Disclaimer

Buying prices are subject to change without notice based on current electronic scrap and commodity market conditions.

All Plastic Gold Connectors are inspected upon receipt. Final purchasing prices are determined according to connector type, contact density, visible plating, material composition, completeness, physical condition, cleanliness, quantity, and current buying standards. Connectors that contain little or no gold plating, remain attached to wire, are incomplete, burned, contaminated, or mixed with unrelated materials may receive a reduced purchasing value. Final pricing is confirmed only after physical inspection by Ohata Resource Canada.

Ready to Sell Plastic Gold Connectors in Richmond?

Once you believe your processors match the Plastic gold connectors' characteristics, you don’t need to confirm the final grade yourself. The next step is simply to check the current buying information, keep the processors intact and prepare them for inspection.

STEP 1 – Check Today’s Buying Prices and Sort Your Materials

Before visiting our Richmond yard, please review the latest Canadian e-scrap buying prices and identification guides in the Ohata Scrap Wiki.

You can also use Ohata.AI Vision 1.0 Beta 1.0 to investigate an unfamiliar circuit board. Upload a clear photograph, and the tool can analyze visible features, such as the board’s shape, CPU socket, integrated circuits, connectors and component layout, to suggest what type of board it may be.

Buying prices and conditions may change with the market, so checking the applicable item page before you leave can help you understand how your material should be prepared.

Whenever practical, separate your e-scrap into groups such as:

• Computer motherboards

• Hard drives and HDD controller boards

• Server boards

• Laptop motherboards and logic boards

• Telecommunications boards

• CPUs and memory modules

• Power supplies and cables

• Other or uncertain electronic scrap

You don’t need to assign every item a final grade yourself. If something is unfamiliar, keep it in an “uncertain” group and use Ohata.AI for a preliminary photo-based identification.

Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours, and no appointment is required for most ordinary drop-offs.

If you have a large commercial load, palletized shipment or an unusual type of material, please contact the Richmond team before visiting so we can prepare for your arrival.

STEP 2 – Bring Your E-Scrap and Valid Government-Issued Photo ID

Please bring your electronic scrap together with a valid government-issued photo ID.

Examples may include:

• British Columbia Driver’s Licence

• BC Identification Card

• BC Services Card with photo

• Canadian passport

• Permanent Resident Card

• Other valid government-issued photo identification

Business sellers may also be asked to provide company information or supporting documentation when applicable.

Clearly separated and labelled material is usually quicker to inspect. If possible, prepare the approximate weight and quantity for each group before visiting.

Please also remember that computers, servers, hard drives and solid-state drives may contain personal or business information. Back up anything you need and follow your own data-security requirements before the equipment leaves your control.

STEP 3 – Visit Our Richmond E-Scrap Buying Yard

Our Richmond yard is located at 11220 Voyageur Way, Unit 7, Richmond, BC, V6X 3E1. Before leaving, you can check the route and current traffic information through Google Maps.

1. Look for the Ohata sign

When you arrive at the property, first look for the Ohata Resource Canada Inc. sign on the building. Once you find it, continue around to the rear of the building, where our warehouse entrance is located.

When you see this sign, continue around to the rear of the building.

2. Continue to the Rear Warehouse Entrance

Drive carefully around the building and look for the vertical Ohata sign beside the rear entrance. This vertical sign is the easiest landmark for finding our receiving warehouse.

Follow the route around the building to reach the warehouse.

The vertical Ohata sign identifies the correct warehouse entrance.

3. Park Directly in Front of the Warehouse

If you arrive by car, you may park directly in front of the Ohata warehouse entrance while your e-scrap is being received.

Once you reach the warehouse, please park and wait there. A member of our team will come to assist you with your material.

If you have difficulty finding the rear entrance, please call or message us:

Telephone and WhatsApp: +1 (236) 888-1086

For large commercial loads or palletized shipments, please contact the Richmond team before visiting so we can prepare for unloading.

When you arrive:

• Bring smaller quantities to the receiving area.

• Ask a staff member for assistance with heavy or larger loads.

• Our team will inspect, sort and weigh the material.

• The applicable buying category and condition will be confirmed.

• The final buying price will be determined after physical inspection.

• Payment will be processed according to the current purchasing policy.

Walk-in customers are welcome during regular business hours. Most visits don’t require an appointment, but advance contact is recommended for commercial, palletized or unusually large loads.

You can review directions, parking and visitor information on the Richmond yard access page.

Helpful Tips Before Your Richmond Visit

• Check the current Canadian buying prices before travelling.

• Use Ohata.AI when you need help identifying an unfamiliar item.

• Take clear front-and-back photographs before requesting an initial review.

• Separate different board and equipment categories whenever practical.

• Keep damaged, wet, burned, corroded or contaminated items separate.

• Remove unrelated garbage and unnecessary packaging.

• Don’t cut boards or remove major components unless you understand how the separated materials will be evaluated.

• Back up and erase data-bearing devices according to your requirements.

• Bring valid government-issued photo identification.

• Contact Ohata Resource Canada Inc. before bringing a large commercial or palletized load.

Published online prices are references and may change. Final acceptance, classification, measured weight and buying price are determined after physical inspection.