FAQs
How do I get there?
Our address is 518 Santa Fe, Kansas City, MO 64105. We are just west of the Broadway Bridge in the West Bottoms. Visit our Find Us page to view a map and generate directions
What are your hours?
We are open 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. We are closed Sunday and Monday.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, check, Master Card, Visa, American Express, and Discover.
If I recycle a computer is my personal information safe?
When a computer enters our reuse system, we perform a single-pass wipe of the hard drive as part of our testing procedure. If the computer is not resell-able, we send it to be put through a grinder and all data is irrevocably destroyed. We also offer a data wiping service for $15 which will erase your data to the U.S. DoD 5220.22-M Standard.
May I leave items that I want to recycle on your dock if I arrive after hours?
No. Our docks are not secured or covered, so items left there are victim to theft, vandalism and weather. If you can’t get to TSE during business hours, please find another responsible avenue to recycle your items at www.recyclespot.org.
Can you come to my home to pick-up items I want to recycle?
No. We only pick up from businesses with 10 or more items to recycle.
Do the items I bring to The Surplus Exchange qualify as tax-deductible donations?
For anything to be considered a donation to a non-profit it must have a value that will contribute to the nonprofit. View our schedule of recycling fees here to see which items are considered a donation.
Will you pay me for the items I bring to you?
The short answer is “no”. However, while we do not pay cash for your donations, certain items are considered tax-deductible. Please see the answer to the previous question for details.
Do you charge for recycling?
There are certain items that have fees because we incur a cost to recycle them. TSE only passes its cost to you, there is no mark-up or service charge. Click here for a list of those items and their fees. If you still have question, please call TSE at (816) 472-0444.
Where does your sales inventory come from?
Most comes from local businesses and individuals.
Do you list your sales inventory online?
No. Our inventory changes daily, so keeping a accurate list online would be difficult. We do, however, often list sales and specials on our Facebook page.
Will you hold an item for me?
We will hold a paid item for five business days. We will also hold requested items for our nonprofit members. Click here for member information.
What if I buy an item and it doesn’t fit in my car?
We give you five business days from the date of purchase to pick up an item, so there is plenty of time to come back with a bigger vehicle if needed.
Will someone help me load/unload my heavy items?
Yes. We are glad to help. We have staff and equipment here to load or unload nearly anything.
Where will the items I bring in for recycling go?
An item in good working order is refurbished and resold by TSE. If an item is broken or end-of-life, it can go to one or more of several places: Metal is recycled locally. Electronic are demanufactured and recycled. No electronics end up in landfills or third-world countries. Everything is handled inside the US in a safe manner. Unsellable wooden/plastic furniture goes to a landfill, so please don’t bring it to us if it is not reusable.