(7/26/2010) - Green Party State & Conressional candidates visited Retro Tech Monday during a bus campaign tour of Peoria. While Retro Tech is non-political, we appreciate the candidates pointing out the good that our organization does. Sheldon Schafer, candidate for US Congress called us "the quintessential green business". We are volunteer, local, self sustaining and we help and look out for those in our own community - and all while providing for the reuse of materials that otherwise might find their way to the landfil where they could contaminate the earth. Thanks for the recognition!

PJS Article

(7/19/2010) - Last weekend's Peoria Journal Star ran a beautiful article about Retro Tech. Writer Jennifer Davis and Photographer Fred Zerwicky visited several times talking to staff and taking pictures. They did a very good job of getting it right.

The article covered 2 full pages in the Sunday section of the newspaper and told several of our stories. Retro Tech provides affordable computers and electronics with agency placement programs, helps people hone their job skills by volunteering, provides low cost education programs and works with students and those with low income or physical challenges.

PJS Article

PJS Photo Gallery

Internet Ready!

Includes Keyboard, Mouse & Monitor.

(5/10/2010) - From now until the end of September, we are taking $25 any sale that includes a PC. We have recently received donations of a number of clean, well conditioned PCs that will make wonderful machines for home or student use and we are making them available as quickly as we can.

Let our oversupply be your bargain. Whether you need a powerful 2.8GHz desktop for your main machine or just looking for a smaller configuration for a 2nd computer, we have what you need.

Minimum configurations would include WinXP, 1.0 GHz Processor, 256Mb Main Memory, 20 Gb Hard Disk, CD, Mouse, Keyboard & Monitor. Many more powerful configurations are also available inlcuding DVD burners. All are Internet Ready & loaded with open source word processing, spreadsheet & virus protection software. 30 Day Warranty. Visit our retail outlet for this and other bargains.

(3/10/2010) - Retro Tech is joining with Senior Net to provide a class in Computer Fundamentals commencing April 14th. Classes will be taught every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30, over an eight week period and conclude June 2nd. Cost of the course is $25.00 to cover materials.

Classes will be taught by Senior Net but will use our Retro Tech computer lab for the classroom. We will be using the course designed by Senior Net which has proved so successful nationally.

The course will include Computer Hardware Basics, Using Windows, Internet and Word Processing.

Hardware

is hands on and will cover the components of your computer, including hard drives, memory, and USB devices. You will learn how to setup your own computer system.

Windows

will cover how data is stored on your computer, useful computer commands and how to find and store data locally

Internet

will cover how to use your browser, what a web site is, email and how to safely search the Internet for information.

Word Processing

will review Note Pad, Word Pad and Open Office and cover how to open and save documents, text formatting techniques, cut and paste, inserting pictures and other objects into your documents.

All application programs are the same as provided FREE with your typical PC placement or sale from Retro Tech.

This class is now over, thank you to all who attended and help make it a success.

(UPDATE 3/1/2010) - Retro-Tech is not a recycler for residential electronic products under the State of Illinois new law.

We are currently only refurbishing commercial product for placement and resale and can no longer accept TVs or house hold goods for recycling (we will not dispose of them in an environmentally unsafe way).

We continue to accept computer systems and computer parts, however we no longer take non-working computer monitors.

(9/2/2009) - Our bench fee is $30 due up front. That $30 entitles you to a half hour of tech time to diagnose your problem and determine the repair. If we can fix your problem in that half hour, the repair is included in the $30.

Our typical repair is only $30, as most problems which plague users are simple. You will be called if it requires more than the bench fee (half hour) to repair. Time is measured in tech time - if it takes an hour to reload your system, you are charged for the tech time to set it up and finish up - not for time to sit and watch the reload run.

We charge the same standard repair rate for all activities. No extra charge for networking, data recovery, web development or other special services.

We quote 3 to 5 days for all repairs. Some take less, but we can't commit to faster service as ours is an all volunteer shop. Sometimes when we have to order a part it make take longer, but you will be told that when we ask permission to spend your money to buy the part.

Although the recycling industry pipeline has become clogged and we have been forced to temporairly stop taken some things, we traditionally have always recycled all kinds of electronics. - We always said 'if it has a plug or a battery, we take it.' We will return to that policy as soon as the marketplace stablizes so we can recieve computer systems, televisions and household appliances.

We do reluctantly charge a fee for monitors and some other expensive to recycle items. The lead and other elements in cathode ray tubes add to the cost of recycling to such an extent that we need subsidize the cost.

NOTE: We can no longer accept many non-computer items that we used to take. The recycling landscape is changing in Illinois the new law taking that took effect January 2010. Please call before bringing in items for recycling to be sure we can accept them. As our in house staff includes many computer experts we will continue to accept these for refurbishing and placement in our programs.

We provide community service programs to assist the low income, physically challenged & students in need. Please contact us if you need support. Retro-Tech has provided as many as 200 computer systems in a month to the needing and deserving.

Reusable items not provided through our placement program are made available to the general public at attractive prices at our outlet store front. If you're looking for vintage, legacy or just affordable computers, televisions, stereo components or other electronics, look no further.

We have legacy television sets from $35 to $65. Sizes range from small kitchen top sets to the larger 27-32" models for the family or recreation room. We still have a few older style console models as well. All televisions are tested before being accepted for sale, and you can view them on our sales floor before you buy. Like all our products, they have a 30-day instore credit warranty.

We also provide low cost maintenance and repair of computer equipment.

Thank you for shopping at our store - it helps us to continue to provide our community services.

Would you like to be a part of our efforts? We are always looking for new volunteers and training is provided. Come in and lend a hand when it is convenient for you.

Don't have time but still want to help our cause? Financial donations are always welcomed and we can provide a tax deductible receipt for your generous contribution.